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Orchestras, Wind Bands, Choirs, and Music Theatre and Opera auditions

Join our community and participate in exciting performances.

ASU’s ensembles provide opportunities to participate in exciting performances and join a community of passionate musicians and dynamic conductors.

The 2023–24 audition schedule is now available for the ASU Symphony Orchestra/Chamber Orchestra, ASU Music Theatre and Opera, ASU Philharmonia, ASU Wind Ensemble, ASU Wind Symphony, ASU Concert Choir, Barrett Symphonic Choir and Gospel Choir. For sign-up information, view the “Sign-ups, procedures and results” section below. Audition excepts to prepare are listed below.

An audition is not required for the Maroon and Gold Band, Canticum Bassum, Sol Singers and Choral Union.

Chair placement information for Maroon and Gold Band is listed below. Maroon and Gold Band accepts new members in fall and spring spring semesters.

Jazz ensemble audition information can be found by selecting the individual ensemble under Jazz.

Audition dates and locations

Music majors and non-music majors

Instrument Day Time Location Warm-up room
Clarinet

Thursday, August 17

8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Gammage 301

Gammage 212
8 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Violin Thursday, August 17 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Katzin Concert Hall

Music W122
8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Saxophone

Thursday, August 17

2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Gammage 311

Gammage 209
2 p.m.– 4 p.m.
Tuba/Euphonium Friday, August 18

8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Gammage 311

Gammage 301
8:30 a.m.– 10:30 a.m.

Violin Callbacks

Friday, August 18

9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Katzin Concert Hall

Music W122
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Trumpet

Friday, August 18

12:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Katzin Concert Hall

Music W122
12:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Clarinet Callbacks

Friday, August 18

5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Katzin Concert Hall

Music W122
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Horn

Monday, August 21

8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Katzin Concert Hall

Music W122
8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Viola Monday, August 21

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Katzin Concert Hall

Music W122
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Percussion Monday, August 21

12:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Percussion Studio

 

Cello

Monday, August 21

2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Katzin Concert Hall

Music W122
2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Flute Tuesday, August 22

8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Katzin Concert Hall

Music W122
8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Trombone Tuesday, August 22

1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Katzin Concert Hall

Music W122
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Oboe Wednesday, August 23

9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Katzin Concert Hall

Music W122
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Bassoon Wednesday, August 23

12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Katzin Concert Hall

Music W122
12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Double Bass Wednesday, August 23

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Katzin Concert Hall

Music W122
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Philharmonia

Thursday, August 17

4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Gammage 311

Gammage 212
4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Philharmonia

Thursday, August 22

3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Gammage 311

Gammage 212
3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

 

 

Choir Day Time Location Warm-up room
Concert Choir
Graduate Choral Artists
Undergraduate Students
on Choral Scholarship
Wednesday, August 16 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. Music, West 137 see below
Concert Choir
Graduate Choral Artists
Undergraduate Students
on Choral Scholarship

Thursday, August 17

1 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Music, West 137

see below
Concert Choir
Graduate Choral Artists
Undergraduate Students
on Choral Scholarship
Friday, August 18 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1 p.m. – 7 p.m

Music, West 137

see below
Concert Choir Callbacks Monday, August 21 1:25 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. Music, EB2-94 see below
Barrett Symphonic Choir
(Spring 2024)
Monday, November 20 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Music, West 136 see below
Barrett Symphonic Choir
(Spring 2024)
Tuesday, November 21 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Music, West 136 see below

 

Gospel Choir Audition information can be found at ASU Gospel Choir.

Music Theatre and Opera

Auditions for Music Theatre and Opera pit orchestras are handled through the major ensemble auditions. There is a place for you to indicate your interest in our orchestras on the audition form.

Singers, actors and dancers interested in auditioning for on-stage roles in Music Theatre and Opera productions should contact Linda Bennett at Linda.s.bennett@asu.edu. Auditions are typically held at the beginning of each semester.

Audition excerpts for instruments

ASU Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble or Wind Symphony

All music majors must prepare the specific excerpts for their instrument and sign up for the auditions for their instrument. Non-majors who wish to be considered for placement in the ASU Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, or Wind Symphony must do the same. 

For non-music majors interested in only the ASU Philharmonia, please prepare two short (1–2 minutes each) and contrasting excerpts of your choice (any genre, composer, style). You will also have a sight-reading excerpt to play during the audition. Please sign up under the Philharmonia tab.

For non-music majors interested in only the ASU Maroon and Gold Band (audition not required), as well as music majors looking to play a secondary instrument please see the Maroon and Gold tab below for more details.

Violin

Download 2023 violin excerpts

NOTE: Students who would like to be considered for concertmaster/positions of leadership should prepare the necessary excerpts in the above document.

Viola

Download 2023 viola excerpts

NOTE: There also will be sight-reading.

Cello

Download 2023 cello excerpts

Bass

Download 2023 bass excerpts

 

For audition information, please contact Charles Lynch.

This is for non-music majors interested in only the ASU Maroon and Gold Band (audition not required), as well as music majors looking to play a secondary instrumentAll students interested in Maroon and Gold Band for 2023-24 should enroll in MUP 444 (80636). If you are new to the band, you will likely need an override. You can click HERE for that.

There is no audition for membership in the Maroon and Gold Band, however, there are chair placements to determine what part you will play in the band. Once you register, you will have access to the course Canvas shell. In Canvas you will find the chair placement music as well as the link for submission. 

Please submit only LINKS to your audition excerpts via YouTube. Your videos should be viewable without download. Please make sure all of the videos have the appropriate privacy settings (UNLISTED or PUBLIC) so that they may be accessed by the conductors. Do NOT upload your video as a YouTube Short, only as a regular video.

