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Meet with an Advisor

Our Music Department Advisors can answer your questions about auditions, music degrees, and becoming a student at MSU Denver.
Required for all students entering the music program.

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Audition Information

Private 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 required to meet with a Music Department Intake Advisor prior to auditioning.

Audition Repertoire Requirements

Music at MSU Denver offers private instruction for most instruments in classical and jazz lesson tracks. Specific audition repertoire requirements for the following instruments are listed below.

Brass

Guitar

Drums and Percussion

Piano

Strings

Voice

Woodwinds

What to Expect at Your Audition

In-Person Auditions

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:

  • Auditions are approximately 12 minutes in length.
  • Practice rooms are available for warming up; plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your audition time to check-in.
  • Accompanists are provided for voice area auditions.  Students in other instrument areas may bring their own accompanist if preferred.
  • Appropriate attire at the audition is expected.
  • Audition results will be emailed within the week following your audition.

 

Online Auditions

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.

Not Ready To Audition Yet?

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 Consultation

Advanced Auditions for Transfer Students

Transfer 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). Transfer students may also be asked to present a list of repertoire studied at the college level and copies of college transcripts to the audition panel.

Ensemble Auditions

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 Orchestrasubmit 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

 

Questions?

Contact the Music Department Program Analyst, Christine Devine ([email protected]) or [email protected].