Explore the categories below to learn more about auditioning for Conservatory ensembles 2022-23.
Major Ensembles are those typically required for music majors; students audition based on their primary instrument. However, students of any major at Baldwin Wallace University are invited to audition for these ensembles: please contact Destinee Siebe (dsiebe@bw.edu) for more information.
Elective Ensembles may be required for certain degrees or emphasis programs, but are more typically offered as electives. Please contact the director(s) of ensemble(s) in which you are interested for more information.
MAJOR ENSEMBLES
Choral Ensembles sign-up: CLICK HERE
Prepared Piece
Memorize 1-2 minutes of a prepared selection. This must be an art song, aria, or folk song/hymn. If your chosen selection includes accompaniment, you must provide music for the pianist.
Sight Reading
You will be given several short examples ranging from diatonic to chromatic and with various time signatures.
Vocalizing
You will be asked to sing one or more vocal warm-ups that will be provided for you.
Choir rehearsals will begin Tuesday, August 23.
University & Motet Choirs – Dr. Dirk Garner, Director
BW Singers – Dr. Marc Weagraff, Director
Treble Choir – Dr. Jami Lercher, Director
VOCAL AUDITION SCHEDULE
All vocal students auditioning for choir will audition per the following schedule:
First year & New Conservatory Students
Thursday, August 18: 1-4:30pm***; Fynes Hall
Friday, August 19: 2pm-5pm; Fynes Hall
***due to other Week of Welcome programming, only students with last names beginning with M-Z can audition at 4pm or later on Thursday, August 18. All other audition slots are open to all students.
All Others
Sunday, August 21: 1-5pm & 6-9pm; Fynes Hall
Call-backs: Monday, August 22: 4:15-7:15pm; Fynes Hall
Instrumental Ensembles (Orchestra + Wind Ensembles) sign-up: CLICK HERE
Students will receive access to excerpts AFTER signing up for an audition time.
Symphony Orchestra – Prof. Doug Droste, Director
The Symphony Orchestra rehearses on Monday and Thursday evenings, from 7:30-10:00pm with a string sectional occurring on Wednesdays from 5:45-6:45pm. All Conservatory string players are required to audition for the Symphony Orchestra. The Symphony Orchestra woodwind and brass musicians will be selected from the Symphonic Wind Ensemble personnel. Non-Conservatory majors seeking the highest-level orchestral experience are welcomed to audition for the Symphony Orchestra. First orchestra rehearsal will occur Thursday, August 25. Seating results for the first concert will be posted by Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.
STRING AUDITION SCHEDULE
All string students auditioning for orchestra will audition per the following schedule:
Violin
Sunday, August 21, 7:00–8:45pm ; Fynette Kulas Hall
Harp
Monday, August 22, 6:40–6:50pm; Gamble Auditorium
Wednesday, August 24 – 3:00-7:00pm; Kulas 115
3:00-4:30pm: Cello
4:35-5:45pm: Viola
5:50-6:15pm: Double Bass
Audition materials for ALL string instruments:
- Two minutes of any solo work of your choice to demonstrate your technical and artistic proficiency.
- Excerpts below from Shostakovich Festive Overture and Dvorak Symphony no. 8. (Harp: your excerpts are from Ravel Ma Mère L’Oye.) Students will receive access to excerpts AFTER signing up for an audition time. Please allow 1 full business day to receive this link; if not received after that time, please email Destinee Siebe: dsiebe@bw.edu
Excerpts:
Violin (excerpts are from 1st violin parts)
Shostakovich: Reh. 21 to 26 AND Reh. 26 to 30
Dvorak: Mvt. I: 5 after E to F; Mvt. II: 3 after K to 5 after M; Mvt. IV: Reh. C to D
Viola
Shostakovich: Reh. 2 to 4 AND Reh. 19 to 22
Dvorak: Mvt. I: Reh. D to 15 after E; Mvt. II: 9 after D to 6 after F; Mvt. IV: Reh. C to D
Cello
Shostakovich: Reh. 11 to 14 AND Reh. 19 to 22
Dvorak: Mvt. I: Beginning to mm. 18; Mvt. III: Reh. D to E; Mvt. IV: R to the end
Double Bass
Shostakovich: Reh. 11 to 14 AND Reh. 25 to 30
Dvorak: Mvt. I: 7 after J to 16 after K; Mvt. II: Reh. H to J; Mvt. IV: R to the end
Harp
Ravel: Prepare the full piece. You may be asked for any excerpts during your audition.
