Performance Ensembles: 140 series

African Music Ensemble: Music 149
Come to first class meeting.

Balinese Gamelan: Music 146B
Come to first class meeting for audition.

Gospel Chorus: Music 143
The Gospel Chorus is open to all students and community members, by audition only, as well as those students taking it for credit. Auditions for Fall semester 2014 will be held in the evening on August 25, 26, 27, & 28 (Monday -  Thursday),  in 125 Morrison. Sign up for an audtition on the bulletin board outside of 104 Morrison Hall.

Javanese Gamelan: Music 140
Prospective students are tested for ability to match pitch and rhythm in the first class meeting. New students attend section 1.

University Baroque Ensemble: Music 149
Everyone must audition each semester. Preference is given to enrolled students who will join for both Fall and Spring semesters. Auditions take place at the first class or by separate audition. Players should prepare a piece of baroque music, by Handel, Bach, or Vivaldi, or something comparable. For questions please contact Carla Moore at cattleranchmoon@gmail.edu.

University Chamber Chorus: Music 145
University Chamber Chorus is open to all students as well as members of the university staff, faculty, and community. All singers must pass an audition to take part in the Chamber Chorus. Although many of the singers in the UC Chamber Chorus return from previous years, there are usually several openings in each section each year. Auditions are held each semester, generally a few days before the first day of classes and on the first day of classes.

Please contact univchorus@gmail.com to schedule an audition time. Singers are highly encouraged to schedule an early appointment time. You should be prepared to sing an artsong/aria of your choice and sight-read several challenging excerpts. We may invite you to a second round (call-back) audition if you pass the initial hearing.

University Chorus: Music 144
University Chorus is open to all students as well as members of the staff, faculty, and university community.

New singers as well as singers returning from last year are invited to audition. Please email univchorus@gmail.com to schedule a time. Auditions are held each semester, generally a few days before the first day of classes and on the first day of classes. Singers are highly encouraged to audition at an early appointment time.

Singers auditioning for University Chorus and/or Chamber Chorus are expected to bring a song of their choice. You must have a song in mind. You may bring a piece to sing a cappella. You may also bring a pre-recorded accompaniment or bring your own accompanist. After you sing your prepared piece, we will take you through a series of vocalises to determine your range and a series of exercises to determine your musical ear and musicianship skills. We will evaluate all of your skills as a composite. Sometimes singers with excellent ears and a pleasant voice but less developed sight-reading are accepted. Sometimes singers with excellent musicianship skills but less vocal experience are accepted. Whatever your level of skill, we will help you find a singing home on campus either in University Chorus, Chamber Chorus, or in other choirs at Cal.

University Symphony: Music 141
Auditions for Fall semester 2014 will take place on Thursday, August 28th: 12 – 5 PM, 7 – 10 PM; Friday, August 29th: 9 AM – 12 PM, 1 – 5 PM; Saturday, August 30th: 9 AM – 12 PM,  1 – 5 PM; Sunday, August 31st: 12 – 5 PM and 7 – 10 PM; Monday, September 1st: 10 AM – 2 PM. See the symphony audition page for details, including required audition excerpts.

University Wind Ensemble: Music 142
Auditions for Fall semester 2014 will be held August 25 – September 2. Information and sign up sheets are posted outside room 43 Cesar Chavez. Students auditioning for Wind Ensemble will be asked to play 2-3 scales, a 2-3 minute prepared piece, and sight-read. Call (510) 643-9644 or stop by Room 43 César Chavez Center to schedule an audition.

Performance Courses: 150 series

Please note that Music 150 courses are open to Music Majors only and an audition is required. All students, both new and returning, who want to enroll in Music 150 must fill out the online application. Auditions take place at the very beginning of each semester. Details are below:

150A audition information
Incoming students taking the placement exam and other music majors must audition during the University Symphony audition times. See the symphony audition information above. If you are also auditioning to play in the orchestra, please see the requirements for orchestra auditions. Be sure to mention to Professor Milnes that you are interested in Music 150A during your audition time. At the audition, students should be prepared to discuss:

• which ensemble piece on which they want to work and with which other students they want to work.
• with which instructor the student would like to work (essentially confirming the choice the student made on their online application for 150 – or discussing alternatives).

Choosing a 150 instructor is the responsibility of the student, but supervising faculty can provide guidance.

150B audition information
Students returning to Music 150B from last semester do not need to re-audition (please do fill out the online application). New students should fill out an online application and schedule two auditions. First, schedule an audition for University Chorus/Chamber Chorus prior to the first day of classes. Prof. Kuzma will make your first acquaintance at the chorus audition. Contact univchorus@gmail.com to schedule a chorus audition time. Second, sign up for a 150B audition on the bulletin board outside room 104 Morrison Hall. 150 auditions will take place Tuesday, September 2 from 6:40-7:30 in Morrison 124. Since Music 150 is open to Music Majors only, you should also be sure to declare the Music Major or fulfill the entrance exam for the Music Major.

