In-Person Auditions Aug. 13
Auditions and offerings of the Music Theory Placement Exam will be held in-person on August 13 for the Fall 2022 semester.
Sign Up for Aug. 13 Audition DayIn-Person Audition Day:
Saturday, August 13, 2022
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Online Audition Submission Deadline:
Thursday, August 18, 2022 at 11:59 PM
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Auditions and offerings of the Music Theory Placement Exam will be held in-person on August 13 for the Fall 2022 semester.
Sign Up for Aug. 13 Audition DayOnline auditions for private lessons are accepted on a continuous basis, with audition results returning within three weeks.
Submit Online AuditionOur Music Department Advisors can answer your questions auditions, music degrees, and becoming a student at MSU Denver.
Schedule an AppointmentPrivate instruction is a major component of all music degrees, and is offered to music majors and minors who pass an audition. Students may choose to either submit an online audition or perform an in-person audition. An audition attempt may be made once per semester. A passing audition result is valid for one calendar year.
Private instruction is available for most instruments, with audition repertoire requirements listed by instrument area below.
Incoming students are highly encouraged to meet with a Music Department Intake Advisor prior to auditioning.
Each jazz applicant must perform:
Bb, Eb, Concert, and Bass Clef parts are included for Blues By Five which is a 12 bar blues in Bb. There are four backing tracks also included: one minus horns/voice, one minus piano/guitar, one minus bass, and one minus drums. Vocalists have the option of performing Centerpiece instead of Blues By Five.
For online auditions: Please record your video playing to the track that does not include your instrument.
For in-person auditions: You may use these tracks to practice beforehand.
Reference Recording: Blues By Five (YouTube), Centerpiece (YouTube)
Charts:
Blues By Five – Concert (PDF)
Blues By Five – Bb (PDF)
Blues By Five – Eb (PDF)
Blues By Five – Bass Clef (PDF)
Centerpiece – Bb with Lyrics (PDF) – (option for vocalists)
Backing Tracks:
Horn Players/Vocalists: Bb Blues – minus horn/voice (Dropbox MP3)
Pianists/Guitarists: Bb Blues – minus piano/guitar (Dropbox MP3)
Bassists: Bb Blues – minus bass (Dropbox MP3)
Drummers: Bb Blues – minus drums (Dropbox MP3)
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Jazz Area Coordinator, Dawn Clement ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.
Each brass applicant must perform:
If you have any questions about your brass audition, contact the Director of Brass and Percussion Studies, Michael Hengst ([email protected]).
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Brass and Percussion Area Coordinator, Michael Hengst ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.
Classical guitar applicants must perform their audition on a classical guitar. Jazz and rock fingerings are not acceptable for this audition (see Jazz audition requirements instead). Applicants are expected to have a reasonable ability to read music notation (not just tablature).
Each classical guitar applicant must perform:
Suggested Audition Pieces
Applicants are encouraged to perform two of the following pieces for their audition. These pieces are detailed in Professor Alex Komodore’s Audition Preparation video.
Professor Komodore’s Audition Preparation Video (YouTube)
Moorish Dance (PDF)
Exercise 13 (PDF)
Lesson 46 (PDF)
Lesson 61 (PDF)
Torito (PDF)
Applicants who have any questions or hesitations about their guitar auditions are encouraged to reach out to Classical Guitar Area Coordinator, Alex Komodore ([email protected], 303-521-4371 call/text) for guidance or a free lesson.
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Classical Guitar Area Coordinator, Alex Komodore ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.
Each percussion applicant must perform:
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Brass and Percussion Area Coordinator, Michael Hengst ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.
Each piano or organ applicant must perform:
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Classical Piano Area Coordinator, Jooeun Pak ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.
Each string applicant must perform:
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Strings Area Coordinator, Philip Ficsor ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.
Auditioners in the voice area are encouraged to select pieces which are melodic and show the auditioner’s ability to sing. The songs need not be excessively difficult and may be sung in their original language or in English translation. Students auditioning into the BFA Music Theatre degree program must contact the Department of Theatre prior to auditioning. An accompanist will be provided for in-person auditions; please bring a copy of your music. If you are submitting an online audition, live piano accompaniment is preferred but you may instead be accompanied by a recorded track; you should not accompany yourself instrumentally or submit an a cappella.
Each classical voice applicant must perform:
Each BFA in Music Theatre voice applicant, after contacting the Department of Theatre, must perform:
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Classical Voice Area Coordinator, Bradley Thompson ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning. General additional requirements are outlined here: Voice Area Advanced Placement Audition (PDF)
Each flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon applicant must perform:
Each saxophone applicant must perform:
Transfer students wishing to audition for advanced placement with transfer credit from previous collegiate private lessons must contact the Woodwinds Area Coordinator, Patricia Surman ([email protected]) for additional requirements prior to auditioning.
If you play an instrument not listed above (for example harp, accordion, etc.) please use the following repertoire requirements for your audition:
In-person auditions are held in January, February, and August in the King Center on the Auraria Campus. When you sign up for an in-person audition, you can expect:
Submitting an online audition is a simple, 3-step process:
Step 1: Video record audition repertoire for your instrument.
Step 2: Upload your recordings as unlisted videos on a YouTube channel.
Step 3: Complete and submit the online audition application, including links to the unlisted YouTube videos.
Online auditions are accepted on a continuous basis, though deadlines apply depending on the desired semester of private instruction. Applicants are notified of their audition results within three weeks of submitting an online audition.
If you believe you are not ready to audition for private instruction, we offer audition consultations to guide you in your practice and preparation.
Request an Audition ConsultationTransfer students with previous private instruction credits may audition into an advanced level of lessons. To audition into an advanced level of lessons, students must contact the area coordinator of their instrument area prior to submitting their auditions for additional requirements (find contact information under the Repertoire Requirements for your instrument area). They may also be asked to present a list of repertoire studied at the college level and copies of college transcripts to the audition panel.
The ensembles listed below require a successful audition for participation. Ensemble auditions are generally held during the first week of classes each semester. Students interested in joining Chorale may sign up for an audition online. For other ensemble auditions, contact the ensemble director below to sign up:
MUS 3819 Chamber Music, contact Michael Hengst
MUS 3820 Chorale (mixed choir), Sign up online
MUS 3825 Wind Ensemble, contact David Kish
MUS 3828 Jazz Ensemble, contact Dawn Clement
MUS 3830 Guitar Ensemble, contact Alex Komodore
MUS 3832 Collaborative Piano, contact Jooeun Pak
MUS 3827 Symphony Orchestra, submit audition video online
MUS 3829 Jazz Combo, contact Dawn Clement
MUS 3833 Opera, contact Gene Roberts
Non-credit Pep Band (paid, basketball season only), contact Michael Hengst
Contact the Music Department Coordinator, Christine Devine ([email protected]) or [email protected].