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 2025–26 audition schedule is listed below 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.
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.
Orchestras and Wind Bands audition dates and locations
Music majors and non-music majors
| Instrument | Day | Time | Location | Warm-up room | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philharmonia | Thursday, August 21 | 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | Gammage 311 | Gammage 209 and 212 | |
| Philharmonia | Tuesday, August 26 | 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | Gammage 311 | Gammage 213 | |
| Clarinet | Wednesday, August 20 | 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Gammage 213 | Gammage 209 and 212 | |
| Violin | Wednesday, August 20 | 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Gammage 311 | Gammage 209 and 212 | |
| Saxophone | Wednesday, August 20 | 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Gammage 213 | Gammage 209 and 212 | |
| Trombone | Wednesday, August 20 | 12 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Gammage 301 | Gammage 209 and 212 | |
| Flute | Wednesday, August 20 | 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Gammage 301 | 12 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | |
| Horn | Thursday, August 21 | 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. | Gammage 301 | Gammage 212 | |
| Tuba/Euphonium | Thursday, August 21 | 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Gammage 311 | Gammage 212 | |
| Violin Callbacks | Thursday, August 21 | 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Katzin Concert Hall | Music W122 | |
| Percussion | Thursday, August 21 | 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Percussion Studio (WB10) | various | |
| Viola | Thursday, August 21 | 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Katzin Concert Hall | Music W122 | |
| Clarinet Callbacks | Thursday, August 21 | 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Katzin Concert Hall | Music W122 | |
| Oboe | Friday, August 22 | 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Gammage 213 | Gammage 212 | |
| Trumpet | Friday, August 22 | 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Gammage 301 | Gammage 209 | |
| Cello | Friday, August 22 | 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Katzin Concert Hall | Music W122 | |
| Double Bass | Friday, August 22 | 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Katzin Concert Hall | Music W122 | |
| Bassoon | Monday, August 25 | 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Katzin Concert Hall | Music W122 |
Audition information for instruments
Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia, Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony or Maroon and Gold Band
All music majors must prepare the specific excerpts and sign up for the auditions for their instrument. Non-majors who wish to be considered for placement in the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, or Wind Symphony must do the same.
For non-music majors interested in only the Philharmonia, please sign up under the Philharmonia tab.
For non-music majors interested in only the 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.
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.
For information on audition sign-ups, procedures, and results, go here.
For questions, please contact Julie Desbordes at [email protected]
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 instrument. All students interested in Maroon and Gold Band for 2025-26 should enroll in MUP 444 (68702). 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 downloading. 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 19, 2025, at 11:59PM ET.
If you do not have your own instrument, you will need to first be registered for the course. Please contact Jamal Duncan at [email protected]. Instruments will be available to be checked out starting August 13. The inventory is limited and will be on a first-come-first-served basis.
Violin
NOTE: Students who would like to be considered for concertmaster/positions of leadership should prepare the necessary excerpts in the above document.
Viola
NOTE: There also will be sight-reading.
Cello
Bass
For audition information, please contact Charles Lynch.
Audition sign-ups, procedures and results
The following information is for those interested in auditioning for the following ensembles:
- Symphony Orchestra/Music Theatre and Opera Orchestra/Wind Ensemble
- Music Theatre and Opera
Philharmonia
- Wind Symphony
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..
Any new student wishing to enroll in Maroon and Gold Band who has not been enrolled before will need to request an override for this semester. Once you have enrolled in the ensemble, we add a special code to your record to allow you to enroll in future semesters.
If you are a returning student experiencing issues registering, please request an override so we can assist you.
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.
ASU Wind Bands and Orchestras Audition Overview:
- 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.
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. 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.
Choirs audition dates and locations
Music majors and non-music majors
All singers interested in singing in the ASU choral program must complete an audition
| Choir | Day | Time | Location | Warm-up room |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choral auditions | Sunday, August 17 | 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Music, West 136 and West 137 | see below |
| Choral auditions | Monday, August 18 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Music, West 136 and West 137 | see below |
| Choral auditions | Tuesday, August 19 | 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Music, West 136 and West 137 | see below |
| Choral auditions | Thursday, August 21 | 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Music, West 136 and West 137 | see below |
| Choral auditions | Friday, August 22 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Music, West 136 and West 137 | see below |
Audition process
Sing in the ASU Choirs! Everyone who auditions is guaranteed a spot in one of our six ensembles. All are welcome to sing in the ASU Choral Program!
Follow these steps:
- Complete the Ensemble Enrollment Form.
- Sign up for an audition time.
- Singers interested in singing in Concert Choir, Barret Symphonic Choir, SOL Singers, Canticum Bassum or Choral Union will need to prepare the following excerpt:
Rise Up My Love, by Healey Willan, m. 1-24 (beginning to first system, top of pg. 3). Singers should prepare their preferred voice part. - Singers interested in singing in Gospel Choir will need to prepare the following excerpt:
Lord's Prayer by Isaac Cates. Interested singers should prepare mm. 5-32
Please use this YouTube video as a reference recording - The Lord's Prayer; 1:18 - 2:30
Choirs audition protocol
Each choral audition will consist of the following components:
- Vocal range assessment
- Tonal memory exercises
- A short sight-reading excerpt
- Prepared excerpt (listed above)
- Solo Singing - singers may sing a short selection that showcases their tone and range of voice
Each audition will consist of the following components:
- Vocal range assessment
- Tonal memory exercises
- Prepared excerpt (listed above)
- Song of choice: singers will sing a 1-2 minute portion of a song of their choice. The song can be gospel, a traditional hymn, a contemporary worship song or another song of choice that showcases a contemporary vocal ability.
- Questions and Answers
*No sight-singing excerpt required.
Choir audition sign-ups, procedures and results
For all ASU Choirs, please do the following:
Assignments
Upon completion of all auditions, the faculty will confer and make ensemble assignments for the Fall 2025 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.
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.
Audition dates for singers, actors and dancers interested in auditioning for on-stage roles in Music Theatre and Opera productions are Aug. 21-23. Contact Linda Bennett at [email protected] for on-stage auditions.
Meet your ensemble faculty
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, Wind Ensemble
[email protected]
Brian DeMaris, Music Theatre and Opera
[email protected]
Julie Desbordes, Philharmonia
[email protected]
Jamal Duncan, Wind Symphony
[email protected]
Alejandro Gómez Guillén, SymphonyOrchestra
Alejandro Gómez Guillén
James Hudson, Maroon and Gold Band
[email protected]
Nathan De'Shon Myers, Gospel Choir
[email protected]
Frank Watkins, Choirs
TBD