Music Admissions & Scholarship Auditions

Welcome!

Music Admission Auditions are required to begin an undergraduate music major or minor and for those applying for new music scholarships. Even if you are not planning to major or minor in music, you are still welcome to audition for scholarships! Interested students must complete an audition on their primary instrument or voice, regardless of their program of interest.

We encourage students to review our available programs of study and introductory information about the Department of Music before moving forward.

Graduate students should review the information on our Master of Music page for a separate audition process.

Audition Checklist

Read General Audition Info
Prepare Audition Requirements
Review Frequently Asked Questions
Submit Audition Form
Apply to WWU, if not already completed

Current WWU student looking for Ensemble Auditions?

Visit the Ensemble Auditions page for more information.

Current Audition Information

Priority Consideration Deadline: February 25, 2024.

Video auditions are accepted after the priority deadline, and students are admitted and offered scholarships on a space-available basis. We encourage students to submit or request an audition even if it is past the priority consideration deadline.

February 24, 25 and March 2, 3, 2024.

All live auditions will take place in the Performing Arts Center (PA/PAC) on North Campus Download or use an interactive campus map. Live audition rooms will be given to students at check-in.

Students must check-in for their audition in the Performing Arts Center (PA/PAC) Lobby. Check-in is available starting at 8:15 a.m. Students are encouraged to arrive a minimum of one hour before their audition time to check in and warm up.

Percussion Day participants may check in between 8:15 and 8:45 a.m.

Live Audition Scheduling

Brass, Percussion, Voice, Woodwind, and Guitar

Students must select a live audition time slot through the Entrance & Scholarship Audition Form.

Piano, Strings & Harp

Students must select a live audition date preference through the Entrance & Scholarship Audition Form. Their area coordinator will email students directly to schedule their audition time based on their date preference.

Audition Cancellation or Rescheduling

Students can communicate directly with their area coordinator regarding audition rescheduling. Students who need to cancel their live audition should email their area coordinator and MusicAdvising@wwu.edu.

Practice Rooms

Practice rooms will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for all students, except piano:

Piano students will be assigned 40 minutes of practice room time immediately before their audition time. Further details regarding the audition day will be sent via email to students roughly two weeks before their audition day.

WWU Closures on Audition Days

If WWU must cancel live auditions due to inclement weather or other, students will be notified via email and text message.

Video submissions are accepted for students who cannot attend on-campus auditions. We strongly encourage students to attend live auditions if possible. Submit videos as shared links to either YouTube or Vimeo through the audition form. Videos that are not public should be shared as unlisted links rather than private. Links should remain active until audition results are received.

Each selection/requirement may be recorded separately, and students will be able to include multiple links in the audition form. Introductions to videos are not required. Students should plan for their instrument to fully be in the frame. Piano auditions should record videos where their hands and at least their upper body are in the frame. Piano music should be memorized.

Audition results are sent on a rolling basis to the email provided in the Entrance & Scholarship Audition Form. All students who meet the priority consideration deadline are given equal consideration.

Major and Minor Acceptance Results

Major and minor acceptance results will be sent by March 15, 2024, for all students who met the priority consideration deadline. Students who audition after the deadline will be notified once a decision has been made.

Scholarship Offer Results

Scholarship results will be sent by March 26, 2024, for all students who met the priority consideration deadline. Students who audition after the deadline will be notified once a decision has been made.

Acceptance to the composition major has two parts: an audition on a primary instrument or voice and the submission of a composition portfolio. Prospective composition majors must submit a successful portfolio of original compositions to be accepted to and begin the Bachelor of Music Composition major. See the Audition Requirements section for portfolio details and area audition requirements.

Not Ready to Submit a Portfolio?

Students who are not prepared to submit a portfolio can still audition for another music major or minor. Students are encouraged to audition for at least the Bachelor of Arts major to get started in core major coursework if accepted to a studio on their primary instrument or voice.

Students can submit a portfolio to apply to the composition major after beginning at WWU. However, please be advised that space in the composition program is limited in such cases and students are therefore not guaranteed acceptance. Please contact Dr. Charles Halka with any questions or concerns.

Degrees & Advising

Students are encouraged to also explore the Prospective Music Stage page for introductory information on core sequences, sample schedules, degree overviews, and optional assessments.

