Music Ensemble Placement Auditions
September 1 – 7, 2017
Membership in a music ensemble is based on the results of the ensemble placement auditions held in Mary Baker Russell Music Center during orientation weekend and first week of classes.
The audition process is:
- Sign up for an audition time. Sign-up sheets will be available the week of August 28th. They will be posted on the Mary Baker Russell Music Center back stage area bulletin boards.
- Audition: complete any forms that may be needed prior to the audition and bring them with you.
- Watch MBRC back stage bulletin boards for ensemble personnel lists.
- Register for your ensemble in the Music Office (MBRC 206) by the first Friday of Fall semester.
Music Ensemble Placement Auditions
Mary Baker Russell Music Center
Instrumental Auditions
Location: Mary Baker Russell Music Center, Room 322
Auditions for all instrumental ensembles are held at the same time. Auditions times are based on the instrument (see below). Students will be assigned to an ensemble(s). Results of the auditions will be posted on the back stage bulletin board in the Mary Baker Russell Music Center back stage area. Students should then register for their ensemble(s) in the Music Office (MBRC 206).
First Year Student Orientation:
Incoming students should be aware of the new student orientation activities going on simultaneously with the Department of Music ensemble placement auditions. Please do not schedule your audition time during one of these sessions. Click here to view the schedule of activities: New student orientation.
Audition Material:
String Audition Music (suggested)
Audition Schedule:
- Friday, September 1
Flutes (Piccolo) – 10:30am
Oboes (English Horn) – 2:00pm
Clarinets (Bass Clarinet) – 3:00pm
Bassoons (Contra Bassoon) – 5:00pm
Timpani and Percussion – 6:00pm
Note: All percussionists receiving a music scholarship must audition at this time if they also want to audition for the Jazz Ensemble. It is also highly recommended for non-scholarship percussionists.
Harp and Keyboards – 7:30pm
- Saturday, September 2
Violins – 9:00am
Violas – 1:00pm
Cellos – 3:00pm
Basses – 4:30pm
- Sunday, September 3: Orchestra, Band and Jazz Ensembles
Euphoniums / Baritones / Tuba – 10:00am
Horns -10:40am
Trumpets – 1:00pm
Trombones – 2:30pm
Saxophones – 3:30pm
Overflow auditions – 4:30pm
- Wednesday, September 6:
Jazz Rhythm Section (keyboards, guitar, bass, drums) 1:55 – 3:15
Questions, please contact the PLU Music Department at 253-535-7602.
Audition Material
Oboes: Perform the following: 1) Ferling Etude No. 6, 2) excerpt from Bach Cantata No. 56, 3) excerpt from Brahms Symphony No. 2, Mvt. 3, 4) excerpt from Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin, Mvt. 3.
Saxophones: 1) Perform one of the two orchestral excerpts provided: Bizet, m. 17-46, or Rachmaninoff, all. 2) Perform a solo work (movements or excerpts are acceptable) of approximately 4-5 minutes, or perform two contrasting etudes (one slow and one fast) from the Ferling 48 Studies. 3) Improvise two choruses of blues in a key of your choice if you wish to demonstrate your jazz capabilities.
Trumpets: Returning students: please perform the exposition (beginning up to measure 146) of the first movement of the Hummel Trumpet Concerto. Parts for Hummel Bb and Eb trumpet are provided. Please also perform at least one of the following excerpts: (1) Opening solo of Mahler’s 5th Symphony, (2) Opening Promenade from Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition, or (3) the Lyric Solo from the second movement of Respighi’s Pines of Rome. These excerpts may be played on a Bb or C trumpet, transposed or untransposed.
New students: please perform any of the above materials, or you may choose the Ropartz Andante et Allegro.
Trombones: Tenor Trombone (all audition excerpts): 1) solo or contrasting etudes of your choice, lasting approximately 2-3 minutes in length. 2) Lip Slur Melodies, etude 1.15 *This etude is taken from Brad Edwards’ text, “Lip Slur Melodies” so all slurs are meant to be played naturally to the instrument, using alternate positions when necessary. In other words, only the first note of each slur should be tongued. If unfamiliar with the concepts of this text, please visit Brad’s webpage at bonezone.org where you can find many free sample pages and details to his intent. Lip Slur Melodies is also a required text for lessons, so please take a moment to purchase the book while visiting the site. 3) La Gazza Ladra 4) Tuba Mirum
Bass Trombone (all audition excerpts): 1) solo or contrasting etudes of your choice, lasting approximately 2-3 minutes in length. 2) Lip Slur Melodies, etude 1.15 *This etude is taken from Brad Edwards’ text, “Lip Slur Melodies” so all slurs are meant to be played naturally to the instrument, using alternate positions when necessary. In other words, only the first note of each slur should be tongued. If unfamiliar with the concepts of this text, please visit Brad’s webpage at bonezone.org where you can find many free sample pages and details to his intent. Lip Slur Melodies is also a required text for lessons, so please take a moment to purchase the book while visiting the site. 3) La Gazza Ladra 4) Schumann Symphony 3
All other Orchestra and Band instruments (including percussion): short etude or solo piece of the auditionee’s choice and a sight-reading passage selected from the season’s repertoire. Woodwind and Brass players may be asked to play a 2-octave scale in addition to their selection and the sight-reading material.
Jazz: sight-reading plus optional brief improvisation over a 12-bar blues in F concert.
Music Ensemble Placement Auditions
Mary Baker Russell Music Center
Choral Auditions
Location: Mary Baker Russell Music Center, Room 306.
Click here to go to the PLU Choral Audition Blog. This link will give new students detailed information about the ensemble placement auditions that will be held in the Mary Baker Russell Music Center during the weekend before fall classes begin.
First Year Student Orientation:
Incoming students should be aware of the new student orientation activities going on simultaneously with the Department of Music ensemble placement auditions. Please do not schedule your audition time during one of these sessions. Click here to view the schedule of activities: New Student Orientation.
Audition Material:
Sing a prepared song of your choice or choose a carol or hymn that is available at the auditions. The directors will then vocalize you to hear your range and ask you to sing some patterns by ear for tonal memory.
An accompanist will be provided for the audition.
Singers should be aware of taking care of their voices during dorm activities.
Schedule:
- Saturday, September 2:
10:00 am – 3:00pm
- Sunday, September 3:
2:00pm-6:00pm
- Monday, September 4:
10:30am-6:00pm
- Tuesday, September 5-Thursday, September 7:
Choral Call Backs-Tuesday through Thursday: Scheduled by Appointment.
The Choral audition schedule is tentative and may change.
Richard Nance, Director of Choral Activities
Brian Galante, Associate Director of Choral Activities
James Brown, Director of Vocal Studies
Questions, please contact the PLU Music Department at 253-535-7602.
Ensemble Placement Results:
After the auditions have been held, ensemble personnel lists will be posted on the bulletin boards in the back stage areas of Mary Baker Russell Music Center. Please check this area often to determine which ensemble(s) you have been assigned too.
Ensemble Registration:
Once the ensemble placement result lists have been posted, all students must complete their ensemble registration in the Music Office (MBRC 206) by the first Friday of Fall semester.
Questions, please contact the PLU Music Department at 253-535-7602.
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