Instrumental Ensembles (Orchestra + Wind Ensembles) sign-up: CLICK HERE
Students will receive access to excerpts AFTER signing up for an audition time.
Symphonic Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Band – Dr. Brendan Caldwell, Director
The Symphonic Wind Ensemble rehearses Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 4:15-5:30pm, and is comprised of the finest wind, brass, and percussion students at BW. All Conservatory wind, brass, and percussion students are required to audition for either Symphonic Wind Ensemble or Symphonic Band. Outstanding instrumentalists who are non-Conservatory majors are welcomed to audition for either group. Audition requirements will include audition excerpts, a piece of your choosing (two minutes in length), scales, and sight reading. First rehearsal will occur Thursday, August 25.
The Symphonic Band rehearses Mondays and Thursdays from 5:45-7:15pm, and is open to all current students. All Conservatory wind, brass, and percussion students must audition for either Symphonic Wind Ensemble or Symphonic Band. Instrumentalists who are non-Conservatory majors are welcomed to audition for Symphonic Band. For those who wish to audition only for Symphonic Band—not Symphonic Wind Ensemble or Symphony Orchestra—excerpts are optional. First rehearsal will occur Thursday, August 25.
WOODWIND, BRASS & PERCUSSION AUDITION SCHEDULE
All students auditioning for orchestra, wind ensemble, or band will audition per the following schedule:
Monday, August 22, 1:00–8:00pm; Gamble Auditorium
1:00-2:40 Clarinet
2:45-4:40 Flute
4:45-5:30 Saxophone
5:35-6:15 Oboe
6:15-6:40 Bassoon
6:40-6:50 Harp
6:50-8:00 Keyboard
Tuesday, August 23, 4:00–8:30pm; Gamble Auditorium (unless otherwise noted)
3:00-4:00 Percussion (BMAC 076)
4:00-5:00 Horn
5:00-6:45 Trumpet
6:45-7:30 Trombone
7:30-7:45 Euphonium
7:45-8:30 Tuba
Audition materials for ALL instruments:
- Two minutes of any solo work of your choice to demonstrate your technical and artistic proficiency.
- Excerpts below from Shostakovich Festive Overture and Thomas Come Sunday. Students will receive access to excerpts AFTER signing up for an audition time. Please allow 1 full business day to receive this link; if not received after that time, please email Destinee Siebe: dsiebe@bw.edu.
To view this year's repertoire and access recordings to audition materials click here: SWE Repertoire 2022-23>
Excerpts:
Flute
All students should prepare flute excerpts, and may also add piccolo if desired.
Shostakovich: Reh. 10 to 11 AND Reh. 23 to 24
Thomas: Mvt. I, mm. 54-98 AND Mvt. II, mm. 144-152
Optional piccolo excerpts:
Thomas: Mvt. I, mm. 54-98 AND Mvt. II, mm. 144-152
Oboe
Shostakovich: Reh. 10 to 11 AND Reh. 23 to 24
Thomas: Mvt. I, mm. 21-52
Clarinet
All students should prepare Bb clarinet excerpts, and may also add bass clarinet if desired.
Shostakovich: Reh. 4 to 5 AND Reh. 23 to 24
Thomas: Mvt. II, mm. 83-95
Optional bass clarinet excerpts:
Thomas: Mvt. II, mm. 120-160
Bassoon
Shostakovich: Reh. 11 to 13 AND Reh. 25 to 26
Thomas: Mvt. I, mm. 21-37
Saxophone
All students should prepare alto excerpts, and may also add soprano and/or tenor if desired.
