2023 Ensemble Auditions

For the Fall 2023 semester, ALL students (new, transfer and returning, any major) who wish to participate in a Department of Music Ensemble must audition in person on Tuesday, August 22. The music faculty is excited to hear you. 

Please use the link below to select your audition time. You will be able to sign up for an audition time until midnight on Monday, August 21. Be sure to select the correct audition category (choral, strings, woodwinds & brass, percussion or jazz ensemble). You may sign up to audition in more than one category should you wish to participate in multiple ensembles. Music majors may be asked to play specific excerpts from the repertoire for the upcoming year.

Ensemble rosters will be announced by the ensemble director via email to each auditioning student before the first day of classes. ALL students can register for their ensemble on my.gordon.edu when add/drop begins on August 23. Students must be registered for the ensemble (0/1 credit) to participate. 

The bookings page is open but will not be live until August 1. If you have any issues with your booking please email [email protected]. 

SCHEDULE AN AUDITION

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Audition Requirements

Choral – Women’s, Men’s and College Choir

Singers may sing one selection of their choice. A hymn or popular song will suffice (e.g., "Amazing Grace" or "My Country ’tis of Thee"). For music majors (vocalists only), please prepare a classical repertoire. Please bring one extra copy for the collaborative pianist. Additionally, there may be a sight-reading assessment for music majors and minors.

Woodwinds & Brass – Gordon Symphony Orchestra or Symphonic Band 

Woodwind and brass players must prepare one solo piece, etude or excerpt from an ensemble piece for their audition. Music majors may be asked to play specific excerpts from the repertoire for the upcoming year. Excerpts will be emailed at least one week prior to the auditions.

Strings – Gordon Symphony Orchestra

String players should prepare one solo piece for their audition. Music majors may be asked to play specific excerpts from the repertoire for the upcoming year. Excerpts will be emailed to music majors. It is strongly encouraged that all other string players (music minors and students of other majors) also prepare these excerpts for their audition in addition to their solo piece, but it is not mandatory.

Viola Excerpt

Violin Excerpt

Cello Excerpt

Bass Excerpt

Percussion – Gordon Symphony Orchestra or Symphonic Band

Percussionists are required to prepare a solo piece, etude or excerpt from an ensemble piece on two of the following instruments: timpani, snare drum or marimba.

Jazz Ensemble 

All instruments except drums should perform one jazz standard, Real Book tune or popular tune that demonstrates your best playing.

Scales for wind and brass players

• Brass: Bb major scale up to your highest practical range
• Woodwinds: Chromatic scale through the full range of your instrument

Rhythm Section: Additional requirements

• Guitar, Piano and Bass: Comp or walk 2 choruses of a Bb Blues

Drums

1. Perform a 32-bar medium swing feel at 132 beats per minute. 
   1. The first 16 bars are “time.”
   2. The second 16 bars are trading 4’s-four bars of time followed by four bars of solo, etc.
2. Perform 8 bars of any Latin feel.
3. Perform 8 bars of any funk/fusion feel.

Voice auditions for jazz ensemble solos will happen later in the semester.