Scholarship Required Enrollment

Scholarship recipients must enroll in private lessons and a major ensemble according to their area of study below. Private lessons will include an additional course fee to enroll. Major ensembles include band, orchestra, and choir. Jazz ensembles do not apply to this requirement unless the scholarship is from the jazz area.

Brass: Enrollment in an ensemble is required, lessons are optional for non-majors/minors and music minors.
Guitar: Enrollment in an ensemble and lessons is required for all recipients.
Percussion: Enrollment in an ensemble and lessons is required for all recipients.
Piano: Enrollment in lessons is required, ensemble enrollment is optional for non-majors/minors and music minors.
Strings: Enrollment in an ensemble and lessons are required for all recipients.
Voice: Enrollment in an ensemble and lessons is required for all recipients.
Woodwind: Enrollment in an ensemble and lessons is required for all recipients.
Jazz: Enrollment in an ensemble is required for all recipients.

Piano/Keyboarding Skills

Competency on the piano is not required for major or minor admission to the brass, percussion, string & guitar, voice, or woodwind area. Students in these programs build basic and intermediate skills on the piano through keyboarding skills courses.

Piano majors and those with extensive piano lesson experience will take an advanced and accelerated set of keyboarding skills courses.

Travel and Accommodations and Parking

The Bellingham area has several hotels that offer a WWU discount! Please visit the Accommodations website for further details.

Please review the information on the College of Fine and Performing Arts Getting Here page. We will not supply a parking code for audition days. Please note, that visitors will most likely need to park in the C/CR lots on Friday audition days. Some students with large instruments may prefer to be dropped off next to parking lot 11G and check in while their guests/family park and walk to the PAC. See the CFPA Getting Here page and Visitor Parking Guide for assistance locating 11G.

Tours and Other Opportunities

Students are encouraged to sign up for a virtual or campus tour through the admissions office!

Complete the audition checklist

Prepare the audition requirements listed below according to your primary instrument/voice area. Students may choose to audition on more than one instrument/voice. Please contact the corresponding area coordinator with questions or concerns. Prospective composition majors must complete an audition on their primary instrument/voice and submit a portfolio of work.

Email Gustavo Camacho with any questions you may have.

Instrument	Requirements	Instructor
Horn	Any solo or etude that demonstrates your current technical level on your instrument (What we are listening for: clean tonguing, fingerings, lip flexibility, range, rhythm accuracy, steady time) Any solo or etude featuring lyrical passages (What we are listening for: musical phrasing, constant air flow, tone quality, volume control) Major and minor scales and arpeggios through four sharps and four flats may be requested at the on-campus audition only (What we are listening for: basic knowledge of key signatures)	Gustavo Camacho
Trumpet	Any solo or etude that demonstrates your current technical level on your instrument (What we are listening for: clean tonguing, fingerings, lip flexibility, range, rhythm accuracy, steady time) Any solo or etude featuring lyrical passages (What we are listening for: musical phrasing, constant air flow, tone quality, volume control) Major and minor scales and arpeggios through four sharps and four flats may be requested at the on-campus audition only (What we are listening for: basic knowledge of key signatures)	Vincent Green
Tuba	Any solo or etude that demonstrates your current technical level on your instrument (What we are listening for: clean tonguing, slide positions, lip flexibility, range, rhythm accuracy, steady time) Any solo or etude featuring lyrical passages (What we are listening for: musical phrasing, constant air flow, tone quality, volume control) Major and minor scales and arpeggios through four sharps and four flats may be requested at the on-campus audition only (What we are listening for: basic knowledge of key signatures)	Peder McClellan
Trombone	Tenor/Bass Trombone Any solo or etude that demonstrates your current technical level on your instrument (What we are listening for: clean tonguing, fingerings, lip flexibility, range, rhythm accuracy, steady time) Any solo or etude featuring lyrical passages (What we are listening for: musical phrasing, constant air flow, tone quality, volume control)	Greg Cox
Euphonium	Any solo or etude that demonstrates your current technical level on your instrument (What we are listening for: clean tonguing, fingerings, lip flexibility, range, rhythm accuracy, steady time) Any solo or etude featuring lyrical passages (What we are listening for: musical phrasing, constant air flow, tone quality, volume control)	Peder McClellan

Guitar Area Checklist

Review audition requirements
Review audition details
Review audition resources

Email Eli Schille-Hudson with any questions or concerns.

