Choral
A limited number of performance scholarships are available for the choral ensembles. Auditions for these scholarships, which range from $1,500 for first-year recipients to as much as $3,000 for experienced members of the Chorus, take place in March and April for the following year. April 19, 2021 is the cut-off date to audition for a performance scholarship for the 2021-22 academic year. You do not need to be a music major to be eligible for a performance scholarship and the majority of recipients are non-majors.
Because of the COVID-19 situation, all auditions will have to be done by video submission. The video should include the performance of one song with accompaniment (preferably piano). It can be sent as an attachment, or you can send a link to an online video. As there is no practical way to handle the sight-reading component of the audition, initial awards will be for $750 for AY2021-2022; auditions for a select group (Chamber Singers or Vocal Jazz Ensemble) will take place the first week of classes in the fall and singers who earn a spot in one of those groups in addition to the University Chorus will have their awards doubled on the spot to $1500 for the year.
When you e-mail the video or video link, please include a filled-out audition form (below). It must include your Drexel student ID or it cannot be processed. If you are awarded a performance scholarship, you will receive notification from the Performing Arts Office with a scholarship agreement by May 1.
University Chorus-Audition Form
Audition Requirements:
One piece, any style with keyboard accompaniment. The piece must be a solo piece (not a choral work). Pick something that shows off the strength of your voice (i.e. if you feel you have great high notes, pick a piece with high notes; if you have a lyric voice, pick a ballad--play to your strength and don't try to guess what the director will like). Do, however, be aware that scholarships go to singers who demonstrate the promise of being able to lead sections in the Chorus; we are looking for strong voices with range, and excellent intonation. If you are a soprano, your piece must go up to at least a high G; a soprano who sings a piece entirely in chest voice will not have demonstrated enough range to receive a scholarship as a college soprano.
Requirements for Scholarship Recipients:
1. You must enroll in, and participate in MUSC 101: University Chorus each term (two rehearsals each week)
2. You must be available to participate in either the Chamber Singers or Naturally Sharp [Vocal Jazz Ensemble] according to the director's needs
Please contact Dr. Steven Powell, Director of Choral Activities at powellss@drexel.edu with any questions or to submit a video.
Concert Band
Wind, Brass, and Percussion performance scholarships range from $900 per
academic year (three terms) to $1950 per academic year (three
terms).
Audition Procedures:
Performing Arts Scholarships are competitive, and the expectations for
students who are awarded scholarships are high. These students are required
to attend all rehearsals (Monday and Wednesday evenings, 5:30 p.m. –
6:50 p.m.) and performances of the Concert Band. In addition, all Concert
Band scholarship students are to be available for chamber music
opportunities within the Concert Band, or for other ensembles within the
Department of Performing Arts (i.e., University Orchestra, University
Chorus, Theater Pit Orchestra).
Audition Requirements:
1) Three major scales and one chromatic scale, range of the instrument, in
the format of your choice.
2) Basic sight reading (provided) - note: due to auditions for the 2021-2022
academic year being held by video, there is no sight reading requirement.
3) Selection from standard solo repertoire of your choice. You may use
state/district music educator's conference audition material as a guide or
starting point to choose a selection.
Percussionists:
Percussion students are to perform a 2-3-minute solo or etude of their
choice on each of the following three instruments: timpani, snare drum, and
one mallet instrument choice (marimba, xylophone, or vibraphone). Scales,
rudiments, and sight reading will be asked. - note: due to auditions for the
2021-2022 academic year being held by video, there is no sight reading
requirement. Percussionists should record a solo etude on whatever
instruments they have access to. Please specify this in the email you send
me with your audition video.
To Submit Your Audition
Please record the material required for your instrument and attach the file to the audition form below. The total
recording should be no longer than 7 minutes in length, and should be
unedited (no audio or video enhancements, no splicing together multiple
takes of your performance).
Please be sure to listen back to your recording before submitting to ensure
that the recording is an accurate representation of your work (good quality
audio, no loud or distracting background sounds, etc). Using a smartphone
camera is usually fine.
