Audition Awards
Substantial talent and academic awards are available through a successful audition. As you grow academically and musically as a music major in the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ music department, we continue to provide several yearly awards and endowed scholarships for deserving students that are voted on by faculty and awarded during Honors Day ceremonies each spring.MUSIC AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
An Audition is not required for acceptance into:
- BA in Music with a Sound Recording and Technology Concentration
- BA in Music with an Individualized Studies Concentration
An Audition is required for acceptance into:
- BA in Music with a Performance Concentration
- BM in Music Education
Students wishing to be considered for a talent award must audition; talent awards are available for all degree programs.
Each audition will start with a general session followed by auditions. Music major auditions vary by instrument (see below). All applicants may be asked to sight-read.
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- One or two octaves of major scales using at least two fingerings
- Two solo pieces, any style, must be written in standard musical notation
- Sight-reading melodies
- Demonstration of improvisational skills and chord progressions if jazz or contemporary guitar is sought
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- Two works from organ repertoire of contrasting styles and different periods of music.
- Play two verses of a hymn of your choice with an introduction as you would use for congregational singing.
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- A solo on either snare drum, timpani, drum set, or keyboard percussion (choose your "strongest" instrument).
- One solo or etude on a secondary percussion instrument.
- Demonstrate rudiments and scales.
- Sight reading for snare and keyboard is part of the audition.
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- Two contrasting completed pieces: Class A, B, or C; Memorization is optional
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Scales hands together (2-4 octaves) and arpeggios hands together (2-4 octaves) up through 4 sharps and 4 flats, chosen from major or minor; faculty chooses 1 of each
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- One solo with or without piano accompaniment
- Major and minor scales
- Sight-read a selection
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- Two Class A or B contest solos.
- One piece in a foreign language (French, Italian, Latin, German or Spanish)
- One English art song
- Additionally, a singer may also present a piece for the Broadway repertoire.
- Singers will be asked to sight-read a selection and do a tonal retention exercise.
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- Any solo or etude that best displays your technique, tone, and musicality. (Something on the level of an OMEA Contest is appropriate).
- An audition piece representative of other musical traditions is encouraged.
MUSIC MAJOR AUDITION DATES AND TIMES
All auditions will be held in Presser Hall (Music Building) on the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Campus.
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Saturday, January 23, 2027
Saturday, February 20, 2027
Saturday, March 20, 2027
Online Auditions
Can't audition in person? ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Northern University is now accepting online auditions for students interested in pursuing the Bachelor of Music in education or performance, or a Bachelor Arts in music.
NON-MUSIC MAJOR TALENT AUDITIONS AND AWARDS
Students are required to audition for the non-music Talent Awards for Symphony Orchestra, University Singers and Chamber Winds via getacceptd.com (click on the link "Submit Your Audition via Get Acceptd" below).
Auditions are NOT required for non-music Talent Awards for Marching Band/Symphonic Band.
Auditions will consist of the following for instrumentalists:
A prepared unaccompanied solo or etude
A scale of your choice that is played over the entire range of the instrument
Auditions will consist of the following for choral singers:
A prepared accompanied solo
Department of Music
202 Presser Hall525 South Main Street
Ada, ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ 45810
419-772-2150
s-stevens.3@onu.edu