Audition Requirements

Any Major scale and any natural-minor scale, each spanning two octaves, played apoyando.
Any exercise from Mauro Giuliani’s Centoventi Arpeggi, 1-10.
One of the following:
- Any study by Fernando Sor OR
- Any study from Leo Brouwer’s Estudios Sencillos
A selection the applicant chooses to reflect their strengths as a musician. Any style is welcome; improvisations and original compositions also welcome.

Audition Details

Items 1-3 must be performed finger-style in a classical playing position (with a footstool or support) on a nylon string classical guitar.
Item 4 may be performed on any guitar in a sitting position of the applicant’s choice.
Scale notation, tablature, and fingering resources are available for free through our Google Drive folder.
Giuliani resources are available for free through our Google Drive folder.
Fernando Sor (opp. 6, 29, 31, 35, 44, 60) are available for purchase via Telca Editions, and for available for free through our Google Drive folder.
Leo Brouwer's Estudio Sencillos is available via Sheet Music Plus.

Audition Resources

Scale notation, tablature, and fingering resources are available for free through our Google Drive folder.
Giuliani resources are available for free through our Google Drive folder.
Fernando Sor (opp. 6, 29, 31, 35, 44, 60) are available for purchase via Telca Editions, and for available for free through our Google Drive folder.
Leo Brouwer's Estudio Sencillos is available via Sheet Music Plus.

For the 2024 Music Department Entrance and Scholarship Auditions, prospective percussion and drumset students should sign up for one of the Percussion Days for Prospective Students. There are no required solos, scales or etudes for the audition. Students will participate in world drumming ensembles percussion duets and large percussion ensemble rehearsals. Drumset concentration students will need to sign up for a Jazz Audition in addition. For more information, email Dr. Patrick Roulet, the percussion area coordinator.

Email Milica Jelača Jovanović with any questions or concerns. Students auditioning for scholarships only are encouraged to prepare for the music major requirements.

Important Details

Repertoire Restrictions: At this time, students cannot present pop, rock, new age, or personal compositions at auditions. See other specific repertoire requirements below according to major/minor status.
Repertoire Difficulty: The minimum level of difficulty should be like the following: Bach, “Short Preludes” & “Inventions;” Clementi; Haydn; Mozart & Beethoven “Sonatinas;" Bartok “Mikrokosmos” Books 3 & 4.
Memorized Pieces: All pieces must be memorized. At this time, prospective music minors cannot present personal compositions, pop, rock, or new-age piano music at auditions.
Sight Reading Assessment: Sight reading will be evaluated for academic purposes at on-campus auditions but does not weigh into admission decisions.

Interest	Requirements
Non-Major/Minor	One piece from the following style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, 20th/21st Century Classical. One other contrasting piece. This may be from the jazz genre.
Music Minor	One piece from the following style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, 20th/21st Century Classical. One other contrasting piece. This may be from the jazz genre. If also auditioning for a music major, please prepare the major requirements only.
Music Major	One Baroque (~1600-1750) or Classical Period (~1750-1830) piece. Two additional contrasting pieces from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, or 20^th/21^st Century Classical periods only. Jazz is not accepted for major auditions.

Interest

Requirements

Non-Major/Minor

One piece from the following style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, 20th/21st Century Classical.
One other contrasting piece. This may be from the jazz genre.

Music Minor

One piece from the following style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, 20th/21st Century Classical.
One other contrasting piece. This may be from the jazz genre.

If also auditioning for a music major, please prepare the major requirements only.

Music Major

One Baroque (~1600-1750) or Classical Period (~1750-1830) piece.
Two additional contrasting pieces from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, or 20^th/21^st Century Classical periods only. Jazz is not accepted for major auditions.

Email the Strings Area Coordinator, Grant Donnellan, with any questions or concerns. Accompaniment is not required.

