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Audition Guidelines - Instrumental (Music Majors & Non-Majors)

Brass, Woodwind, String Auditions (Majors & Non-Majors)

Perform approximately 10 minutes of music that includes a technical excerpt and a melodic or lyrical excerpt, or a solo that demonstrates both technical and lyrical playing.

Excerpts may be taken from a standard solo or etude, a piece from the UIL contest list, UIL region etudes, or similar pieces.

Percussion Auditions

Prospective majors – perform works for timpani, snare, and keyboard percussion. Excerpts may be taken from a standard solo or etude, a piece from the UIL contest list, UIL region etudes, or similar pieces.

Prospective non-majors – perform 5-10 minutes of music and include at least two of the listed instruments.

Piano Auditions (Majors only)

Perform from at least two of the following categories:

  • Any work of J. S. Bach or D. Scarlatti
  • Any sonata movement of Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven
  • A composition of the Romantic period (Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, etc.)
  • An Impressionist (Debussy, Ravel, etc.) or Contemporary composition


Scholarship Awarding Criteria

We recommend that you choose audition material that best represents your abilities. Criteria for awarding scholarships are:

  • Demonstrated performance skill and musicianship
  • Needs within the department
  • Available funds

To submit a video audition:

Fill out the Video Audition Form completely, including a link (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) to your video.

If you have any questions about auditions, please email musicrecruiter@acu.edu, or contact Laura Dickson (laura.dickson@acu.edu, 325.674.4892).