All steps are required.
1. Complete the appropriate application:
2. Schedule your interview date: See available dates and register.
Interviews are held from fall to spring — and all are virtual in 2020-2021 due to physical distancing guidelines. Your interview date will include:
For details about preparing your audition or portfolio review, please scroll to the appropriate section under “Prepare for your audition/portfolio review.”
3. Before your interview, submit your required audition or portfolio material (detailed below).
At least one week before your interview or portfolio review date, create your online account and use it to provide your audition/portfolio materials, including supplemental material. This is required.
4. Prepare for your audition or your portfolio review using the details below:
Music | Theatre | Dance | Art & Design
For musical theatre, see the THEATRE audition information below.
For music majors: All students are considered for scholarship opportunities. If awarded, the scholarship will be included in your financial aid award letter.
For non-music majors: You are welcome and encouraged to audition for a non-music-major ensemble scholarship ($1,000 to $1,500 per year) to perform in a Nazareth College choir, band, orchestra, or jazz ensemble. You do not have to receive a scholarship to perform in any Nazareth College music ensemble.
Jazz musicians: The Paul and Beverly Smoker Jazz scholarship is awarded annually to an entering first-year music major who minors in jazz. To apply for the jazz scholarship, send a video audition with at least two examples — either solo performances with jazz groups and/or a solo jazz work that represents improvisation and playing over appropriate chord changes. Send your submission or any questions directly to Prof. Nancy Strelau, nstrela1@naz.edu. Video audition deadline: March 15.
Watch Prof. Nancy Strelau's video: How to Ace Your Music Audition >
SCHEDULE
One week before your interview date
Your audition should be uploaded to Slide Room with the questionnaire completed. In addition to recorded audition material, you have the option to include a resume but it is not required. If you have any problem with this process, contact Devon Ash at dash2@naz.edu.
Five days before your interview date
You will receive links to our parent Q&A (with faculty and student ambassadors), student Q&A (with student ambassadors), your individual student interview with time, and a piano assessment.
One day before your interview date
You will receive a music theory and aural skills assessment to be completed and sent back to sender as soon as you have completed both assessments. (Assessments are used to register you for the appropriate section of Piano Class, Music Theory and Aural Skills. Assessments are not used to evaluate your application to the School of Music.)
Interview day
WHAT ELSE TO EXPECT
Prepare for your recorded audition following the detailed instructions for instrument/vocal on this page.
Music composition majors: Your audition on a performance instrument will be followed by a composition interview. If available, please bring scores and/or recordings of your best work. Online links to recordings and videos are acceptable.
Music/business majors have the option to follow a different audition format, as detailed below.
Prepare for your audition following the detailed instructions for instrument/vocal on this page.
Music composition majors: Your audition on a performance instrument will be followed by a composition interview. Please bring scores and/or recordings of your best work. Online links to recordings and videos are acceptable.
Music/business majors have the option to follow a different audition format, as detailed below.
For questions concerning repertoire selection or piano audition requirements, contact Dr. Jacob Ertl, jertl2@naz.edu.
The entrance audition demonstrates your ability to sing in tune with good quality, correct rhythm, and musical intelligence.
Violinists, violists, cellists:
Double bassists:
Harpists:
Sample literature includes:
All music/business applicants interview with music/business faculty as part of your audition and you will take placement examinations in theory, aural skills, and piano.
You may choose the regular music-major audition format (see "Prepare for Music-Major Audition" on this page) OR if you have experience and interest in contemporary styles such as jazz, pop, rock, or musical theater, you may elect to present an audition with the following repertoire:
Voice
1. Sing two songs of contrasting nature:
2. Sight-reading
Guitar
1. Perform two pieces of a contrasting nature:
2. Sight-reading
Electric Guitar
Bass
Electric Bass
Percussion
Perform either jazz/rock/popular or classical:
1. Jazz/Rock/Popular - drum set or vibraphone
A. Drum Set
B. Vibraphone
2. Classical/Traditional - snare drum, mallet percussion, or timpani
Keyboard (piano)
Other Traditional Band and/or Orchestral Instruments
For all other instruments (e.g., violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, oboe, sax, etc.), you will follow the same audition procedures as for other Bachelor of Music degrees (see "Prepare for Music-Major Audition" on this page), with one exception: For the second selection, you have the option of performing a piece in a jazz, pop or rock genre. The piece may be an original composition.
Instrumentalists
Prepare
As a non-major, you do not need to sign up for an interview in addition to submitting these pieces on Slideroom.
Vocalists
Prepare two pieces from the classical repertoire.
As a non-major, you do not need to sign up for an interview in addition to submitting these pieces on Slideroom.
Audition required:
Portfolio review required:
An exceptional audition or portfolio submission may qualify you for a theatre scholarship. If you are selected, the scholarship appears on your financial aid award letter.
Nazareth College is a participant in the Musical Theater Common Pre Screen for the 2020-2021 cycle.
OVERALL
Each piece should be filmed/uploaded as a separate piece of media. No continuous videos. All prescreen videos should be uploaded to Nazareth’s Acceptd account: nazarethcollege.getacceptd.com
SLATE
SONGS
Students should prepare 2 contrasting pieces:
MONOLOGUES
DANCE
Once these pieces are submitted, you will be invited to sign up for a virtual audition date.
