Return to Westminster Choir of the Arts Homepage Directions | Campus Safety | Calendars | Directory | Libraries | Web Mail
 
Prospective StudentsCurrent StudentsAlumniCommunity PartnersGive to WestminsterFaculty & Staff
About Westminster School of Fine & Performing ArtsAcademicsStudent LifeWestminsters FacultyAdmissionsContinuing EducationWestminster ConservatoryNews & Events
Home > Admissions > Undergraduate Applicants > Auditions
Font Size:
Default  |  Small  |  Medium  |  Large
More Information
Undergraduate Audition Dates
Acting Scholarship Audition
Graduate Audition Dates
Regional Auditions
Piano and Organ Audition and Scholarship Competition

Auditions

2009-2010 Audition Dates and Audition Registration Forms

Auditions are required for admission to some undergraduate programs. Consult the audition requirements for your major. All auditions are evaluated by faculty members from the relevant departments. Westminster provides an accompanist for vocal auditions. Auditions are by appointment only and are limited to those who have submitted an application form and application fee. The application form and processing fee must be must be received at least three weeks prior to the selected audition date.  Therefore, it is to your advantage to sign up early for an audition. 

As long as the above criteria have been met and unless notified to the contrary, students should assume that the date they have selected is confirmed.  Although the scheduled audition date will appear on correspondence regarding completion of the applicant file, no correspondence specific to auditions will be sent until approximately two weeks prior to the scheduled date.

We urge all applicants to audition in person whenever possible. Taped auditions are accepted for applicants living more than 250 miles from Princeton or having extenuating circumstances.


Program Specific Requirements:

Organ Performance
(Westminster Choir College)		 All of the following, of which one must be from memory:
  1. A work by J.S. Bach (e.g., prelude & fugue, trio sonata).
  2. Two 19th, 20th or 21st-century compositions (e.g., Mendelssohn, Franck, Vierne).
  3. All major and minor scales (performed on the piano, moderate tempo, four octaves).
  4. Accurate and fluent sight-reading of four-part hymns.
Piano
(Westminster Choir College)		 All of the following from memory:
  1. A prelude & fugue from J.S. Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier.
  2. A sonata by Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven (excluding Beethoven op. 49 or op. 79).
  3. A 19th-century composition.
  4. A 20th-century composition.
Voice Performance
(Westminster Choir College)

Four songs from memory from the classical repertoire, representing various languages and/or style periods.  The singer should demonstrate musical and vocal ability that gives promise of successful college-level study. 

Suggested repertoire selections for all voice auditions include songs and arias of the 17th and 18th centuries, art songs from the 19th and 20th centuries, including spirituals, and/or operatic and oratorio literature when suitable for the singer.

An accompanist will be provided for on-campus auditions.

Music Education
(Westminster Choir College)
  1. Audition on primary instrument: organ, piano, or voice. (See Primary Instrument Audition Requirements).
  2. Interview with a member of the department.
Music Theater (Voice)
(School of Fine and Performing Arts)

An accompanist will be provided for on-campus auditions.  Please bring easily readable and properly marked music in correct keys.  All of the following must be performed from memory:

  1. Two contrasting selections from the classical repertoire representing various languages and/or style periods.
  2. Two contrasting selections from the standard musical theater repertoire.  One selection should be a ballad that demonstrates a sustained, legato line; and the second selection should be an "up-tempo" and provide a contrast in rhythm, mood, characterization, style and approach -- it may show special skills such as comic timing, dramatic flair, ability with patter, or, for women, the "belt" voice.  Each selection should be no longer than 32 measures. Please no pop, rock, jazz or country selections that are not from musical theater. 
  3. One monologue from a contemporary, published play.  Please choose material that is age appropriate, present tense, "forward-moving", and contains some discovery for the character (no dialects).  The monologue should also be no longer than one minute.
  4. Observed participation in a dance/movement class.  Please bring appropriate attire.
Music Theater (Piano)
(School of Fine and Performing Arts)
  1. Audition requirements for Piano Primary.
  2. One of the following, taken from the piano/vocal score:
  3. “Corner of the Sky” from Pippin
  4. “Green Finch and Linnet Bird” from Sweeney Todd
  5. “I Could Have Danced All Night” from My Fair Lady
  6. “Many a New Day” from Oklahoma!
  7. “Some Enchanted Evening” from South Pacific
  8. “Stars” from Les Misérables (this may be taken from the Vocal Selections)
  9. An accompaniment from the art song repertoire.
  10. Sight-play a theater or art song accompaniment.
  11. Interview with a member of the Theater and Piano Departments.
Sacred Music
(Westminster Choir College)
  1. Audition on primary instrument: organ, piano, or voice (see Primary Instrument Audition Requirements).
  2. Interview with a member of the department.
Theory and Composition
(Westminster Choir College)
  1. Audition on principal instrument: organ, piano, or voice.
  2. Submit original score(s) to the department.
  3. Interview with a member of the department.
Bachelor of Arts in Music
(School of Fine and Performing Arts)		 Piano, Organ, Voice Principal
  1. Audition on primary instrument: organ, piano, or voice (see below).


Primary Instrument Audition Requirements
(Westminster Choir College and the School of Fine and Performing Arts) 

Organ
  1. A work by J.S. Bach (e.g., a prelude & fugue, a movement from a trio sonata, a choral prelude from Orgelbüchlein)
  2. A 19th, 20th, or 21st-century composition (e.g., Mendelssohn, Franck, Vierne).
  3. Any three scales (four octaves, performed on the piano, moderate tempo).
  4. Accurate and fluent sight-reading of four-part hymns.

Students with little or no organ background may audition for entrance to the organ department by following the requirements for piano principals.  Organ faculty will evaluate the piano audition for organ principals.

Piano

All of the following, of which one must be from memory:

  1. An invention or prelude & fugue by J.S. Bach.
  2. A first movement of a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven (excluding Beethoven op. 49; op. 79; and op. 27, no. 2)
  3. A 19th- or 20th-century composition.
Voice

Two memorized songs from the classical repertoire.  Suggested repertoire selections for all voice auditions include songs and arias of the 17th and 18th centuries, art songs from the 19th and 20th centuries, including spirituals, and/or operatic and oratorio literature when suitable for the singer.