The video submission deadline is Monday, April 19, 2021.
Concert Band Audition Form
Requirements for Scholarship Participation:
A student must be registered for Concert Band (MUSC 105, Section 001) for
each academic term in order to receive any disbursements.
For more information, contact the Director, Patrick Bailey at
PBailey@drexel.edu.
Percussion Ensemble
Performing Arts Scholarships are competitive, and the expectations for
students who are awarded such scholarships are high. These students are
required to attend all rehearsals and performances of the Percussion
Ensemble. In addition, all Percussion Ensemble scholarship students are to
be available for other ensembles within the Department of Performing Arts
(i.e., Concert Band, Pep Band, University Orchestra, University Chorus,
Theater Pit Orchestra).
Audition Submission:
Performing Arts Scholarships are available to any percussion student who
performs a successful audition. Students are to contact the Director of
the Percussion Ensemble - Mark Beecher - via email (meb26@drexel.edu) to schedule a time for an audition, which are usually 15-minute
slots. Scholarship awards range from $500-$1000.
Due to the existing COVID-19 Crisis, all Percussion Ensemble Scholarship
Auditions will be conducted in a live, online session, lasting approximately
15 minutes - using either Zoom, Google Hangouts, iPhone FaceTime, Skype or
similar video conferencing platforms. It is assumed that video auditions can
never replace a live, in-person audition, but due to these current
circumstances, this will be the norm in all educational and performance
settings.
YouTube or Vimeo videos will also be accepted (and it is recommended that
high-quality digital video equipment is used), which can be submitted to the
Director of the Percussion Ensemble, Mark Beecher, via email
meb26@drexel.edu.
The audition/video submission deadline is
Sunday, April 25, 2021.
Audition Requirements:
For Mallet Auditions (Marimba/Vibes/Xylophone, Timpani), students are
asked to choose a repertoire which they think best displays their present
abilities. Students should be prepared to offer two or three pieces or
movements in contrasting musical styles and tempi. As appropriate, the
student may be asked to demonstrate aural awareness, scales and arpeggios,
and sight-reading. It is recommended that the pieces are played from
memory and a copy of your audition music presented to the Director of the
Percussion Ensemble, but not required.
For all other Percussion Instruments (Snare Drum, Drum Set, Congas,
Bongos, Djembe, etc.), students must prepare a solo piece or two, of their
choice. On the Snare Drum: Playing through a few Drum Rudiments (going
from Open [slow] to Closed [fast] to Open) - The Long Roll, Single Stroke
Roll, Single Paradiddle, Flam, Flam Accent, Flamacue, Ruff (Drag) &
Single Ratamacue, as well as some on-the-spot demonstrations of a few
Hybrid Rudiments. For the Drum Set, students must perform the following
Groove examples: Bossa Nova, Afro-Cuban (6/8 & Son Montuno / Salsa),
Reggae (Shuffle & Straight 8ths), Blues Shuffle, Jazz/Swing, Odd Meter
(5/4, 7/8, etc.). For Hand Percussion: Congas - Tumbao Moderno, Guaguanco,
Bolero, Merengue, Afro Cuban 6/8, etc.; Bongos - Basic Martillo; Djembe -
Lamba, Doundounba, Sedeba, Lindjiang; Darbuka - Maqsum, Baladi, Saidi,
Nawari, etc.
Sample Audition List
(Note: Student may choose from the list, but are encouraged to choose
their own repertoire):
Marimba 2 Mallet:
Major Scales and arpeggios, 2 octaves
Violin Sonata in A Minor - J.S. Bach
Marimba 4 Mallet:
Yellow After the Rain - Mitchell Peters
Xylophone:
Porgy and Bess (Catfish Row) - George Gershwin
Polka from "The Golden Age" - Dmitri Shostakovich
Marimba:
Sonata in B Minor Mvt. III - J.S. Bach
Time for Marimba - Minoru Miki
Snare Drum:
Etude #1 - Jacques Delecluse
Scheherazade - Nicolas Rimsky-Korsakov
Timpani:
Saeta - Elliot Carter
Symphony 9 - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Requirements for Scholarship Participation:
A student must be registered for Percussion Ensemble (MUSC 113, Section
001) for each academic term in order to receive any
disbursements.