Watch Prof. Corinne Aquilina's video: How to Ace Your Musical Theatre Audition >
Audition in three performance areas: vocal, dance, and acting components. Before your scheduled audition day, please submit these three portions to Acceptd following the pre-screen requirements above. Musical theatre students will also complete a music theory placement exam during your scheduled audition date. Individual sight-singing and keyboard placement interviews will be scheduled as needed.
For your scheduled audition date, you will receive multiple Zoom links:
Interview Expectations
Guidelines for Resume
Guidelines for Technical Portfolio
Costume Design
Lighting Design
Scenic Design
The BFA in Theatre Design and Technology will also prepare students for careers in the following areas:
Sound Design
Stage Management
Technical Director
Please submit your audition/review material at least one week before your scheduled audition/review day.
Students interviewing for admission or a scholarship should present a resume and headshot prior to the audition using Slideroom. In addition to the headshot and theatrical resume, Theatre Arts students are asked to write an essay to demonstrate your Theatre Arts knowledge.
Essay Guidelines
Your essay should be 3-4 pages, double-spaced, in 12 pt. font. Include your name, date, and title on the first page (no cover page) in the upper left corner.
As the subject of your essay, select an artist of the theater (actor, designer, playwright, etc.) about whose work you are passionate. The essay should include an introduction, at least three paragraphs in the body, and a closing that assesses the strengths and weaknesses of your chosen artist. Questions to consider might include:
What about their work affects you?
What makes their work rise to the level of “art?”
What does their art say about the world in which it was created?
There will be an opportunity at the end of the interview session to ask questions. If you have any questions about the essay, please email Lindsay Reading Korth, lkorth3@naz.edu.
For your scheduled audition date, you will receive multiple Zoom links. One link will be a question & answer session with our faculty and current students, and later will serve as a space to come in and out for questions with current students. The other link will be used for your personal interview.
Please submit your audition/review material at least one week before your scheduled audition/review day.
If you audition and are not admitted to your first-choice program in Musical Theatre or Acting, you may not audition again later for the same program.
All applicants for the dance studies major must audition.
Applicants who want to pursue a dance minor are encouraged to audition to be considered for a performing arts scholarship.
Nazareth College's Theatre and Dance Department faculty evaluate auditions. Their conclusions are used by the admissions office to make a final admissions decision.
You must register for your dance audition interview at least one week before, and preferably at least two weeks before, the scheduled date to allow for proper evaluation.
Dance majors and dance minors: Nazareth offers performing arts scholarships based on the quality of your dance audition.
Tips from Prof. Heather Roffe: Ace Your Dance Audition » (This video was created before the pandemic, but the tips still apply for your recorded solo audition.)
1. Register for your dance interview. See available dates and register here >
2. At least 2 weeks (preferred), but definitely at least one week before your interview date, provide your individual recorded solo, dance photo, and resume on Slideroom.
3. Also, 2 weeks before your scheduled dance interview date, you will be emailed instructions and a link to a recording of a brief dance combination for you to learn, perform, record, and provide before your individual interview time. If you're unable to find space, please email us ahead of time. The instructions include your options to submit it via Slideroom (if you haven't hit "submit") or via email.
4. Within two weeks of your scheduled dance interview date, you will receive multiple Zoom links.
Note: there is not a portfolio requirement for the Art History major.
Digital Submission: Please create digital files of your portfolio and submit them by creating a SlideRoom account (free). If you are unsure what to submit, please see sections below with recommendations. In addition to your submission, you will still pick a virtual review date to interview with our Art faculty.
Nazareth College Art and Design Department faculty review portfolios and provide a score that is used to make a final admissions decision.
Attend a Virtual Portfolio Review Day: If you haven't signed up already for a virtual Portfolio Review Day, be sure to register here. For your scheduled virtual Portfolio Review Day, you will receive one or more Zoom links. One link will be a question & answer session with our faculty, in addition to designated time for your personal interview. These links as well as more audition details will be provided within two weeks of your audition date.
If you are unable to attend any of the offered sessions but still wish to interview with an art faculty member, please schedule an appointment by emailing Mitch Messina at mmessin2@naz.edu, or by calling 585-389-2530.
Each portfolio submitted for review, as part of the Admissions process, is evaluated for its quality to determine admission into a program and for possible additional merit scholarships.
A strong portfolio includes a significant number of pieces based on direct observation from life (as opposed to photographs). We recommend portraits and self-portraits, drawings of hands and feet, landscapes, perspective drawings and a well-composed still-life. Do NOT include pieces that are copied from published photographs, advertisements, logos, copyrighted characters, etc.
In addition a strong portfolio should demonstrate your artistic spirit and personal creative direction within your area of interest.
The portfolio is evaluated based on the following criteria:
The pieces chosen for your portfolio should include:
Basic drawing from life
Pencil, charcoal, graphite, pen & ink
Three-dimensional works
Thematic projects
Consider the following thematic projects done in drawing and painting, printmaking, and or digital imaging:
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