Auditions

Auditions are required for all music majors and the performance minor. Music scholarships are awarded partially based on the required audition as well. Please note: admission to Radford University is also required and is a separate process.

Audition Dates and Request Forms

Auditions begin in December. An audition appointment can be scheduled by registering online.

Schedule a Music Audition, 2024-2025

If circumstances prevent the presentation of a campus audition on any of these dates, an appointment on an alternative date may be requested or an unedited recording may be submitted UNEDITED video audition to YouTube and sharing the link to auditions@radford.edu.

Applicants should prepare for their auditions according to the following guidelines:

All auditionees are welcome to bring an accompanist, but one will be provided if advance notice is given and the music is provided by the student. Performance with an accompanist is required for vocal auditions, but optional for all instrumentalists.

Voice
Prospective voice majors should perform two contrasting pieces from the classical vocal repertoire (art song, opera, oratorio, etc). Memorization is required. One piece should be in a foreign language other than English. Students who wish guidance in choosing appropriate audition material are encouraged to contact Denise Bernardini, Ph.D. well in advance of their audition date. Students may also be asked to sight-read.

Winds
Wind players should prepare at least two contrasting works that demonstrate tone quality, technique and musicality. In addition, students should be prepared to play all major scales and a chromatic scale. The demonstration of basic sight-reading ability is expected. Students who wish guidance in choosing appropriate audition material are encouraged to contact Dayl Burnett, Ph.D. well in advance of their audition date.

Percussion
Percussion Students auditioning for percussion are asked to prepare the following: 1 Snare Drum Solo (either concert or rudimental) 1 Mallet Solo (4 mallets is strongly encouraged) and 1 Timpani Solo. Other areas of specialty can also be demonstrated (drum set, hand drums, etc.). All the solos should be appropriate for a college level audition. Sight reading and rudiments will be asked for as well. A more detailed list of materials is available on the Radford Music website. For further information, please contact Wayne Gallops, Ph.D. Music Department Chairperson.

Guitar and Strings
Guitarists prepare and present the following: at least one major scale and two contrasting solos from the standard classical guitar repertoire that demonstrate quality of tone, technique and musicality. One piece may be an etude. Students who wish guidance in choosing appropriate audition material are encouraged to contact Robert Trent, DMA, well in advance of their audition date.

String players should prepare two contrasting works or movements that demonstrate tone quality, technique and musicianship. Students who wish guidance in choosing appropriate audition material are encouraged to contact the music office well in advance of their audition date. Students who wish guidance in choosing appropriate audition material are encouraged to contact Robert Trent well in advance of their audition date.

Keyboard
Keyboard students should perform two pieces from two different style periods in the standard classical repertoire. Works by Bach, Handel or Scarlatti (Baroque); Mozart, Haydn or Beethoven (Classical); Chopin Schubert or Schumann (Romantic); and Bartok, Debussy or Prokofiev (20th-century/Contemporary) are suggested. Memorization is required for pianists but not for organists. The demonstration of basic sight-reading ability is expected. Prospective organ majors should have a strong piano background. Previous organ study is not required and students may audition on piano. Students who would like guidance in choosing appropriate audition materials are encouraged to contact Matthew Cataldi, Ph.D. well in advance of their audition date.

Music Therapy
In addition to the Applied Performance Audition , Music Therapy Faculty will meet with each prospective MT student on audition days. Each meeting will be approximately 15 minutes in duration. Each student should prepare to sing and/or play two contrasting simple songs that might be used in a clinical setting. These can include pop songs, hymns, children’s songs, folk songs, golden oldies, or anything from the standard popular repertoire. Auditioners may accompany themselves on guitar, ukulele, and/or piano if able. If the auditioner is unable to play any of these instruments they should sing their pieces a cappella.

A music therapy faculty member may ask the following questions:

What do you know about music therapy?
Why are you interested in majoring in MT?
What are your strengths and areas of need?
Have you had any volunteer experiences or have you shadowed a music therapist? If so can you briefly share something you learned from that/those opportunities?
A person who was the most influential to you and why?

For further general information, please contact Wayne Gallops, Ph.D. Music Department Chairperson.