Auditions

Music Auditions at Truman State University are required of any student who wishes to declare music as their major; this audition can also serve as their scholarship audition. However, students do not have to be a music major to audition for Music Service Scholarships. Auditions for admission into university ensembles are conducted separately.  Students who are interested in being a music major are encouraged to visit and audition on a weekday when classes are in session.  This enables them to sit-in on a music theory class, rehearse with an ensemble, take a private lesson and receive a campus tour in addition to auditioning.  Prospective students are also welcome to audition during a preset audition date. (These dates can be found at the bottom of this page).  Please go to the Audition Request Form to fill out and submit an online audition form.

Vocal Auditions
The scholarship audition serves a dual purpose; to determine whether the student will be accepted as a music major (if interested) and to determine what scholarship, if any, will be awarded. 

High school students with significant choral/vocal experience are encouraged to compete for these awards. Official scholarship audition dates are available upon request by filling out the above online audition form. An audition date can be scheduled during the school week if the scheduled audition dates are not convenient. Contact Dr. Thomas Hueber (thueber@truman.edu). To sign up for scholarship auditions, please contact the Music Department Office at (660) 785-4417 or (888) 869-3197.

Be sure to visit our Scholarships page for more information regarding auditions.

At the audition, you will:

• Sing one or two songs by memory, preferably one in English and one in a foreign language. Truman State will provide an accompanist. Please bring original copies of music.
• Sight-read simple melodies.
• Sing tonal memory patterns
• Sing major and minor scales—including the natural, melodic, and harmonic minor scales—given a starting note on the piano.

Wind and Brass Instrument Auditions
Wind and Brass instrument auditions are conducted for flute, oboe, clarinet, low clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet or cornet, trombone, horn, euphonium, and tuba. The candidate should demonstrate good embouchure, good tone, and accuracy.

At the audition you will:

• Perform a solo, movements from a sonata or concerto, or etudes, demonstrating lyrical phrasing and technical proficiency.
• Play major scales and the chromatic scale through the range of the instrument.
• Sight-read a short musical passage demonstrating reading skill and accuracy in rhythm, pitch, dynamics and articulation.

To sign up for Wind or Brass instrument auditions, contact Dan Peterson, Director of Bands (pete@truman.edu), or call the Music Department at (660) 785-4417 or (888) 869-3197.  You may elect to fill out the online audition form at Audition Request Form.

String Instrument Auditions
String instrument auditions are conducted for violin, viola, cello and bass.

At the audition you will:

• Perform two contrasting selections (a solo, movements from a sonata or concerto, or etudes), demonstrating lyrical phrasing and technical proficiency.
• Play three-octave major and minor scales and arpeggios.

To sign up for String instrument auditions, contact Dr. Sam McClure, Director of Orchestras (smcclure@truman.edu), or call the Music Department at (660) 785-4417 or (888) 869-3197.  You may elect to fill out the online audition form at Audition Request Form.

Orchestra scholarships of up to $1000 per academic year are available to all qualified string players regardless of major or minor status. Two formal scholarship audition dates are scheduled in Kirksville each spring. If you are unable to attend either of these audition dates, individual audition times on campus at Truman State University can be arranged. There will be no sight reading and an accompanist is not required.

Percussion Auditions
Percussion instrument auditions will be performed on snare drum, xylophone or marimba or multiple percussion sets. In addition, other percussion instruments may be used during the same auditions including drum set, quads or quints. The candidate should demonstrate good stick action and hand to hand activity, good rhythmic accuracy and musical intent.

At the audition you will:

• Perform a solo, movements from a sonata or concerto, or etudes, demonstrating lyrical phrasing and technical proficiency.
• Play major scales through the range of the instrument.
• Sight-read a short musical passage demonstrating reading skill and accuracy in rhythm, pitch, dynamics and articulation.

To sign up for Percussion auditions, please contact Dr. Michael Bump (mbump@truman.edu), or Dan Peterson, Director of Bands (pete@truman.edu), or call the Music Department at (660) 785-4417 or (888) 869-3197.  You may prefer filling out the online audition form at Audition Request Form.

Piano Auditions
Students who audition to be accepted as piano majors will:

• Perform one or two solo pieces (preferably, by memory)
• Sight-read accompanying excerpts

All pianists at Truman (music majors and non-music majors) are encouraged to audition to be added to the freelance accompanying list. At this audition, students will:

• Perform one solo piece (memorization is optional)
• Sight-read accompanying excerpts

Each February, Truman State University hosts its annual Piano Festival. Application deadline is January 15. Two scholarships are awarded on that day: one provides full tuition, room, and board; and the other provides $1000 per year. Each of these scholarships is renewable for eight semesters. For complete details, contact Dr. David McKamie, Coordinator of Piano (dmckamie@truman.edu), or call (660) 785-4405. The application form is available online.
 

Music Audition Dates