Instrument	Requirements	Instructor
Violin	One movement of a Solo Sonata or Partita by J.S. Bach. One movement of a Major Concerto OR a Virtuoso Work. Concerto Examples: Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Saint-Saens, Sibelius, Tchaikovsky, Bruch, Barber, Vieuxtemps, Wieniwski, et al, Virtuoso Examples: Saint-Saens Havanaise or Introduction and Rondo Capriciosso, Wieniawski Polonaise Brillante, Sarasate Zapateado, Ravel Tzigane, Kreisler Praeludium and Allegro, et al. One Etude: any of the etudes/caprices of Kreutzer, Rode, Fiorillo, Dont (op. 35) Gavinies, Paganini, Wieniawski (opus 10) or Ernst. One scale of your choice, three or four octaves at a moderate tempo, six to eight notes per bow. One major and relative minor arpeggio of your choice, three or four octaves.	Grant Donnellan, Laura Camacho
Viola	3-octave scale of your choice. 1 movement of Bach Solo Suite. 1 movement of a Sonata (by Brahms, Clarke, Schubert, etc.) or Concerto (by Walton, Bartok, Hindemith, Stamitz, etc.) demonstrating your current level of musicianship and technique.	Joseph Gottesman
Cello	3 or 4-octave scale of your choice. Etude by Popper or similar. Two contrasting works from different stylistic periods. Eg. Bach Solo Suite and Sonata (by Brahms/Grieg/Shostakovich etc.) or Concerto (by Saint-Saens, Lalo, Dvorak, Haydn, etc.) or shorter concert work is also acceptable.	Janet Steinberg
Double Bass	1 etude from Nanny’s “Complete Methods” book 1 OR solo of candidate’s choice. Two contrasting orchestral excerpts (one by Mozart). Scales through half, 1st & 2nd positions.	Dylan Palmer
Harp	Two pieces of different styles, memorized. Examples; Handel Concerto in B-flat, Haydn Theme & Variations, Pescetti C Major Sonata, Pierne Impromptu Caprice, Debussy First Arabesque, selections from Suite of Eight Dances by Salzedo. Major and melodic minor scales. Sight reading at on-campus auditions only.	Jill Whitman

Voice Area Checklist

Review video or live audition details
Review audition requirements
Review audition resources

Email Directory of Voice Studies, Dr. Richard Hodges, with any questions or concerns.

Audition Modality

Accompaniment is not required for live auditions or video auditions. A pianist will be available for live auditions and will sight-read pieces during the audition slot.

Video Auditions: Any student may submit a video audition, regardless of location. Video auditions are accepted as shared links only to Youtube or Vimeo. Please note, students may be contacted by the voice area to schedule a Zoom meeting for an interview, pitch matching, and sight reading. See the resources for pitch matching and sight reading below.
Live Auditions: Students should be prepared to sing their piece(s), along with pitch matching, sight reading, and engage in a short interview. Students are not required to have sight-reading experience, this is used as a tool to get a full picture of each auditioning student. Due to the 10-minute time slot, students may be stopped mid-way through their piece(s). If we stop you mid-way through any part of the audition, please know it does not reflect on the quality of what was offered.

Audition Requirements

Please prepare the following requirements based on your degree and/or scholarship interest. All students will be automatically considered for scholarships.

Interest	Audition Requirement
Scholarship Only, Non-Music Major/Minor	Prepare one piece of your choosing, any genre or style.
Music Minor	Prepare one piece of your choosing, any genre or style. If auditioning for a music major and/or performance major, please prepare those requirements only.
Music Major: General Music Studies (BA), Composition (BMus), Musicology (BMus), Music Education P-12 (BMus)	Prepare one piece of your choosing, any genre or style. If also auditioning for the performance major, please prepare only the performance major requirements.
Music Major: Performance (BMus)	Prepare two pieces of contrasting styles from the following options: Folksong Art Song Aria We encourage your pieces to be from two different language traditions, but this is not required.

Audition Resources

Audition Requirements

Sight Reading and Pitch Matching

It is okay for students to not have experience with sight reading. Sight-reading and pitch matching are used as a tool for assessment to get a full picture of each student.

Email the Woodwind Area Coordinator, Mehrdad Gholami, with any questions or concerns. Accompaniment is not required. Students may be contacted for a zoom interview.