For information on the chorus audition process, see the University Chorus and/or Chamber Chorus websites. For the 150B audition, please prepare two pieces of your own choice from your previous vocal study: an artsong, aria, etc. An accompanist will be provided: be sure to bring two extra copies of the music. At the audition, be prepared to discuss your aspirations as a singers, stylistic preferences, and previous singing experience. At the audition, students will be asked the name of the voice instructor they would prefer (see our roster). Students applying for the 150B program for the first time who would like assistance in choosing an instructor are highly encouraged to contact a voice teacher/voice teachers on our roster to schedule a sample lesson as soon as possible (at the instructor’s availability). Supervising faculty may provide guidance in selecting an instructor if the student so wishes, but choosing a 150 instructor is the responsibility of the student.

Students who wish to receive vocal instruction but are not Music Majors are encouraged to join the University Chorus or Chamber Chorus, both of which address vocal technique during rehearsals. For non-majors who are particularly serious about vocal study, some limited chorus scholarships might be available.

150C audition information
Auditions for 150C (Keyboard) for Fall semester 2014 are Friday, September 5 from 9am-3pm in Hertz Hall. For auditions, preparing two pieces or works in contrasting style/from contrasting periods is recommended (like a Mozart Piano Sonata, a Bach Prelude and Fugue, or a Chopin Prelude). Sign up for an audition time on the bulletin board outside room 104 Morrison Hall. Organ and harpsichord students contact Professor James Davies to schedule an audition at jqd@berkeley.edu.

150D audition information: At the audition, students interested in Music 150D will be asked to perform a piece or section of a piece for the supervising faculty member. There is no standard for length or degree of difficulty. The supervising faculty member will discuss ensemble performance with the student, though that discussion will vary greatly, depending on the musical tradition to be studied. Choosing a 150 instructor is the responsibility of the student, but supervising faculty can provide guidance.

To arrange for a Music 150D audition please contact Professor Guilbault at guilbault@berkeley.edu.

150E audition information: Auditions will be held Wednesday, August 27 from 5-7 PM in Room 134 Morrison. Sign up on the bulletin board outside of 104 Morrison Hall. Returning students do not need to re-audition, but do need to contact Myra Melford at mmelford@berkeley.edu to confirm your continuation. To audition, prepare to improvise on a piece of your choosing and to demonstrate the theoretical knowledge you have on your instrument – scales, modes, chords; you will also be evaluated on recognition of scales and chords (ear) and ability to read music. If you would like accompaniment, please bring an accompanist or a backing CD. 150E encourages ensemble participation, but it is not required. Choosing a 150 instructor is the responsibility of the student, but supervising faculty can provide guidance.

150G audition information: Auditions for Music 150G will be held on Friday, August 29 from 9:30-10:30am in 134 Morrison. Please sign up on the bulletin board outside of 104 Morrison Hall. If you are interested in auditioning for jazz guitar, please audition for Music 150E not 150G. If you are not sure whether you want to audition for jazz or classical guitar, you may audition for both 150G and 150E and decide after the auditions and once you have been accepted into the 150 program. If you cannot make the audition time or for further information please contact Professor Bedrossian at fbedrossian@berkeley.edu.

150H audition information: For Music 150H, please contact Professor Mathew at nicholas.mathew@berkeley.edu to arrange an audition time.

Other Performance Courses

Carillon study 40, 41A,B, 42
Beginning students must audition on the instrument or voice of their choice before being accepted into the carillon program. The audition consists of a slow and a rapid work of your selection, both of which you are comfortable playing. The purpose of the audition is to appraise your musicality under the most favorable circumstances possible. To audition contact the University Carillonist, Jeff Davis at ucbells@berkeley.edu.

Music 116A and Music 116BM: Jazz Theory and Performance 1
Auditions for Fall semester 2014 will be held on the first day of scheduled classes, Wednesday, September 3, from 1-3 PM in room 135 Morrison. Sign up on the bulletin board outside of 104 Morrison Hall.

Music 164: Current Trends in Jazz and Improvisation-Based Music
Music 164 is not being taught Fall semester 2014.

Other performance opportunities

Noon concerts auditions
Auditions are scheduled in mid-fall semester for performances in the following spring semester, and end of spring semester for performance in the following fall semester. Noon concert auditions are not open to the public.

Concerto auditions
Auditions for a chance to perform with the University Symphony Orchestra in spring 2014 take place during fall semester 2014. See link above for details. Concerto auditions are open to the public.

Summer Symphony auditions
Auditions take place in mid-to-late June of each year.

Piano competition
This is a biennial competition. No current auditions scheduled.

DeCal classes
For policies for participation and audition information about any required auditions, check the DeCal website under “find a course” at the beginning of each semester.

Student Musical Activities (SMA)
Check the SMA website for specific audition information for each group.