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Auditions
All applicants to the graduate program at the Greatbatch School of Music are required to present an entrance audition. These auditions are designed to give studio faculty opportunity to meet each applicant and to assess strengths and potential for success in graduate music studies. The applicant will also be interviewed by the Graduate Committee.
Graduate Application Checklist
The following items should be on file in the Greatbatch School office
prior to your audition:
- completed Graduate Application for Admission
- $40 application fee (Applications received by October 15 are exempt from this fee.)
- Repertoire list (see application for guidelines)
- Scores for accompanist for audition
- Official undergraduate transcript(s)
- Official graduate transcript(s) if applicable
- Three letters of reference
- Personal statement
- Graded sample of undergraduate upper-level academic writing in music
- Request for accompanist for audition
- DVD/VHS tape for conducting and applicants
- Portfolio of original compositions for composition applicants (scores and audio recordings)
- DVD/VHS tape for applicants who do not have a music degree
In addition, those seeking a graduate assistantship should include:
- Completed Graduate Award Application
- Three letters of reference (may be same letters for admission or may be letters oriented towards work or internship experience useful in a graduate assistantship)
- Résumé of education and all relevant experience
- For accompanists: Repertoire list of vocal and instrumental pieces accompanied. Indicate whether performed in concert or lessons/classes.
Deadlines
For the Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting, students who complete their applications by December 1 will be assured priority consideration, though applications may be accepted later as space permits.
For the Master of Music in Choral Conducting, applications are due January 10.
For all other majors the deadline is two weeks prior to the scheduled audition date.
Graduate Audition Dates and Audition Request Form
Audition Dates, 2008-09:
- January 29 & 31 –Orchestral conducting (both days required)
- January 30 & 31 – Choral conducting (both days required)
- January 31 - Composition, vocal performance, Piano performance, other performance
- February 13 & 14 –Symphonic Winds conducting (both days required)
- February 14 - Organ performance, Piano performance, other performance
- March 14 –String performance, Collaborative piano, Vocal performance, other performance
- March 21 - Performance
Download the auditions brochure (PDF, 303KB).
Master of Art in Music, Audition Requirements
Requirements
Candidates should normally possess a bachelor of music degree.
Audition Requirements
The candidate should prepare two to three pieces from the repertoire of the major instrument or voice representing his or her current level of ability.
Objectives
- To admit talented, well-educated musicians ready for further growth as performers, teachers, composers, and advocates of high-quality musical endeavor in a variety of settings
- To assist students with increased technical and aesthetic mastery of their chosen musical discipline
- To guide students toward an articulate philosophical integration of biblical Christian faith with the act of music-making
- To encourage musical exploration outside the bounds of the student’s past experiences and preferences
- To encourage students to understand and articulate the thoughts behind stylistic preferences, philosophies, and musical choices
Final Project Requirements
The student shall prepare a project or thesis proposal, in conjunction with the academic advisor, that summarizes and synthesizes the principal focus of the student’s work. The project or thesis will be evaluated by the graduate committee.
Master of Music in Collaborative Performance, Audition Requirements
Requirements
Should normally possess a bachelor of music degree or its equivalent, demonstrate strong interest and ability in collaborative performance, have substantial ensemble and/or solo repertoire in their résumé, and have good sight-reading ability. For collaborative arts majors, acceptable entering performance levels will be based on the applied levels required of Houghton College BM students for completion of the undergraduate curriculum in music education.
Audition Requirements
- Piano:
- Beethoven: first movement of any violin/piano sonata
- Schubert (all songs in the original key): Ganymed, (Ab Major); Erstarrung (c minor)
- Debussy (all songs in the original key): Il pleure dans mon coeur (g# minor), Chevaux de Bois (E Major)
- One significant solo work for piano representative of the major repertory, and which suitably demonstrates the applicant's musical and technical accomplishments.
- Sight-reading
- Strings:
- A first movement of a major concerto.
- A movement of an unaccompanied work by Bach.
- One other piece of the auditionee’s choice.
Students may bring their own collaborative partners for the audition if so desired. Upon request, Houghton College will provide collaborative partners if the request is made at least one month in advance of the scheduled audition date.
Objectives
To produce graduates who are prepared for any or all of the following, depending on their accomplishments and goals:
- service as performers and teachers within their local and regional communities
- undertaking the establishment of a professional career via auditions, competitions, and further performance experiences
- beginning doctoral studies
Final Project Requirements
The student shall perform as a collaborative musician (primary accompanist or chamber music partner) in two full recitals, or the equivalent.
Master of Music in Composition, Audition Requirements
Requirements
Will be required to hold the BM degree in composition or its equivalent, or to demonstrate equivalent experience and knowledge in writing original music for both instrumental and vocal/choral genres. A portfolio of compositions will be submitted as part of the application process.
Audition Requirements
Two or three representative written scores of original compositions must be submitted prior to the audition/interview, with a strong preference (but not requirement) that they be accompanied by recordings of the pieces submitted (recordings only are not acceptable). At least one of the submitted scores should be written for voice(s) and at least one for instrument(s). The candidate should also prepare two to three pieces from the repertoire of the major instrument or voice representing his or her current level of ability. If the major instrument is not piano or organ, one or two selections demonstrating the candidate’s level of keyboard skill are also required.
Goals
To encourage talented Christian composers to create, explore, understand, and serve as advocates for high-quality original music in a variety of genres and settings, inside and outside the broader Christian community.
