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All MM Opera Performance and MM Vocal Performance applicants are invited to attend our On-Campus Graduate Vocal Audition Event on Feb. 21-22, 2025!

Applicants are invited to enjoy a complimentary dinner with faculty and staff on Friday, Feb. 21, before attending a free opening night performance of The Bass School of Music's twin bill production of Strawberry Fields/Gianni Schicci. The Graduate Vocal Audition day begins the next morning on Feb. 22. 

Tours of the Music Building and Campus information presentations will be provided throughout the day. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions or would like additional information.

GENERAL PRESCREEN GUIDELINES

• Submit your prescreen audition recording through .
• Prescreen guidelines:
  • Each piece should be filmed/uploaded as a separate piece of media. No continuous videos.
  • Record one introduction "slate" video stating your name. If you would like to include your pronouns, state them as well. Please speak loudly (project your voice) and clearly (articulate) directly at the camera.
    • This is an opportunity for the auditors to get a sense of your personality and to learn the pronunciation of your name.
    • There is no need to slate your individual performance videos & pieces. Instead, clearly label each video with your name and the title of the piece you are performing (see more details below).
  • Label each video file with the piece you are performing, the show or playwright, and your first & last name.
    • Title of Song 鈥� Musical/Show 鈥� Your First & Last Name
    • Examples:
      • Slate 鈥� James Smith
      • Your Daddy鈥檚 Son 鈥� Ragtime 鈥� Minnie Mouse
  • All songs are recommended to be between 60-90 seconds each.
  • Camera framing is simply the placement and position of the actor in the shot. We recommend a waist up frame so we can see your face and hear you clearly.
  • Submit your prescreen audition materials by Oct. 1 to be notified of an invitation to the live callback auditions by Oct. 15. Only students who submit prescreen by Oct. 1 will be eligible for the November audition dates.
  • Submit your prescreen audition materials by Dec. 1 to be notified of an invitation to the live callback auditions by Jan. 7.

Prescreen audition must include two videos from the following list:

• Operatic aria
• Oratorio aria
• 21st century British or American art song
• French art song
• German art song

FINAL ROUND AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Candidates invited to campus will be required to perform the following repertoire:

• Operatic aria
• Oratorio aria
• 21st century British or American art song
• French art song
• German art song
• Song of the candidate鈥檚 choice

An accompanist will be provided free of charge at the on-campus audition. In addition to the original music, one copy of the music must be supplied for the accompanist, hole punched and in a three-ring binder. You will meet with the accompanist briefly prior to your scheduled audition time. All sheet music must be easily readable.

GENERAL PRESCREEN GUIDELINES

• Submit your prescreen audition recording through .
• Prescreen guidelines:
  • Each piece should be filmed/uploaded as a separate piece of media. No continuous videos.
  • Record one introduction "slate" video stating your name. If you would like to include your pronouns, state them as well. Please speak loudly (project your voice) and clearly (articulate) directly at the camera.
    • This is an opportunity for the auditors to get a sense of your personality and to learn the pronunciation of your name.
    • There is no need to slate your individual performance videos & pieces. Instead, clearly label each video with your name and the title of the piece you are performing (see more details below).
  • Label each video file with the piece you are performing, the show or playwright, and your first & last name.
    • Title of Song 鈥� Musical/Show 鈥� Your First & Last Name
    • Title of Play 鈥� Playwright 鈥� Your First & Last Name
    • Examples:
      • Slate 鈥� James Smith
      • Your Daddy鈥檚 Son 鈥� Ragtime 鈥� Minnie Mouse
      • Much Ado About Nothing 鈥� William Shakespeare 鈥� Luke Skywalker
  • All song, monologue, dance, ballet, and wild card videos are recommended to be between 60-90 seconds each.
  • Camera framing is simply the placement and position of the actor in the shot. We recommend a waist up frame so we can see your face and hear you clearly.
  • Submit your prescreen audition materials by Oct. 1 to be notified of an invitation to the live callback auditions by Oct. 15. Only students who submit prescreen by Oct. 1 will be eligible for the November audition dates.
  • Submit your prescreen audition materials by Dec. 1 to be notified of an invitation to the live callback auditions by Jan. 7.