Instrument	Requirements	Instructor
Flute	Two contrasting etudes from "Melodious and Progressive Studies", Book one, revised by Robert Cavally or 25 Romantic Etudes, Opus 66 by Ernesto Kohler Flute solo of choice	Mehrdad Gholami
Clarinet	Two contrasting etudes from “32 Studies” by Cyrille Rose Clarinet solo of choice	Rachel Yoder
Bassoon	Two Weissenborn or Advanced Rubank études Bassoon solo of choice	Pat Nelson
Saxophone	Two studies from Ferling 48 Famous Studies, Rubank Selected Studies, Klose 25 Exercises or Niehaus Jazz Studies Saxophone solo of choice	Fred Winkler
Oboe	Prepare and perform two pieces of your choice that demonstrate: your technical ability, your musical expressiveness, and contrasting in style, tempo, etc. music you love and connect with Oboe Required Statement and Guidelines Submit a statement about what it is you love about playing music, and the oboe in particular. We are interested in who you are, what music means to you, how long you’ve been playing, what kinds of musical experiences you’ve had, and how you envision music being part of your life at WWU and beyond. Students are encouraged to review the following links for standard training methods and repertoire examples. The Barret Oboe Method The 48 Ferling Studies Oboe Solos from the standard oboe repertoire International Music Score Library Project.	Jennifer Weeks

Acceptance to the composition major has two parts: an audition on a primary instrument or voice and the submission of a composition portfolio. If you have not reviewed your primary instrument/voice audition requirements, please do so now.

Prospective composition majors must submit a successful portfolio of original compositions to be accepted to and begin the Bachelor of Music Composition major. Students who are not ready to submit a portfolio may audition for another other major or minor through Entrance & Scholarship Auditions! Please review the portfolio requirements and/or "Not Ready to Submit a Portfolio" sections below.

Portfolio Requirements

Prepare the following materials for your composition portfolio. Submit your portfolio items as shared links (or a single link to a shared folder with all files) in the Entrance & Scholarship Audition form. Ensure the sharing settings are set to "anyone with the link can view," and that all links remain active/available until notified of the acceptance decision.

2-3 original compositions. There is no requirement in terms of musical style, but the compositions should be the best representation of the applicant's current interests and abilities.
At least one composition should be notated (PDF format preferred). Audio recordings are required if a composition is not notated. Audio recordings for notated works are not required but are helpful.

Not Ready to Submit a Portfolio

Students who are not prepared to submit a portfolio can still audition for another music major or minor! Students are encouraged to audition for at least the Bachelor of Arts major to get started in core major coursework if accepted to a studio on their primary instrument or voice.

Students can submit a portfolio to apply to the composition major after beginning at WWU. However, please be advised that space in the composition program is limited in such cases and students are therefore not guaranteed acceptance. Please contact Dr. Charles Halka with any questions or concerns.

Complete the audition checklist

Yes. Students must apply to WWU through the Admissions Office. Students can audition for our program at any time before or after submitting an admissions application. Students do not need to wait for WWU acceptance to audition. Please note, acceptance to the music major or minor does not guarantee admission to the general university. Students must eventually be accepted through the WWU Admissions Office to enroll as a music major or minor and it is possible for a student to be accepted to our major or minor and not be admitted through the WWU Admissions Office.

No accompaniment is required to audition for our program. Instrumentalists will play without accompaniment. We will provide an accompanist for voice auditions, but this is optional. Students auditioning for the voice area may sing acapella, with the provided accompanist, or with a backing track/pre-recorded accompaniment.

Yes! Students can audition on more than one instrument for scholarships and major/minor consideration.

An entrance audition is required to start the music major and minor core classes. These classes include music theory, aural skills, and keyboarding skills, music education courses, composition courses, and music history courses.

Students who choose not to audition for our program have many opportunities to participate in our department. Students can enroll in ensembles, music GURs, MUS 101, and applied/composition lessons. While students can enroll in University Choir without an audition, all other ensembles will require a fall quarter Ensemble Audition to enroll. Some studios may require a studio audition or instructor permission to join an applied area or to enroll in composition lessons.

No, you do not need to submit recommendation letters to audition.

The Entrance & Scholarship Application form acts as an application for the music program.

