Ensemble Auditions

Viking Band

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!

Bands

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.

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

Read more about bands at WWU!

Choirs

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. Ali Sandweiss Hodges 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.

Read more about choirs at WWU!

Jazz Ensembles

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 Chair Tim Fitzpatrick regarding Vocal Jazz Ensemble.

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

Read more about jazz ensembles!

Orchestras

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.

Read more about orchestras at WWU!

Small and Chamber Ensembles

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 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

Do I have to register for ensembles?

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.

Ensemble Auditions Information

In-Person Auditions

In-person ensemble Auditions are held each year in September just prior to the first day of fall classes. Students can audition on multiple instruments. All in-person auditions will take place in the Performing Arts Center. Mid-year auditions may be possible, please contact the ensemble director for more information.

2025-26 Ensemble auditions will be held on September 22 and 23, 2025. Request a specific audition time by submitting the Ensemble Audition request form. The form opens for submissions on September 2, 2025.

Video Auditions

Video auditions are accepted in early September of each year. Videos must be submitted as shared links to YouTube or Vimeo - be sure to set the Sharing settings on your video to allow us to view it.

Submit your video in the form located at the bottom of this page. The video submission form opens for submissions on September 2, 2025, and closes end of day on September 15.

Audition Results

Audition results will be sent to your WWU email.

• Bands, Choirs, Orchestras: Results will be sent by the end of day on September 23, 2025. Be prepared to attend your ensemble(s) the first week of classes.
• Jazz: Results will be sent by the end of the first week of classes. Be prepared to attend your ensemble the second week of classes.

Band and Orchestra Requirements 2025-26

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

For questions about band auditions, please contact Professor Paul Bain.

For questions about orchestra/strings and harp auditions, please contact Dr. Ryan Dudenbostel and Dr. James Ray.

Small and Chamber Ensembles

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: Dr. Mehrdad Gholami
• Percussion Ensemble: Dr. Patrick Roulet
• Guitar Ensemble: Professor Eli Schille-Hudson
• Small and Chamber Music Information

Choir Requirements 2025-26

1. Sing a song of your choice, accompanied or acapella. An accompanist may be available upon request.

2. You will be given a series of pitches and must sing back what you hear.

3. Sightread a simple melody.

Please contact Dr. Ali Sandweiss Hodges with questions or concerns about choir auditions.

Jazz Big Bands and Combo Requirements 2025-26

Required Pieces

1. Au Privave by Charlie Parker - key of F (concert) - 150 bpm (improvisation optional)
2. A Child is Born by Thad Jones - key of Bb (concert) - 90 bpm - MELODY ONLY

Music and Backing Track Play-A-Longs

Required Scales for Instruments

Bb and F (concert) 2-octave scales, slurred m.m. = 90 bpm

Sight Reading for Instruments

Additional sight reading may be required for students auditioning for lead alto, lead trombone, and lead trumpet chairs in big bands.

Drums - Prepare the following:

1. Grooves at the following tempos: Swing, Funk/Straight 8th, Bossa Nova, 3/4 Waltz - Quarter note = 90, 120, 180, 220.
2. A solo piece for drumset or a solo transcription may be played.
3. Sight read simple excerpts from a big band chart.
4. We may ask a drummer to play along with a horn player.

Voice - Prepare the following:

1. The two required pieces.
2. Two major scales of choice.
3. Sight reading.

Please contact Professor Kevin Woods with questions or concerns about jazz big band and combo auditions.

Vocal Jazz Ensemble Requirements 2025-26

1. Check of vocal range.
2. One prepared piece of your choosing (an accompaniment track is fine) - a jazz ballad or a jazz tune in swing time.
3. Be prepared to discuss your prior experience in singing vocal jazz.

Please contact Chair Tim Fitzpatrick with questions concerns about vocal jazz auditions. 

Fill out the form below to request an ensemble audition. If you are auditioning for multiple instruments, please submit multiple forms.

If you are submitting this form on the audition day, you must first sign up on the physical form outside the audition room, and then submit the online form to confirm your spot.