All interested students should submit the playing assessment form before August 20, 2023, at 11:59PM ET.

If you do not have your own instrument you will need to first be registered and the contact Jamal Duncan at duncan23@asu.edu. Instruments will be able to be checked out starting August 14. The inventory is limited and will be on a first-come-first-served basis.

Audition protocol for choirs

Concert Choir, Barrett Choir, Graduate Choral Artists, and Undergraduate Students on Choral Scholarship

Auditions: 15 minutes

Introductions, One minute: This a time for the singer and panel to introduce each other and take a moment to feel comfortable.

Solo, Two minutes: The singer will be asked to sing a short (up to 2 minute) solo that features the tone and range of the voice. The singer may share a piece or cut of any genre and/or tradition and may self-accompany on an instrument of their choice, utilize a collaborative pianist that we will provide, or sing a cappella. If the singer chooses a piece in western notation, they are asked to bring a copy for the collaborative pianist.

Vocal Exercises, Four minutes: The singer will be asked to sing a series of vocal exercises that asses range, tone, timbre, agility, and dynamic and articulatory ability.

Sight Singing and Tonal Memory, Three minutes: The singer will be asked to sing back a series of pitches from the piano. The singer will also be asked to  sight read a voice part from a choral octavo or hymn and may utilize solfège, number systems, a neutral syllable, or text while singing. They will be assessed on rhythmic and intervallic accuracy.

Improvisation and Rote Learning, Three minutes: The singer will be taught a call and response song from global music traditions and will be asked to follow and improved. The singer will be assessed on their aural memory and ability to improvise in embodied ways.

Interview and question, Two minutes: The singer will be asked a question about their choral journey and development and will also have the time to ask any questions they may have for the faculty.

 

Audition sign-ups, procedures and results

The following information is for those interested in auditioning for the following ensembles:

  • ASU Symphony Orchestra/Chamber Orchestra
  • ASU Music Theatre and Opera
  • ASU Philharmonia
  • ASU Wind Ensemble
  • ASU Wind Symphony
  • ASU Concert Choir
  • Barrett Symphonic Choir

If you are interested in the Maroon and Gold Band (audition not required) go to the Maroon and Gold Band tab above for chair placement information. Rehearsals are Tuesday nights from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m..

If you are interested in the following ASU choirs, an audition is not required: Canticum Bassum (rehearsals Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:30-5:45 p.m. in Gammage 311), Sol Singers  (rehearsals Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:30-5:45 p.m. in Gammage 301), and Choral Union (rehearsal Thursdays from 7:30-9:30 p.m.). 


For the ASU Wind Ensemble, ASU Wind Symphony, ASU Symphony Orchestra, and Philharmonia, please do the following to secure your audition time:

  • Fill out this form.
  • Sign up for one audition time using this audition sign-up form. Only sign up for one audition time. Any duplicate audition times will be deleted by the administrator. 
  • For non-music majors interested in only the ASU Philharmonia, please prepare two short (1–2 minutes each) and contrasting excerpts of your choice (any genre, composer, style). You will also have a sight-reading excerpt to play during the audition. Please sign up under the Philharmonia audition slots. 
  • Practice!

Audition process for the ASU Wind Ensemble, ASU Wind Symphony, ASU Symphony Orchestra, and Philharmonia:

  • You may use the Green Room as a warm-up area for auditions that take place in Katzin Concert Hall or one of the classrooms as a warmup area for auditions that take place in ASU Gammage. You may also warm up in the Music building practice rooms.
  • Please arrive ahead of your audition time so you are ready to play at your scheduled time.
  • Before entering the audition room make certain that you have your music and all equipment needed to play the audition.
  • Most auditions will be “blind”, that is, you will perform from behind a screen so your identity remains anonymous until after the audition process is complete. Therefore, please communicate with the room monitor only. Additional instructions will be given by an audition panel member if needed. Do your best to not respond verbally so that you remain anonymous. In the event you have a question, leave the space, ask the monitor your question, and the monitor will communicate with the panel.

For the ASU Concert Choir, Barrett Symphonic Choir, and all undergraduate and graduate students receiving a choral scholarship, please do the following to secure your audition time:

 

Barrett Symphonic Choir (spring 2024):

Concert Choir, Graduate Choral Artists, and Undergraduate Students on Choral Scholarship

  • Fill out this form. 
  • Then sign up for an audition time.

Note: Students that are auditioning for both Barrett Symphonic Choir or Concert Choir must sign up for a Concert Choir, Graduate and Undergraduate Students on Choral Scholarship audition slot.

Only sign up for one audition time. Any duplicate audition times will be deleted by the administrator.

Assignments

Upon completion of all auditions, the faculty will confer and make ensemble assignments for the Fall 2023 term. All musicians who auditioned will be contacted through the ASU email address given on the audition sign-up form and informed of their ensemble(s) placement.

We are excited to begin making music and learning with you this fall semester!

We look forward to seeing you very soon. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Jason Caslor, Director of Bands
jcaslor@asu.edu

Brian DeMaris, Artistic Director, Music Theatre and Opera
briandemaris@asu.edu

Jace Kaholokula Saplan, Director of Choral Activities
jsaplan@asu.edu

Julie Desbordes, Music Director, ASU Philharmonia
Julie.Desbordes@asu.edu

Jamal Duncan, Associate Director of Bands
duncan23@asu.edu

Joshua Palkki, Associate Director of Choral Activities
jpalkki@asu.edu

James Hudson, Director of Athletic Bands, Conductor, Maroon and Gold Band
James.G.Hudson@asu.edu