Non-Music Major Auditions & Scholarships

Continue your love of music when you go to college! Regardless of your major, there's a place for you in Illinois Wesleyan University's School of Music. Prospective students who wish to continue singing or playing a musical instrument, but do not intend to be music majors, may audition for the Jennings Scholarship. 

Music student playing violin with teacher looking on

What is the Jennings Scholarship?

The Jennings Scholarship is a $1,000 music award designed specifically for non-music majors who wish to participate in an ensemble. 

Audition deadline: Auditions must be submitted prior to April 15. 

Ensemble placement: Jennings recipients audition for seating and ensemble placement during the first week of class as determined by the ensemble directors. Students are typically assigned to a major ensemble (Collegiate Choir, University Choir, Illinois Wesleyan Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, or Piano Accompaniment).  After the first semester, students may participate in any approved ensemble to count as their required ensemble as long as they meet the requirements for that ensemble.

Ensembles that satisfy the Jennings requirements include: Collegiate Choir, University Choir, Illinois Wesleyan Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, String Chamber Music, Jazz Ensemble, Titan Band and Piano Accompaniment.

Exceptions: Music Theater vocalists are not eligible for a Jennings Scholarship. 

 

How do I audition for a Jennings Scholarship?

  1. Apply to IWU. You can not upload a video until you have submitted your application. 
  2. Review the audition requirements.
  3. Upload your audition video. Log in to your student status portal  (this is where the checklist is located). Clicking the edit portfolio link at the bottom of the page, will take you to instructions for uploading your audition video.  Don't  worry if your video is sideways when you drop it in the upload section, it will appear in the proper orientation on our end.
  4. All Jennings auditions will be reviewed following the April 15 deadline.  Award recipients will be notified no later than April 15.

Preparing your video audition

Once your video is completed, upload it to your Application Status Portal, and we’ll take it from there. If you have any questions at all, I am here to guide you through this process. Contact me anytime.

Laura Dolan: ldolan@iwu.edu

Audition Requirements

Bassoon
Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied.
Cello
String 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 caprice).
Clarinet
Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied.
Double Bass
String 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 caprice).
Euphonium
Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied.
Flute
Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied.
Guitar
Classical Guitar Requirements: Guitar candidates should prepare two pieces from different musical periods, e.g. Renaissance and Classical or Romantic and Modern. Candidates should feel free to reach out with any questions about their chosen audition material. 

Jazz Guitar Requirements: Demonstrate proficiency on jazz chord symbols/comping. Ability to improvise on F blues and a jazz standard of your choice. 
Horn
Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied. 
Oboe
 Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied
Percussion
 Snare Drum:
  1. Advanced concert etude or solo of your choice.
  2. 3-5 contrasting orchestral excerpts.
  3. Optional rudimental solo.
Keyboard:
  1. 2 or 4-mallet marimba solo of your choice.
  2. Optional: 2-3 contrasting xylophone excerpts.
  3. Optional: vibraphone solo or etude of your choice.
Timpani:
  1. A solo or etude of your choice.
  2. Optional: 2-3 contrasting orchestral excerpts.
Drum-set:
This is not required but it is highly recommended that the applicant be able to demonstrate between 3-5 styles (swing with sticks/brushes; funk; afro-cuban, etc.) on drum-set.
Piano
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.
Saxophone
Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied.
Trombone
Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied.
Trumpet
Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied.
Tuba
Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied.
Viola
String 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 caprice).
Violin
String 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 caprice).
Voice
Auditionees are asked to sing two art songs in contrasting styles and languages. Your pieces should be performed from memory. Choose repertoire that you sing well and shows your voice to its best advantage. Books such as Joan Boytim's First Book series or the 26 Italian Songs and Arias are good sources for undergraduate audition repertoire.