All entering music majors and minors at Montevallo must audition for acceptance into the degree program of their choice. We urge you to do this during one of our scheduled scholarship audition dates (listed below), so that you may also be considered for a music scholarship. Auditions are held during the fall or spring semester of your senior year.
Music Scholarship Audition Dates:
- Saturday, February 15, 2025
- Saturday, March 15, 2025
To audition and apply to the music department, please complete the audition reservation form below.
Audition Requirements
Voice Area Audition Guidelines
Prepare two memorized songs in contrasting styles with piano accompaniment. An accompanist is provided for each audition at no charge.
- The first song should be “Caro mio ben” or any selection from the 28 Italian Songs and Arias songbook or similar; or choose an art song or folk song sung in a classical style.
- The second song may be a selection of your choice with piano accompaniment.
Please note that choral selections (i.e., singing your individual lines of one of your choir pieces) are not acceptable as solo audition repertoire. Online auditions are accepted under special circumstances and require approval from the voice area.
Please email Dr. Roderick George, Area Head of Voice, at georgerl@a220149.com with specific questions about repertoire and the audition process.
Piano
Two works of contrasting style, selected from standard Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Twentieth-century keyboard literature, at or above the level of difficulty of Bach two-part Inventions, Haydn or Mozart sonata movements, Schubert Moments Musicaux, Chopin preludes, Bartok Rumanian folk dances, memorized. Transfer students wishing to be accepted for upper division study must present an audition consisting of scales and arpeggios and ten minutes of memorized music at or above the minimum level of difficulty for third-year study (a list of typical repertoire is also available). Sight-reading will be part of the audition.
Organ
Two works of contrasting style selected from standard organ literature or, for keyboardists wishing to begin organ instruction, piano literature as required for entering pianists (see above). Sight-reading will be part of the audition.
Classical Guitar
We recognize that pre-college guitar training is varied and somewhat inconsistent. The following information, therefore, is offered as a guideline for your preparation.
We require three pieces to be played for your audition. They should include one technical study showing your ability to play arpeggios and two pieces from contrasting musical periods. The following are pieces commonly played at auditions. All but the technical work should be played from memory:
Studies: Carcassi, 25 Melodious Studies: Nos. 2, 3, 7, 13, 15, Sor, Twenty Studies, edited by Segovia, Giuliani: Any study one page or longer in length.
Repertoire: Six Lute Pieces from the Renaissance, Columbia Music, Villa-Lobos: Any Preludes or Etudes, Max Eschig. Bach: Bouree or Allemande, from First Lute Suite, Sarabande from Third Cello Suite, Any movement from the First Cello Suite, Tarrega: Adelita or Lagrima, Brouwer: Selected works from, Simple Studies, Vol. 1 & 2, Max Eschig.
These pieces are merely suggestions. We urge you to show this list to your teacher and, based on these suggestions, he/she will be able to suggest appropriate pieces you may currently be studying.
Wind/Brass/Percussion
One movement of a concerto or sonata or two pieces that show lyrical technical style. Performing with piano accompaniment is not required, but if you wish to have an accompanist, one can be arranged for the audition. The Alabama All-State Band lyric and technical etudes may also be used for the audition. A list of suggested repertoire for each instrument can be found HERE.
Want More Information?
For more information, contact:
Dr. Lori Ardovino
Chair, Department of Music
University of Montevallo
Station 6670
Montevallo, AL 35115
Email: ardovinl@a220149.com