Alto saxophone excerpts:
Thomas: Mvt. II, mm. 120-160
Optional soprano saxophone excerpts:
Thomas: Mvt. I, mm. 54-98
Optional tenor saxophone excerpts:
Thomas: Mvt. I, mm. 2-21
Trumpet
Shostakovich: Beginning to Reh. 4 AND Reh. 7 to 8
Thomas: 1st trumpet part* Mvt. II, mm. 120-160
*alternatively, students may choose to prepare the 3rd trumpet part for this excerpt. If performing the lower part would result in a more successful audition (e.g., better displays of time and tone), choose 3rd instead of 1st.
Horn
Shostakovich: Reh. 13 to 14 AND Reh. 21 to 24
Thomas: Mvt. II, mm. 120-160
Trombone
Shostakovich: Reh. 11 to 13 AND Reh. 20 to 24
Thomas: Mvt. II, mm. 120-160
Bass Trombone
Shostakovich: Beginning to Reh. 4 AND Reh. 11 to 13
Thomas: Mvt. II, mm. 10-42 AND mm. 120-164
Euphonium
Thomas: Mvt. II, mm. 120-160
Tuba
Shostakovich: Beginning to Reh. 4 AND Reh. 11 to 13
Thomas: Mvt. II, mm. 10-42 AND mm. 120-164
Percussion
Shostakovich: Snare Drum part (prepare the complete part)
Percussionists should also prepare one mallet solo of their choosing.
Instrumental Ensembles (Orchestra + Wind Ensembles) sign-up: CLICK HERE
Students will receive access to excerpts AFTER signing up for an audition time.
Typically, keyboard primaries will participate in choir as their large ensemble credit, unless they have discussed performing in ensembles with a different secondary instrument with their instructors. For choir audition information, please see the Choral menu above.
For returning students ONLY: a limited number of audition spaces are available for students interested in performing on piano with the orchestra and/or wind ensembles. Students are encouraged to consult with their primary instrument teacher before signing up to audition.
Keyboard auditions will take place Monday, August 22, beginning at 6:50pm in Gamble Auditorium. After signing up for an audition, students will receive the audition excerpts within one business day. No additional solo repertoire is required.
ELECTIVE ENSEMBLES
Jazz Ensemble sign-up: CLICK HERE
Jazz Ensemble – Dr. G. Piqué, Director
The Jazz Ensemble rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:00pm, and on Wednesday evenings from 7:15-8:45pm. First rehearsal will occur Tuesday, August 30.
JAZZ ENSEMBLE AUDITION SCHEDULE
All students auditioning for Jazz Ensemble will audition per the following schedule:
Wednesday, August 24, beginning at 7:15pm; BMAC 220
JAZZ ENSEMBLE AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Saxophone
Sight-reading
1 excerpt of your choosing (jazz etude, transcription you are working on, part you may have played before)
Please audition on the instrument you would like to play in the ensemble
Trumpet & Trombone
Sight-reading
1 excerpt of your choosing (jazz etude, transcription you are working on, part you may have played before)
PLEASE USE THIS TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR RANGE
Drums
Sight-reading
Latin pattern of your choosing (be prepared to do this at a wide range of tempi)
Swing pattern of your choosing (be prepared to do this at a wide range of tempi)
Bass
Sight-reading chord changes (walking bass line)
Sight-reading written parts
Demonstrate walking ability for blues progressions in B-Flat, F, C, and E-Flat
Piano
Sight-reading chord changes (demonstrate comping ability)
Sight-reading written charts
Sight-reading chord changes (demonstrate improvisation ability)
Percussion Ensemble – Prof. Josh Ryan, Director
Call or email Prof. Ryan for audition information: 440.826.2370 or jryan@bw.edu
Brass Ensemble – Prof. Jack Sutte and Dr. Ken Heinlein, Directors
Email Prof. Sutte and Dr. Heinlein for audition information: jsutte@bw.edu and kheinlei@bw.edu