Musicians
Majors that require music auditions
Scholarships for music majors
Exceptional auditions may qualify you for scholarship funding that is distributed by the music faculty. If you are a recipient, these scholarships will appear on your financial aid award letter.
Ensemble scholarships for non-music majors
Non-music majors who sing or play an instrument are encouraged to audition. If you are placed in an ensemble at Nazareth, you will be considered for a music scholarship.
Timing
Auditions for admission/scholarships are held from November to April in the Gerald G. Wilmot Hall of Music on Nazareth College’s campus. In addition, Nazareth holds auditions in select cities throughout the northeast.
Register for an audition
View available dates and register for a music audition online, or call Undergraduate Admissions, 800-462-3944 or 585-389-2860.
Register
Complete SlideRoom music portfolio
Before your audition, complete a Music Degree Portfolio using SlideRoom. (No fee.) It is important to have this supplement completed before you arrive to speed up the registration and audition process on your audition day.
What to expect at the audition
- Auditions are between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Time is provided for warm-up and a brief rehearsal.
- For music majors: Theory Placement exams are at 8:30 a.m. First-year examinations normally require one hour. Additional time is scheduled for junior-year placement, which is done by exam only.
- For music majors: Sight-singing and piano proficiency exams are scheduled within the remaining time.
- A personal interview follows the audition.
- Music/Business applicants have the option to follow a different audition format. Audition Details.
Specific Requirements by Instrument
Piano
- Perform 2 or 3 memorized works selected from contrasting historical style periods - Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th-Century. B.M. in Performance applicants must perform 3 works.
- Scales/arpeggios (two octaves hands together) may be requested.
- Sight-reading
For questions concerning repertoire selection or piano audition requirements, contact Dr. Jacob Ertl, jertl2@naz.edu.
Organ
- One work by J.S. Bach or another Baroque composer
- One primarily virtuosic piece by either a romantic or contemporary period composer.
- One primarily lyrical piece by a romantic or contemporary composer.
- Scales/arpeggios (two octaves hands together) may be requested.
- Sight-reading
Voice
The entrance audition demonstrates the student's ability to sing in tune with good quality, correct rhythm, and musical intelligence.
- Audition repertoire for all degree programs must include at least two languages and contrasting historical styles.
- All selections must be memorized.
- Musical theater, jazz, or pop styles are not acceptable.
- Students auditioning for the Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Music Therapy, Music Theory, Music History, and Bachelor of Arts degrees must present three pieces selected from the standard classical vocal repertoire suitable to the candidate's age and ability. Students auditioning for the Bachelor of Music in Performance must present four pieces.
- Sight-reading
Brass and Woodwinds
- All scales, as well as solo material which demonstrates the practical range of the instrument and a variety of slurring and tonguing techniques.
- Two solo pieces or movements of contrast in tempi are required.
- Sight-reading
Guitar
- Scales in two or three octaves (Segovia) played with two or more of the following combinations: i m i m/ i a i a/ m a m a/ a m i/ i m a m
- Studies by Carcassi, Sor, Giuliani, Brouwer, et cetera
- Two pieces representing contrasting styles, such as works by Milan, Sor, Tarrega, Villa-Lobos, or Brouwer
- Sight-reading
Strings
- A 3-octave major scale and related melodic minor scale with accompanying major and minor arpeggios of the applicants choice
- Two compositions or two contrasting movements from two different compositions. Selections must be of contrasting tempi or different time periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Contemporary).
- One Movement of an Unaccompanied Suite or Partita by J.S. Bach
- One Etude or Technical Study
- Sight-reading
Percussion
- A short solo on each of the following instruments: snare drum, marimba, and timpani.
- Rudiments, scales and arpeggios, and timpani tuning will also be included.
- As a general guide, NYSMMA level V and VI solos are preferred with level IV acceptable in an area of less experience.
- Sight-reading
Sample literature includes:
- Rudimental Swing Solos by Wilcoxen
- Portraits in Rhythm by Cirone
- Three Dances for Snare Drum by Warren Benson
- Violin Sonata in A Minor, movement I or III by Bach
- Suite for Xylophone and Orchestra by David Carey
- selections from Raggedy Ragtime Rags by Randy Eyles
- Juniper by Kristen Shiner McGuire
- Suite for Timpani by Dave Mancini
- selections from The Solo Timpanist by Vic Firth
- Seven Solo Dances for the Advanced Timpanist by George Frock
- Sonata for Timpani by John Beck
Those wishing to play drum set may do so as well during the audition day for the percussion faculty, schedule to be arranged.
