Audition Requirements

• Undergraduate Audition Requirements 
  • Organ Performance
  • Piano
  • Voice Performance
  • Music Education
  • Music Theater (Voice)
  • Music Theater (Piano)
  • Sacred Music
  • Theory and Composition
  • Bachelor of Arts in Music
  • Primary Instrument Audition Requirements
• Competitions
  • Piano
  • Organ

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UNDERGRADUATE AUDITION REQUIREMENTS  

Organ Performance   (Princeton Campus)
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     (Princeton Campus)
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     (Princeton Campus)
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:

1. Songs and arias of the 17th and 18th centuries.
2. Art songs from the 19th and 20th centuries.
3. Operatic and oratorio literature when suitable for the singer.

An accompanist will be provided for on-campus auditions.
 

Music Education    (Princeton Campus)

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)    (Lawrenceville Campus)

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" (skill sets typically demonstrated are ability with characterization, comedic material, text and "personality").  Each selection should be no longer than 32 measures.
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)   (Lawrenceville Campus)

1. Audition requirements for Piano Primary.
2. One of the following, taken from the piano/vocal score:
   1. “Corner of the Sky” from Pippin
   2. “Green Finch and Linnet Bird” from Sweeney Todd
   3. “I Could Have Danced All Night” from My Fair Lady
   4. “Many a New Day” from Oklahoma!
   5. “Some Enchanted Evening” from South Pacific
   6. “Stars” from Les Misérables (this may be taken from the Vocal Selections)
3. An accompaniment from the art song repertoire.
4. Sight-play a theater or art song accompaniment.
5. Interview with a member of the Theater and Piano Departments.
    

Sacred Music     (Princeton Campus)

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     (Princeton Campus)

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 Degree    (Lawrenceville Campus)
Piano, Organ, Voice Principal

1. Audition on primary instrument: organ, piano, or voice (see below).

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Primary Instrument Audition Requirements (Undergraduate)    
(Lawrenceville and Princeton Campuses) 

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.

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Competitions   (Princeton Campus)

Piano  
All must be performed from memory.

1. A prelude & fugue from J.S. Bach’s Well Tempered Clavier.
2. A sonata by Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven
   • Undergraduate: first or final movement
   • Graduate: entire sonata
3. A Romantic work (e.g., Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, or Brahms).
4. A 20th-or 21st- century work.

Organ    
All of the following of which one must be from memory.

1. A work by J.S. Bach (e.g., a prelude & fugue, a movement from a trio sonata).
2. Two 19th, 20th, or 21st-century compositions (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.