For more information, or to schedule an audition, contact Mark Beecher,
Percussion Ensemble Director at meb26@drexel.edu.
University Symphony Orchestra
Auditions for Drexel University Symphony Orchestra (DUSO) acceptance and for
performance scholarship consideration must be digitally recorded and sent to
Orchestra Director, Rosalind Erwin.
General guidelines/information:
1. ALL Strings: your DUSO acceptance audition is also used for DUSO
performance scholarship consideration.
2. Violinists and Violists: please do not face the camera head on. Please
position the camera so that your bow arm is visible.
3. Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion already accepted as scholarship students
in the Concert Band will receive an additional $150 each term they
participate in DUSO.
4. Videotaping with one's cell phone is perfectly acceptable.
5. On the video, first announce who you are, state what scales you will
play, and state what piece you will perform.
6. All Files must be submitted directly to
rme49@drexel.edu.
String performance scholarships range from $900 per academic year (three
terms) to $1950 per academic year (three terms).
Please fill out the audition form below and submit it to Rosalind Erwin at
rme49@drexel.edu when you submit your
audition video.
Video submissions due no later than Sunday, April 18, 2021.
University Symphony Orchestra Audition Form
Audition Requirements:
Strings:
1) Part of a standard repertoire solo for your instrument (concerto,
sonata, melodic etude, etc.) – student’s choice. No
accompaniment required.
2) 3 major scales including keys up to 4 flats and 4 sharps as many octaves
as you know (for scholarship consideration, at least two scales must be
three octaves. Exception: double bass) - student's choice.
Woodwinds and Brass:
Same as above, with the exception of scales (two octaves, but in the case of
flute and clarinet, at least one three octave scale).
Percussion:
State your experience with timpani, auxiliary percussion and mallet
percussion.
Requirements for Scholarship Participation:
Scholarship students are expected to, at a minimum, maintain their level of
playing at the standard in which they entered the ensemble, as well as have
no more than the standard allowed absences each term. Excessive absences and
lowering of playing ability may result in cancellation of the scholarship or
reduction in the scholarship amount. All recipients re-audition each spring
to retain their scholarship.
Students must register for MUSC 109 (University Symphony Orchestra)
For more information, please contact Rosalind Erwin, Drexel University
Symphony Orchestra Director at rme49@drexel.edu.
Jazz Orchestra
Auditions are required for membership in the Drexel University Jazz
Orchestra.
The Jazztet and the Saxtet are select groups whose members are drawn from
the ranks of the Jazz Orchestra.
Membership Requirements:
Technical command of your instrument sufficient to perform jazz at a high
level
Good sight-reading ability
An awareness of the musical tradition and performance practices
established by the masters of this music – Louis Armstrong, Duke
Ellington, Count Basie, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, John
Coltrane, etc.
The ability to improvise is not a requirement, but it is a definite plus.
Membership and Scholarship Auditions:
Please prepare one piece, preferably a Jazz standard, but it can be of
any style, which demonstrates your instrumental proficiency and your
overall musicianship. It should be approximately 2-4 minutes in
length.
Jazz Orchestra scholarships are awarded depending upon ability and needs
of the group. Awards range from $725 to $2,500.
Please contact the Jazz Orchestra Director via email (bw352@drexel.edu) to schedule a time for a virtual audition or submit a remote audition
via YouTube video. The deadline to audition/submit a video is
Sunday, April 18, 2021.
All instrumentalists, with the exception of pianists, acoustic bassists,
and drummers, must bring their own instruments to the audition. Amplifiers
will be provided for bassists and guitarists; however, all bassists and
guitarists must bring their own cables. Drummers must bring their own
sticks and brushes.
