Ensemble Auditions

The WWU Viking Band is a large pep band. The Viking Band plays at all home WWU Volleyball and WWU Men's and Women's Basketball Games at Carver Gym, creating an energetic and positive environment for students and fans by supporting our teams with high-energy music and loud cheering. 

Any WWU student may join the Viking Band! Drumline members will be expected to complete a short audition at the start of the academic year. There is no audition for brass or woodwinds. 

Read more about Viking Band and how to join!

We offer three bands: Symphonic Band, Symphonic Winds, and Wind Symphony.

Non-music majors/minors may enroll in Symphonic Band (MUS 272) without an audition.

Symphonic Winds and Wind Symphony require an audition. It may be possible to join mid-year, contact Professor Paul Bain for more information.

Music majors, minors, and music scholarship recipients are required to complete an ensemble audition for assignment into one of the three bands.

Our bands currently meet at the following times. Please note that these schedules are subject to change.

• Symphonic Band, MUS 272: W 6:00-7:50 pm
• Symphonic Winds, MUS 372: T/Th 4:00-5:50 pm
• Wind Symphony, MUS 472: T/Th, 2:00-3:50 pm

Read more about bands at WWU!

We offer three large choirs and one small chamber group. Our large choirs consist of Concert Choir (SATB), Advanced Treble Chorale (SA), and University Choir (SATB). Our small chamber group, Western Voices, is typically 16 to 18 voice (SATB) and meets in the fall quarter only. 

Non-music majors/minors may enroll in University Choir (MUS 271) without an audition.

Concert Choir and Advanced Treble Chorale require an audition. It may be possible to join mid-year, contact Dr. Angela Kasper for more information.

All three choirs meet the “major ensemble” requirement for music majors, minors, and music scholarship recipients. An audition is required for assignment into the appropriate choir.

Our choirs currently meet at the following times. Please note that these schedules are subject to change.

• University Choir, MUS 271: M/W/F, 2:00-2:50 pm
• Advanced Treble Chorale, MUS 371: M/W/Th/F, 1:00-1:50 pm
• Concert Choir, MUS 471: M/T/W/Th/F, 12:00-12:50 pm
• Western Voices, MUS 283: T/Th, 2:00-2:50 pm (fall quarter only)

Read more about choirs at WWU!

We offer two big bands, four jazz combos, and a vocal jazz group with various combinations of instrumentalists and vocalists. All jazz ensembles require an audition. It may be possible to join mid-year. Contact Professor Kevin Woods for information about Jazz Combos and Dr. Richard Hodges regarding Vocal Jazz Ensemble.

Participation in a jazz ensemble does not meet the “major ensemble” requirement for music majors, minors, and music scholarship recipients.

Our jazz ensembles currently meet at the following times. Please note that these schedules are subject to change.

Big Bands

• Jazz Big Band I, MUS 474: M/W/F, 3:00-3:50 pm
• Jazz Big Band II, MUS 274: M/W/F, 2:00-2:50 pm

Jazz Combos

• Jazz Combo I, MUS 475: T/Th, 12:00-12:50 pm
• Jazz Combo II, MUS 475: T/Th, 11:00-11:50 pm
• Jazz Combo III, MUS 275: W, 1:00-1:50 pm
• Jazz Combo IV, MUS 275: F, 1:00-1:50 pm

Vocal Jazz

• Vocal Jazz, MUS 284: T/Th 4:00-5:20 pm

Read more about jazz ensembles!

We offer the Western Symphony Orchestra and the String Sinfonia.

Both ensembles require an audition. It may be possible to join mid-year, please contact Dr. Ryan Dudenbostel and Dr. James Ray for more information. 

Both ensembles meet the “major ensemble” requirement for music majors, minors, and music scholarship recipients. An audition is required for assignment into the appropriate ensemble.

Our ensembles currently meet at the following times. Please note that these schedules are subject to change.

• Symphony Orchestra, MUS 473: M/W/F, 12:00-1:20 pm
• String Sinfonia, MUS 273: M/W/F, 1:30-2:50 pm

Read more about orchestras at WWU!

We offer the following small and chamber ensembles at various times of the year. Students will be considered for brass, woodwind, string, and mixed chamber groups based on their band and/or ensemble auditions. Please explore our small and chamber group offerings! See Browse Classes for course information.

• Guitar Ensemble, MUS 282
• Bassoon Ensemble, MUS 281
• Flute Ensemble, MUS 281
• Percussion Ensemble, MUS 281
• NowHearThis! (New Music Ensemble), MUS 485
• Woodwind, brass, string chamber groups, and mixed ensembles, MUS 281

Yes, students must register for their assigned ensemble(s) to participate. The only exception is Viking Band, which is not offered as a course. Each course is repeatable for credit and may be used towards graduation requirements such as upper-division (300 and 400-level courses), electives, and the 180 credits required to graduate from WWU.

