Voice

Audition requirements for undergraduate voice major:

• Two memorized songs with piano accompaniment of contrasting style selected from the classical vocal repertoire (both selections may be in English).
• Audition selections should not include musical theater pieces, choral excerpts, hymns, popular music, jazz, or other selections outside of the "classical" vocal repertoire.
• An accompanist will be provided.
• Please bring a clean, legible copy of your music.
• Performance will be followed by a brief interview with the voice faculty and a diagnostic exam that assesses fundamental musicianship: aural and sight-reading skills as well as basic familiarity with the piano keyboard.
• If you are looking for repertoire suggestions, consider songs from 24 Italian Songs and Arias of the 17th and 18th Centuries (Schirmer), Easy Songs for the Beginning Soprano/Mezzo/Tenor/Bass (Schirmer), or this list from the Illinois Grade School Music Association.

Audition requirements for the Performance Certificate in Vocal Performance:

• No audition is necessary if you are already a music major whose primary instrument is voice.

If you need to audition, observe the following requirements:

• Present two memorized songs with piano accompaniment of contrasting style selected from the classical vocal repertoire (both selections may be in English).
• Audition selections should not include musical theater pieces, choral excerpts, hymns, popular music, jazz, or other selections outside of the "classical" vocal repertoire.
• An accompanist will be provided.
• Please bring a clean, legible copy of your music.
• Performance will be followed by a brief interview with the voice faculty and a diagnostic exam that assesses fundamental musicianship: aural and sight-reading skills as well as basic familiarity with the piano keyboard.
• If you are looking for repertoire suggestions, consider songs from 24 Italian Songs and Arias of the 17th and 18th Centuries (Schirmer), Easy Songs for the Beginning Soprano/Mezzo/Tenor/Bass (Schirmer), or this list from the Illinois Grade School Music Association. 

Audition requirements for undergraduate voice minor:

• One memorized song with piano accompaniment selected from the classical vocal repertoire.
• Audition selections should not include musical theater pieces, choral excerpts, hymns, popular music, jazz, or other selections outside of the "classical" vocal repertoire.
• An accompanist will be provided.
• Please bring a clean, legible copy of your music.
• Performance will be followed by a brief interview with the voice faculty and a diagnostic exam that assesses fundamental musicianship: aural and sight-reading skills as well as basic familiarity with the piano keyboard.
• If you are looking for repertoire suggestions, consider songs from 24 Italian Songs and Arias of the 17th and 18th Centuries (Schirmer), Easy Songs for the Beginning Soprano/Mezzo/Tenor/Bass (Schirmer), or this list from the Illinois Grade School Music Association.

Undergrad voice major and minor video auditions:

• In-person auditions are preferred, but those who are unable to come to campus on designated audition days may send a video audition.
• See audition repertoire requirements above for the voice major and minor.
• Please note that only those auditioning in person are considered for full admission and admission with scholarship (important components of the live audition that aren’t possible with video applicants include an aural skills/sight-reading/piano skills diagnostic test and an interview with the voice faculty).
• Provisional admission can be granted as a result of a successful video audition, with the student re-auditioning at the end of the first semester of study for full admission. 

Audition requirements for Graduate voice majors (MM, MA, and Artist Diploma):

• 15-20 minutes of stylistically varied classical vocal repertoire demonstrating the applicant’s ability to sing in the following languages: English, French, German and Italian.
• Other foreign languages are permitted in addition to the four required languages listed above.
• All selections are to be sung from memory (with the exception of an oratorio aria, which may be sung with score in hand).
• Audition selections should not include musical theater pieces, choral excerpts, hymns, popular music, jazz, or other selections outside of the "classical" vocal repertoire.
• An accompanist will be provided.
• Please bring a clean, legible copy of your music.
• Performance will be followed by a brief interview with the voice faculty and a diagnostic exam that assesses fundamental musicianship: aural and sight-reading skills as well as basic familiarity with the piano keyboard.