Please note: Spring 2025 audition information will be available in mid-January; audition information below is from past semesters.
Audition Information
For information about Music 168 (private lessons for music majors), Music 167 (private lessons for non-majors) and other performance opportunities in the department, please scroll down.
Ensemble Audition Information
Music 116: Jazz Theory and Performance
Contact Ben Goldberg at ben.goldberg.music@berkeley.edu.
Music 140: Javanese Gamelan
Prospective students are tested for ability to match pitch and rhythm in the first class meeting. New students attend section 1.
Music 141: University Symphony
Complete audition requirements here.
Music 142: University Wind Ensemble
Additional information and requirements can be found on the UCBWE page.
Music 143: Gospel Chorus
Audition information and registration is available here. Please send inquiries about auditions to cjsings@berkeley.edu.
Music 144: University Chorus
All forms and audition information can be found here.
Music 145: Chamber Chorus
All forms and audition information can be found here.
Music 146B: Balinese Gamelan
Students’ ability to learn by ear, to match pitch and rhythm, and listen to the other players in the ensemble will be assessed over the first two to four class meetings.
Music 148: African Music Ensemble
Come to first class meeting.
Music 149: Baroque Ensemble
To audition, contact Professor Miller at dhmiller@berkeley.edu. Players and singers should prepare one or two excerpts of Medieval, Renaissance, or Baroque music that demonstrate both fast and slow playing/singing. Auditions can be arranged in person or can be submitted as video recordings.
To audition for MU 165 Please fill out a slot on this form (note: you must be logged in through CalNet to view). Please contact Prof. Melford to ask any questions you may have about the audition process: mmelford@berkeley.edu. Participation will be by invitation of the professor based on the audition process and the student's prior experience playing jazz and improvised music.
Music 168/167 Series Courses (Private Lessons) Audition Information
Please note that the Music 168/167 series (private lessons) are open to Music majors and non-majors, respectively, and an audition is required at the beginning of each semester. All students, both new and returning, who want to enroll in Music 168/167 must complete an online applicationAudition details are below:
Music 168A/167A (orchestral instruments)
See info regarding University Symphony: Music 141.
Music 168B/167B (voice)
See audition information here.
Music 168C (piano)
All pianists, both new and returning, must fill out the form and submit an audition video. Audition information and form are here. Please contact Sharon Lee Kim (sleekim@berkeley.edu) if you have questions.
Music 168D (world music instruments)
Students who apply for Music 168D will be contacted by the supervising faculty member and will be asked to perform a piece or section of a piece on their instrument of choice. 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 168 instructor is the responsibility of the student, but supervising faculty can provide guidance.
Music 168E (individual lessons in jazz and improvised music)
Please fill out this form. Contact Prof. Melford to ask any questions you may have about the audition process: mmelford@berkeley.edu
Music 168G (classical guitar)
Contact Michael Goldberg at M_Goldberg1@berkeley.edu. If you are interested in auditioning for jazz guitar, please audition for Music 168E instead of 168G. If you are not sure whether you want to audition for jazz or classical guitar, you may audition for both 168G and 168E and decide after you have been accepted into the 168 program.
Music 168H/167H (Baroque instruments)
To audition, contact Professor Miller at dhmiller@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail). Players and singers should prepare one or two excerpts of Medieval, Renaissance, or Baroque music that demonstrate both fast and slow playing/singing. Auditions can be arranged in person or can be submitted as video recordings.
Music 168I/167I (organ)
Contact George Emblom, instructor, at organlessons@berkeley.edu to arrange an audition.
Other Performance Courses
Carillon study (Music 40, 41A, 41B, and 42)
All carillon classes are being taught this semester.
Music 40, Beginning Group lessons in carillon
Auditions will be held Monday and Tuesday, January 22 & 23. Contact ucbells@berkeley.edu for further information. Music 40 is a prerequisite for the rest of the carillon series.
FOR SECTIONS 1 & 2 (beginner level):
Auditions will be held in person during the first few weeks of the semester. Auditions will close at the end of the 2nd week of classes. If you are already enrolled, you must audition to remain enrolled; look for announcements via bCourses about audition dates and times. If you are NOT registered yet and would like to do a walk-in audition the first day class meets, please provide your info here (form pending); you will receive audition dates/times via email.
Students should prepare to sing one verse or chorus of any song in any language. Students will not be asked to sing an entire song. Instead, students will be asked to follow simple singing commands (such as singing a single pitch played by the instructor, singing scales played or sung by the instructor, singing “Happy Birthday”, and singing some simple guided harmony). And, if the instructor feels the need to hear a bit more, she will ask you to sing the verse or chorus you prepared.
FOR SECTION 3 (advanced level):
No prior formal experience is required to be admitted to Section 3 (Music 44:003), though the instructor will be listening for voices that demonstrate some level of maturity, developed informally or formally. Students in this section generally range from intermediate to advanced levels of vocal maturity and comfort singing. Before the semester begins, interested students should first provide their information on this form (pending) using their berkeley.edu account, then submit a pre-audition video to cjsings@berkeley.edu. Videos can be submitted up to one week before the first Wednesday class meets– thereafter, students must audition in-person with peers at open audition times or during the first two class meetings. Audition dates/times will be announced by email to students who registered. Details on what to include in the audition video are below. Note: in-person auditions will not include an accompanied portion; everything except vocal exercises will be sung a cappella.
The video should be 1 minute in total length, including 2 contrasting songs, 30 seconds each. The songs can be performed in any style and any language that best represents the student’s ability. The instructor will use the video to assess 2 primary things: 1) the ability to sing in tune consistently, and 2) the level of vocal development. Other factors considered include one’s comfort singing as a soloist, the ability to stylize and/or improvise, the ability to hear and sing harmony. For students who have extensive singing experience, after you’ve signed up on the Google Sheet, please email a link to performance recordings/videos online instead of submitting a recording. Thank you!
Song 1: Must be sung a cappella (without instrumental or vocal accompaniment being played in headphones or on a speaker).
Song 2: Must be sung with an instrumental-only track playing out loud. Please make sure there is no vocal playing on this track.
You can find a variety of free instrumental (karaoke) accompaniment tracks on YouTube and Spotify. For your reference, some examples of different styles are listed below. Feel free to use these or others that fit your voice and preference.
Perfect (Ed Sheeran)
Summertime (Jazz version)
Dear Theodosia (from Hamilton)
Amazing Grace (hymn)
Like I’m Gonna Lose You (John Legend & Meghan Trainor)
Students will receive notification from the instructor within 5 business days of their submission. The instructor will advise whether the students should 1) proceed to enroll, 2) be heard in-person at the beginning of the semester, or 3) choose a different pathway to work on singing (e.g., enroll in the beginner section, or enroll in Music 20, Introduction to Musicianship to work on sight singing and ear training, or use online resources to work on pitch-matching).
Music 45M is a class intended for Music Majors enrolled in Harmony 151A or higher. Non-majors enrolled in harmony or other music classes requiring piano skills may be considered for the class if space permits.
Individual meetings for placement in Music 45M will take place from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on Monday, January 22nd, in Room 64 (Practice Room area, lowest level of Morrison Hall). Please sign up here and bring with you a completed 45M Placement Exam Form (the reviewer will need the hard copy on which to write during your appointment.) These forms will be available outside Room 64.
Other performance opportunities
Summer Symphony auditions
Auditions take place in mid-to-late June of each year. See summer symphony page for details.
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.