Students cannot enroll in auditioned ensembles until after Ensemble Auditions have concluded. To plan your schedule ahead of time, we suggest students either hold time slots in their schedule for their preferred ensemble or be willing to shift their schedule after placement. Please note, placement into your preferred ensemble is not guaranteed.

Excerpts

Students must prepare the audition requirements assigned to their instrument(s). Excerpts are available for download via the links below. In addition, be sure to download the How to Prepare Audition Excerpts PDF to help you prepare for your audition.

Brass, Percussion, & Winds - Ensemble Audition Excerpts

Strings & Harp - Ensemble Audition Excerpts

Questions

• Band: Please contact Dr. Paul Bain with questions or concerns about band auditions.
• Orchestra: Please contact Dr. Ryan Dudenbostel and Dr. James Ray with questions or concerns about orchestra/strings and harp auditions.

Based on their band and orchestra auditions, students will be considered for brass, woodwind, string, and mixed chamber groups. Students who did not audition in September may contact the area coordinator directly for potential mid-year admittance into an ensemble.

Students can email the following directors to inquire about joining other small ensembles.

• Flute Choir: Mehrdad Gholami
• Percussion Ensemble: Patrick Roulet
• Guitar Ensemble: Eli Schille-Hudson
• Small and Chamber Music Page

 At your hearing, you will be required to:

• Sing a song of your choice, accompanied or acapella. An accompanist may be available upon request.
• You will be given a series of pitches and must sing back what you hear.
• Sightread a simple melody. 

Please contact Dr. Angela Kasper with questions or concerns about choir auditions.

Prepare the following:

• .Sonny Rollins' Doxy (download below).
• 2-octave major scales in Bb and F. 
• Sight reading.
• Students may choose to improvise on Doxy.

Those wanting to be section lead players may also be asked to demonstrate sound/range.  Saxophonists will be asked about additional instruments played (flute, clarinet, bass clarinet etc.) 

PDFs and MP3 Download

Download Doxy PDFs and backing track MP3. The download includes the following keys C, Bb, Eb, and music in bass clef.

Please contact Professor Kevin Woods with questions or concerns about jazz auditions.

Prepare the following:

• Performance of the melody from Sonny Rollins' Doxy (download below).
• A full chorus with Freddie Green style chord comping on Sonny Rollins' Doxy (download below).
• Two 2-octave major scales in the keys of your choosing.
• Sight reading of both melody and chords.
• Students may choose to improvise on Sonny Rollins' Doxy.

PDFs and MP3 Download

Download Doxy PDFs and backing track MP3. The download includes the following keys C, Bb, Eb, and music in bass clef.

Please contact Professor Kevin Woods with questions or concerns about jazz auditions.

Prepare the following:

• Performance of the melody from Sonny Rollins' Doxy (download below).
• 1 Chorus comping on Sonny Rollins' Doxy.
• Two 2-octave major scales in the keys of your choosing.
• Sight reading of both melody and chords.
• Students may choose to improvise on Sonny Rollins' Doxy.

PDFs and MP3 Download

Download Doxy PDFs and backing track MP3.

Please contact Professor Kevin Woods with questions or concerns about jazz auditions.

Prepare the following:

• A performance of the melody from Sonny Rollins' Doxy (download below).
• A walking bass/bassline chorus on Sonny Rollins' Doxy.
• Two 2-octave major scales in the keys of your choosing.
• Sight reading of both melody and chords.
• Students may choose to improvise on Sonny Rollins' Doxy.

PDFs and MP3 Download

Download Doxy PDFs and backing track MP3. The download includes the following keys C, Bb, Eb, and music in bass clef. 

Please contact Professor Kevin Woods with questions or concerns about jazz auditions.

Prepare the following:

• The following grooves at the following tempos: Swing, Funk/Straight 8th, Bossa Nova, 3/4 Waltz - Quarter note = 90, 120, 180, 220.
• A solo piece for drumset or a solo transcription may be played. 
• Sight read simple excerpts from a big band chart.

We may ask a drummer to play along with a horn player.

Please contact Professor Kevin Woods with questions or concerns about jazz auditions.

Jazz Big Bands & Combos

Prepare the following:

• Sonny Rollins' Doxy (download below).
• Two major scales of choice.
• Sight reading.
• Students may choose to improvise on Sonny Rollins' Doxy.

PDFs and MP3 Download

Download Doxy PDFs and backing track MP3. The download includes the following keys C, Bb, Eb, and music in bass clef.

Please contact Professor Kevin Woods with questions or concerns about jazz auditions. 

Vocal Jazz Ensemble

Prepare the following:

• A check of vocal range.
• Pitch memory check (5 notes played on the piano and sung back on neutral syllable).
• Two prepared pieces of contrasting style (an accompaniment track is fine) - a slow ballad, and a jazz tune in swing time.
• Be prepared to discuss your prior experience in singing vocal jazz.