This audition process does not place students into ensembles. All students will complete ensemble auditions each year before the start of the academic year. Please visit the Ensemble and Ensemble Auditions page for more details.

Competency on the piano is not required for major or minor admission to the brass, percussion, string & guitar, voice, or woodwind area. Students in these programs build basic and intermediate skills on the piano through keyboarding skills courses.

Piano majors and those with extensive piano lesson experience will take an advanced and accelerated set of keyboarding skills courses.

Complete the audition checklist

Music Admissions and Scholarship Form

Before you go on...

Please make sure you have reviewed the audition information and prepared your audition requirements. Those submitting video audition should be prepared to submit shared links to Youtube or Vimeo.

Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*).

General Information

Audition Format

Audition Area

Instrument

Voice Type

Before you go on, record your audition

Please record your audition before proceeding. Your video audition must be ready to submit as a shared link(s) before submitting this form.

First Name

Last Name

W number or birthdate

Pronouns - optional

Email

Phone

Address

Address 2

City/Town

State/Province

ZIP/Postal Code

Country/Territory

Incoming Status

Application Quarter

WWU Application

Accepted to WWU?

Current High School

Current or most recent institution

Current GPA

Please indicate previous degree.

Graduation Date

If also taking college courses, please indicate college or university

AA/DTA Status

Please select your previous Bachelor's degree.

Musical Background

Use the space below to describe any background you take to be formative in your development as a musician thus far.

You may (but are not required to) discuss your former teachers, music-making with family or friends, songwriting, composition, music production, ensemble playing, summer programs/festivals, theatre/musical theatre productions, or instrumental/vocal study outside the area in which you plan to audition.

You may also include any additional information you feel is important in representing yourself as a musician, student, or member of your community.

Please note that beyond the Audition Requirements for each area of study, our degree programs do not require any specific musical background as a condition of admission.

Background

Link to Resume

If you would like to provide a resume summarizing your musical, academic, or other accomplishments, you may do so in the field below. Please ensure the sharing permissions are “anyone with a link can view,” and that the link remains active until you have received your audition results via email.

Music Curriculum Background

This information does not weigh into admission decisions. Students should not worry if they have not completed college courses or AP exams.

The following questions help the music advisor determine whether students qualify for our music core equivalency assessments which students take before enrollment.

Other institutions sometimes combine written music theory and aural skills in the same course. If you have completed coursework for which that has been the case, you may list yourself as having transferrable credits in both subjects.

Music Theory Courses or AP Theory Exam

Aural Skills Courses or AP Theory Exam

Keyboarding (Class Piano) Courses

Piano/Keyboarding Background

The following question helps us determine whether to place you in beginning, intermediate, or advanced keyboarding skills. Students in the brass, percussion, strings & guitar, voice, and woodwind areas are not required to have piano competency to be admitted as music students.

Have you taken private piano lessons?

How many years?

Music Degrees

At Entrance & Scholarship Auditions, students complete an audition for major/minor acceptance and/or scholarships. Students auditioning for major/minor acceptance should select the degrees they are interested in studying below. Students auditioning for scholarship consideration only should select “Non-Music Major/Minor.”

Those accepted as a music major, or minor are eligible to start core classes for that degree in Fall 2023. While audition requirements are the same, consideration for each degree program is different. Students are not committed to these degree programs and will have the opportunity to confirm or decline their acceptance by May 2023 and prior to enrollment. Students are encouraged to explore the music major options.

Music Degree Choice

Non-Music Major/Minor

Music Minor

Bachelor of Arts in Music (BA)

Bachelor of Music in Performance (BMus)

Bachelor of Music in Composition

Bachelor of Music Education P-12

Bachelor of Music in History & Literature

Other major interest

Live Auditions

Audition scheduling options will become available to select once you have indicated your "Audition Area," "Instrument," and/or "Voice Type" from the selections above.

Select your audition date preference below. Your audition time slot will be assigned based on your date preference and emailed to you by the audition area coordinator. If you have scheduling conflicts with audition dates, please list those under the scheduling conflict section below. We will do our best to accommodate your preferences.

Select your audition time below. Please select the earliest time possible. If there are no more time slots available, or you have a scheduling conflict with remaining time slots, please contact your corresponding audition area coordinator for assistance.

Dates