Objectives
Each student will be encouraged:
- to explore a wide variety of compositional techniques and methods, with an eye toward further developing strong compositional craft
- to develop a personally unique compositional style or language
- to consider stylistic eclecticism as the dominant compositional ethos of the postmodern world. At least some compositional assignments will deliberately demand the learning of new musical languages
- to become involved in the activities of professional compositional societies
- to articulate a personal plan of action concerning establishment as a composer within Christian worship and fellowship communities, as well as to consider and articulate any unique contributions of music composed from a Christian worldview to wider musical and cultural communities
Final Project Requirements
The student shall choose between submitting the score of one work of significant length and genre (such as a symphony, opera, or film score) along with a paper describing the submitted piece analytically, or presenting a full recital of original compositions in which the composer acts as a performer or conductor in some capacity.
Master of Music in Conducting, Audition Requirements
Requirements
Should normally possess a bachelor of music degree or its equivalent, and demonstrate strong interest and ability in conducting. Normally such demonstration will include (but not be limited to) successful completion of at least two undergraduate courses (or equivalent) in conducting. Each candidate will submit a videotape of his/her conducting as part of the application process. An on-campus interview and conducting audition is also required. For conducting majors a performance hearing in an appropriate performance area (i.e., a principal instrument for instrumental conductors and voice for choral conductors) will be scheduled as part of the visit. For choral conducting candidates whose principal performing area is not voice, an instrumental hearing may be scheduled, but a voice hearing will also be required.
Audition Requirements
Please submit video of conducting with application for admission (DVD preferred, VHS accepted). Candidates invited to campus for audition and interview will be sent one to two pieces currently in the repertoire of the appropriate ensemble to prepare for a live rehearsal. The candidate should also prepare a solo hearing of two to three selections in his/her principal solo performance area.
Objectives
To produce graduates who are prepared for any or all of the following, depending on their accomplishments and goals:
- service as musical leaders within their local and regional communities, educational institutions, and musical organizations
- undertaking the establishment of a professional career via auditions, competitions, and further conducting experiences
- beginning doctoral studies in conducting.
Final Project Requirements
The student shall prepare and publicly conduct one full concert (or equivalent in separate public appearances) with the appropriate ensemble. The candidate must also submit concert program notes that demonstrate appropriate understanding of the repertoire conducted.
Master of Music in Performance, Audition Requirements
Brass, Percussion, Piano, Strings, Voice, Winds Requirements
Should normally possess a bachelor of music degree or its equivalent in the performance area sought.
Brass, Flute, Guitar, Piano, Violin/Viola/Cello, Percussion, Winds and Voice Audition Requirements
- Brass instruments:
- Two solo compositions
- One etude
- These should demonstrate the performer’s current ability and musicianship. Solo numbers should come from the Baroque/Classical and 20th-century literature.
- Flute:
- One fast movement from a major concerto
- One technically demanding etude
- Two other selections of contrasting styles
- Guitar:
- A complete Bach Lute Suite
- A major work from the late 19th or early 20th centuries (Segovia repertoire included)
- One major contemporary work
- Piano:
- Three selections from contrasting style periods and representative of the major literature for the instrument. At least one should demonstrate virtuosity commensurate with the candidate’s level of accomplishment. Audition also to include sight-reading.
- Violin/Viola/Cello:
- A first movement of a major concerto
- A movement of an unaccompanied work by Bach
- One other piece of the auditionee’s choice
- Sight-reading
- Voice:
- Five selections combining these criteria:
- English plus at least two other languages
- at least one aria from opera or oratorio
- at least one selection from the Baroque repertory
- at least one selection from the 20th century
- at least one selection from the standard art song repertory
- These criteria may overlap. For example: A Bach Passion aria would cover three categories— aria, Baroque,and German; a Hoiby song would also cover three categories— art song, 20th century, and English.
- Percussion:
- One timpani
- One mallet keyboard piece
- One snare drum or multiple percussion piece
- Sight-reading
- Winds:
- One selection from the contemporary solo repertoire
- At least 2 orchestral excerpts in contrasting styles
- 2 other selections from the common practice period in contrasting styles
(read further down for organ audition requirements)
Objectives
To produce graduates who are prepared for any or all of the following, depending on their accomplishments and goals:
- service as teachers and performers within their local and regional communities
- undertaking the establishment of a professional career via auditions, competitions, and further performance experiences
- beginning doctoral studies in performance and/or pedagogy
Final Project Requirements
The student shall perform one full recital (a portion of which may include chamber ensembles, but the majority of which must consist solely of solo repertoire), and one lecture-recital.
Organ Audition Requirements
Two to three pieces or movements in contrasting styles, including:
- a significant work (chorale-based or free) of J. S. Bach
- two additional works from the 19th and/or 20th centuries
- a hymn accompaniment would also be desirable
- sight-reading
Objectives
To produce graduates who are prepared for any or all of the following, depending on their accomplishments and goals
- service as organists and/or music directors in respected church music programs
- service as teachers and performers within their local and regional communities
- undertaking the establishment of a professional career via competitions, and further performance experiences
- beginning doctoral studies in organ performance or sacred music
Final Project Requirements
The student shall perform one full recital (a portion of which may include chamber ensembles, but the majority of which must consist solely of solo repertoire), and one lecture-recital.
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