On-Campus Audition

The Illinois Wesleyan School of Music schedules on-campus auditions from September through March of each year. 

 Schedule your audition date.  Music majors should review the weekday audition options detailed below, and then complete the Music Audition Registration Form. (Non-music majors may audition for the Jennings Music Scholarship.)

School of Music Audition Dates

October 14, 2013* (recommended audition date for early action candidates)
November 9, 2013* (recommended audition date for early action candidates)
January 11, 2014
February 8, 2014
February 22, 2014*
March 22, 2014

*Faculty Open House Dates

Weekday Auditions

If you request a weekday audition and would like to attend music classes/rehearsals, the following days are suggested to best match your musical interests:

Keyboard:  Piano, Organ – Friday

Strings :    Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass*, Harp – Monday, Wednesday
                Guitar – Tuesday

Vocal:       Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Woodwinds, Brass & Percussion: 
                 Woodwinds (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone) – Monday, Wednesday
                 Brass (Horn*, Trumpet, Trombone) – Monday
                 Brass (Euphonium, Tuba) – Friday
                 Percussion – Monday

*Horn and double bass--please contact the Music Admissions Office prior to scheduling your audition.  

 

Video Audition

Students who are unable to visit campus to audition may select one of four methods of providing a video audition to the School of Music.

  • If you have submitted an application to Illinois Wesleyan, you may upload your video by going to your application status page. There is no application fee to apply and no fee to upload your audition file. To upload your audition file, you will find a link at the bottom of your status page with directions as to how to upload your file. You can click here to begin an application for admission.

  • If you have not submitted an application, you may upload your audition file to the Acceptd website. Illinois Wesleyan has partnered with Acceptd to allow students to submit audition files through this website. You may create an account and will be required to submit a $25 fee to upload your video file.

  • You can mail a DVD to Illinois Wesleyan University School of Music, attention Laura Dolan, P.O. Box 2900 Bloomington, IL 61702-2900.

  • You can schedule a Skype audition by contacting the Music Admissions Office to arrange a date and time with the appropriate faculty member. 


All audition inquiries can be directed to the Music Admissions Office at (309) 556-3063.

Application Process for Music Majors

All music applicants must complete an audition for the School of Music and an application for the University. Your application will be processed when both of these are completed.

There are now two ways by which students may apply to Illinois Wesleyan University School of Music: Early Action and Regular Decision.

Early Action

Illinois Wesleyan offers a non-binding Early Action admission program.

Students who apply Early Action with completed applications, including all components, by November 15th will be guaranteed a decision (admit, deny, or defer) by January 15th. Early Action candidates who are deferred will be included with the Regular Decision applicant pool and receive notification on a rolling basis after January 15th. Applicants who are deferred under Early Action to Regular Decision are guaranteed a final decision (admit, deny, or waitlist) by March 15th.

Regular Decision

Prospective students may also apply Regular Decision.

All students who complete Regular Decision applications, or any students not completing Early Action applications until after November 15th, will be notified on a rolling basis between January 15th and the first week of April.

Audition Requirements

Brass and Woodwind

Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Be prepared to sight-read. Memorization is not required.

Percussion

Students prepare the following: A solo or etude on mallets, snare, and timpani. In addition, prepare major scales on mallets; demonstration of standard P.A.S. rudiments on snare; and long crescendo diminuendo roll on timpani.

Voice

Auditionees are asked to sing two art songs in contrasting styles and languages. Choose repertoire that you sing well and shows your voice to its best advantage. Art songs from books such as The First Book of Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, Tenor,  Baritone, or Bass Solos would be good for auditions as well as songs from the 26 Italian Songs and Arias.  Also, be prepared to sight-sing.

String

Violin, viola, cello, and double bass candidates should prepare at least one movement from a standard concerto or comparable composition (memorized), a movement from an unaccompanied Bach suite, and technical material (an etude or a caprice).

Guitar candidates should prepare from memory at least two pieces from different time periods. One piece must be a transcription, and one piece must have been originally written for guitar. Candidates should also be prepared to play a three-octave scale and sight read, if asked.

Keyboard

Perform from memory at least three compositions drawn from three of the following style periods: Baroque, Classic, Romantic, Contemporary; all major and minor scales and triad arpeggios played across a four-octave range, ascending and descending; and sight reading.

Composition

If you wish to major in composition, you should arrange to meet with the Head of the Composition Department (Dr. David Vayo) on the day of your instrumental or vocal audition. Bring some of your recent compositions (scores and/or recordings) with you. Students who have a strong interest but no experience in composing can be admitted as composition majors if their musical background and talents are strong. The decision as to whether to admit such students is based primarily on the results of the applied audition and the interview with the Head of the Composition Department.