Audition Information
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 Spring semester 2013 will be held on Tuesday, January 22, 7-10 pm in 125 Morrison; Wednesday, January 23, 10:30-2:30, 3:30-6:30 and 7:30-10 in 125 Morrison; Thursday, January 247-10 pm 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 Professor Moroney at dmoroney@berkeley.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 most of the singers from the Fall semester are continuing in the Spring, from last semester, there is an opening for one new singer in each section.
Auditions for the Spring '13 semester are essentially completed with room for several experienced singer-musicians.
Please contact univchorus@gmail.com if you would still would like to be heard.
You should be prepared to sing an artsong/aria of your choice and sight-read several examples. We may invite you to a call-back audition after you pass the initial audition.
University Chorus is open to all students as well as members of the staff, faculty, and university community. Please email univchorus@gmail.com to schedule an audition.
Singers returning from Fall 2012 need not re-audition but should email univchorus@gmail.com to confirm their intention to continue.
Auditions for the Spring '13 semester are essentially completed with room for several experienced singer-musicians. Please contact univchorus@gmail.com if you would still would like to be heard.
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 vocalizes 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. Whatever you level of skill, we will help you find a singing home on campus.
University
Symphony: Music 141
Auditions for Spring semester 2013 will take place on Tuesday, January 22 from 10 am to 4 pm in Morrison Hall.
See the symphony audition page for
details, including required audition excerpts.
University Wind Ensemble: Music 142
Auditions for Spring semester 2013
will be held January 22-25. Information and sign up sheets are posted outside rooom 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
Returning Music 150B students do not need to re-audition this semester
(do fill out the online
application though). For new students, auditions for Spring semester
2013, auditions on January 24 from 6:35-7:30 in the Hertz Hall Green room.
Sign up on the 150B audition sheet
on the bulletin board outside room 104 Morrison Hall.
Singers interested in 150B should be sure to audition for University
Chorus/Chamber Chorus prior to the Music 150B audition by signing up
for one of the chorus auditions times posted on January 21-22. Prepare
one or two pieces of your own choosing 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 basic aspirations and stylistic preferences and previous singing
experience. Also at the audition, students will be asked with which
instructor the student would like to work. Students applying for the
150B program for the first time who would like assistance in choosing
an instructor are encouraged to contact a voice teacher/voice teachers
on our roster to schedule a sample
lesson during the first week of classes (at the instructor's availability). Choosing
a 150 instructor is the responsibility of the student, but supervising
faculty can provide guidance.
150C audition information
Auditions for 150C (Keyboard) for Spring semester 2013 are Wednesday,
January 23 from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm in the Hertz Hall auditorium. Prepare
a piece of your own choosing. For auditions, preparing a piece like
a Mozart Piano Sonata, a Bach Prelude and Fugue, or a Chopin Prelude
is recommended. You will also be asked to sight read. Sign up for an
audition time on the bulletin board outside room 104 Morrison Hall.
Organ and harpsichord students contact Professor Moroney to schedule
an audition at dmoroney@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 Brinner at brinner@berkeley.edu.
150E audition information: Auditions will be held Tuesday, January 22nd from 1-3 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 Professor 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 instruments - 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 are Thursday, January 24 from 9-10 am in room 120 Morrison. Sign up for an audition time on the bulletin board outside room 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 Moroney at dmoroney@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 116B and Music 116BM: Jazz Theory and Performance 1
Auditions for Spring semester 2013 will be held on Wednesday, January 23
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
Auditions for Spring semester 2013 will be held on Wednesday January 23
from 1-3 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 Professor Melford at mmelford@berkeley.edu to confirm your continuation.
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 2013 took place during Fall semester 2012.
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.