-
You must enroll in MUSC 107: Jazz Orchestra and participate in
concerts
-
Selections for sight reading and selections for improvisation will be
provided by the director.
- Each audition will consist of:
Horn players:
1. Sight reading
2. Improvising, if you have the ability to do so. The ability to improvise
is not a requirement, but it is a definite plus
3. The playing of major and minor scales and arpeggios
Pianists:
1. Comping in a range of styles from chord symbols – be-bop,
Afro-Latin, etc.
2. Sight reading
3. Improvising, if you have the ability to do so. The ability to improvise
is not a requirement, but it is a definite plus
Guitarists:
1. Playing rhythm guitar
2. Comping in various styles from chord symbols – be-bop,
Afro-Latin, etc.
3. Sight reading
4. Improvising, if you have the ability to do so. The ability to improvise
is not a requirement, but it is a definite plus
Bassists: (while string
bass is preferred, electric bassists who can create walking bass lines,
and reasonably approximate a string bass quality of sound are welcome to
audition)
1. Creation of bass lines in various styles from chord symbols –
be-bop, Afro-Latin, shuffle, etc.
2. Sight reading
3. Improvising, if you have the ability to do so. The ability to improvise
is not a requirement, but it is a definite plus
Drummers:
1. Time keeping in various styles – be-bop (4/4
“straight-ahead” swing), Afro-Latin, shuffle, etc.
2. Brush technique
3. Sight reading
Requirements for Scholarship Participation:
You must enroll in, and participate in MUSC 107 (Jazz Orchestra) each
term.
For more information, or to schedule an audition, contact Brent White,
Jazz Orchestra director at bw352@drexel.edu.
Fusion Band
The Drexel University Fusion Band is an advanced performance ensemble
exploring a variety of musical styles and genres including Funk, Reggae,
Salsa, Samba, Afro-Cuban, Jazz and World Music. Improvisation is an
important aspect of the ensemble experience. Audition requirements include
a demonstration of proficiency on one's instrument, knowledge of scales,
chords and rhythms, the ability to read music, and a demonstrated ability
to improvise.
Performance scholarships are available for this ensemble, up to $1200 per
year. Scholarship recipients must be able to commit to all 3 terms
(fall, winter, spring) and attend all rehearsals and performances.
Auditions are held on an as needed basis.
Requirements for Scholarship Participation:
You must enroll in, and participate in MUSC 112 (Fusion Band) each
term.
For more information, or to schedule an audition, contact Lynn Riley,
Fusion Band Ensemble director at mcr27@drexel.edu.
Rock Ensemble
General Information:
Guitars, bass, drums, keys, female and male vocalists playing popular rock
music from different eras and styles.
VIDEO SUBMISSION- Deadline: No later than
Monday, April 19, 2021. Send to Greg Wright,
gjw28@drexel.edu.
The easiest way to submit a video without file size issues is to upload it
as "unlisted" to YouTube and email that link. Email Greg Wright if
that’s an issue.
The video submissions should be an example (song) of your work.
No tape loops, recordings or sequencing can be used for accompaniment
Instrument & Vocal Audition Requirements:
Guitars:
Have a song prepared that you can play solo, or by yourself. Chord/Melody is
preferable. Electric guitar is also preferable.
Bass:
Have a prepared tune. Keep and show good time. Add some prowess at the
end.
Drums:
1. Show versatility with a variety of rock feels: reggae, funk, metal,
blues, alt, etc.
2. Be able to do fills and stay in time.
Keyboards:
Have a song prepared that you can play solo, or by yourself. Chords, bass
& melody in a twelve bar blues with improvisation and variations of
feel.
Vocalists:
1. Have two songs prepared to sing, ONLY VOCALISTS can use tracks (you must
supply them).
2. One should be a fast tune, one should be a slow tune.
You must enroll in, and participate in MUSC 117 (Rock
Ensemble-Mondays at 3 pm) each term.
For more information or to submit a video, contact Greg Wright, Rock
Ensemble director at gjw28@drexel.edu.