VOCAL REQUIREMENTS

Students should prepare 2-contrasting pieces.

• One song should be a ballad and one song should be uptempo as to contrast style
  • One song should be written prior to 1970. This song can be either the uptempo or the ballad (student鈥檚 choice).
  • One song should be written after 1970 and contrast the style of the first.
• Each song file should be 60-90 seconds
• Students must sing to musical accompaniment, which could include live or pre-recorded accompaniment. No 鈥渁 cappella鈥� singing (meaning singing without music).
• One song should be filmed in a close up and one filmed full frame.

MONOLOGUE REQUIREMENTS

• Two 60-90 second contrasting monologues
  • 1 Contemporary (written after 1900); Contemporary monologues should be filmed in a 鈥渃lose-up鈥� shot which means the top of the head to the chest should be visible in the frame.
  • 1 Classical (written pre-1900); Classical monologues should be filmed in a 鈥渇ull body鈥� shot which means the top of the head to the feet on the floor should be visible in the frame. Playwrights may include Shakespeare, Moli猫re, Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Middleton, Thomas Kyd, Aristophanes, or contemporary adaptations of classical plays that still employ heightened language.
• Monologues must be from a published play.
• Monologues cannot be from musicals, television shows, or movies.
• Each monologue file should be 60-90 seconds in length (this time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece and is strictly adhered to; please do not upload media files longer than 90 seconds)

DANCE REQUIREMENTS

• 30-60 seconds of dance in whatever dance discipline you feel most confident. This may include, but is not limited to jazz, ballet, tap, modern, cultural dance styles, hip hop, lyrical, or contemporary.
• All dance media should be filmed in a 鈥渇ull body鈥� shot taking care to keep the student鈥檚 entire body in the frame at all times.
   
• Applicants do not need to slate in any dance media.
• Regardless of which style of dance you execute, the choreography and the movement should be story-driven and connected to the music where the applicant is dancing with a sense of purpose.
• Please use steps, movement, and physical vocabulary that you are familiar with and can execute well. To the best of your ability, move your body fully. Please include at least one turn, one jump and one kick (or other suitable rotation, elevation, and extension that works for your body).
• Dance media can be self-choreographed, but must be a solo video of you. This can include a show, competition, or other performance so long as you are clearly featured on your own.
• All choreography must be performed to music; please no 鈥渁 cappella鈥� dance media.

WILDCARD

• This media can be ANYTHING you want: a special skill, an interesting story about yourself, a passion speech, an instrument that you play, another song in a different style, etc.
• 鈥淲hat do you want us to know about you?鈥� and 鈥淲hat makes you unique?鈥�

FINAL AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants are expected to have full songs and monologues memorized and performance-ready.

Vocal

• Two contrasting music theater selections
  • One song should be written prior to 1970 and one piece should be written after 1970 and contrast in style of the first
  • You are not required to sing the songs you submitted for prescreening
• One operatic aria or art song

Monologue

• Two contrasting monologue selections
• Monologues must be from a published play
• Please have both monologues memorized and performance-ready
• You are not required to perform the monologues you submitted for prescreening

In-Person Dance Call

• Applicants who are invited for the in-person auditions will participate in a live dance call
• No prior dance experience is necessary
• Please bring a change of clothes and shoes that you would be comfortable dancing in for the live dance call

An accompanist will be provided free of charge at the on-campus national audition dates. In addition to the original music, one copy of the music must be supplied for the accompanist, hole punched and in a three-ring binder. You will meet with the accompanist briefly prior to your scheduled audition time. All sheet music must be easily readable.