concert choir

Ensemble Audition Requirements

NOTE:  All students, including returning students, who wish to participate in ensembles MUST audition at the designated times.

For questions, contact Jamie Perkins (jmperkin@wustl.edu).

Sign up for a placement audition.

Jazz Band

       Brass & Woodwinds

  • Two scales of your choice, selected from all major keys, up and down eighth notes (quarter note = 120)
  • A 1-2 minute piece or excerpt of your choice that showcases your abilities
  •  Sight reading standard big band jazz repertoire

       Piano, Guitar, and Bass

  • A 1-2 minute piece or excerpt of your choice that showcases your abilities
  • Sight reading standard big band jazz repertoire

       Drums

  •  Play in various jazz-related styles to demonstrate knowledge of style and technique
  • Establish a “groove” tempo for at least 16 measures in the following styles: medium swing, up-tempo swing, straight eighth ballad, samba, latin salsa, rock, funk/fusion
  •  Sight reading standard big band repertoire

Jazz Combos

  • Play one ballad and one medium-uptempo piece
  • Sight reading of melody and/or improvisation transcription
  • For pianists and guitarists: also demonstrate chord playing and comping
  • For bassists: play a bass line over chord changes
  •  For drummers: play grooves for at least 16 bars in various jazz styles
  • For singers: sing one piece of your choice, jazz or pop

Symphony Orchestra

  • A 1-2 minute piece or excerpt of your choice that showcases your abilities
  •  Sight reading of proposed repertoire

Wind Ensemble

  •  A 1-2 minute piece or excerpt of your choice that showcases your abilities
  •  Sight reading of proposed repertoire

Concert Choir

  • Vocalization (to assess voice range and quality)
  • Aural skills evaluation/ear training
  • Sightreading 

Chamber Choir

  • Students interested in Chamber Choir must have successfully completed an audition for Concert Choir and been offered a callback audition
  • ​​​​​​​Sight reading of proposed repertoire

Chamber Music

  • A 1-2 minute piece or excerpt of your choice that showcases your abilities
  •  Sight reading of proposed repertoire