Most ensembles are open to any student in the university, subject to a successful audition.
Audition Timeline
Jazz, Opera, Choir & Strings
Auditions for ensemble placement take place once for the entire academic year; these auditions take place the week before class begins.
Brass, Woodwinds, & Percussion
Auditions for ensembles take place each semester. Fall auditions take place at the beginning of the Fall semester. Spring auditions take place at the end of the Fall semester.
Brass, Woodwind, & Percussion
(for ensembles in rotation)
New Music Ensemble (M W F 12-2pm)
Opera Orchestra (M W F 12-2pm or M W F 2-4pm during productions)
Symphony Orchestra (M W F 12-2pm)
Chamber Orchestra (M W F 2-4pm)
Wind Ensemble (M W F 12-2pm)
Wind Symphony (M W F 2-4pm)
Audition Information
Requirements
All music majors auditioning for ensembles are required to take the rotation audition. Non-majors also have the option of taking the rotation audition, however they are not required to. Non-majors wishing to audition only for Symphony Band can find more information in the Symphony Band section.
All auditions will take place in Bates Recital Hall.
Students will be required to play excerpts for their instrument:
Schedule
A detailed schedule by instrument will be posted soon.
Sunday, August 24
Monday, August 25
Tuesday, August 26
Wednesday, August 27
Sign-Up
A form to sign up for an audition time will be posted here in the next few weeks.
Choirs
Concert Chorale (M W F 12-2pm)
University Chorus (Treble T Th 3:30-5pm | Tenor/Bass T Th 5-6:30pm)
Repertory Chorus (M 7-9:30pm)
Audition Information
REQUIREMENTS
Participation in a UT Choir is open to all UT Austin students, regardless of major.
Non-music majors who have not participated in choir before are welcome to enroll in either University Chorus ensemble (Soprano/Alto or Tenor/Bass) and the Repertory Chorus without auditioning; you can simply enroll and show up for the first day of class. Participation in Concert Chorale requires an audition.
AUDITION FORMAT
- Please prepare 16–32 measures of of a song to be sung a cappella (no accompaniment). Choose a piece that will present the best of you as a vocalist. Any genre is acceptable.
- Faculty will then vocalize you at the piano and will take you through a few sight-singing and tonal memory exercises.
Schedule
All auditions will take place in MRH 5.138 on the following days and times:
Thursday, August 21 3:30-7:30pm
Friday, August 22 12-6pm
Saturday, August 23 12-6pm
SIGN-UP
Please register for an audition. Make sure you sign up for only one time slot.
Jazz
Jazz Orchestra (T Th 3-5pm)
Jazz Ensemble (M W F 11am-12pm or T Th 2-3:30pm)
Alternative Improvisation Music Ensemble (AIME) (M W 1-2pm)
Jazz Combos
Audition Information
Requirements
Part 1 – Excerpt, “Little Pixie II” Performed unaccompanied
All Saxophones, Trumpets, Trombones, and Rhythm Section instruments:
- Start from the beginning, stop at letter “O”
- Reference recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MSMgwknQlI
- Sheet music will be provided at the audition
- Vocalists do not need to prepare
PART II – Prepared Song, “Autumn Leaves” performed with rhythm section
Saxophones, Trumpets, Trombones, and Vocalists:
- Play the melody
- Take 1-2 improvised choruses
- Play the melody out
- Recommend performing from memory; no sheet music will be provided at the audition.
Rhythm Section Instruments
- Play the melody
- Take 1-2 improvised choruses
- Comp for one chorus
- Play the melody out
- Recommend performing from memory; no sheet music will be provided at the audition.
NOTE: You may choose the tempo for “Autumn Leaves”. Vocalists may choose a comfortable key if the CONCERT part is outside their range.
PART III – Additional Selection
Prepare a short selection (3 minutes maximum) of your choice. It could be another tune, a performance on another instrument, a transcription of a solo, etc. Anything you feel represents your very best jazz musicianship.
Schedule
Auditions will take place August 22-25 in the Jazz Room (MRH 6.248).
SIGN-UP
Sign up for an audition by August 20.
Opera
Opera Studio (M W F 1-2pm)
Butler Opera Center Ensemble for Undergraduates (M W F 4-5:30pm)
Butler Opera Production Rehearsals (M T W Th F 3:30-6:30pm)
Audition Information
Requirements
All auditions will take place in McCullough Theatre, located just across from the music building on Sunday, August 24.
Undergraduate Students
10am–1pm
Freshmen & Sophomores:
Prepare 1 aria or art song (English or Italian recommended)
Juniors & Seniors:
Prepare 2 arias and/or art songs (English or Italian recommended)
Graduate Students (DMA, MM, AD)
2–5pm
Please note: Times are subject to adjustment depending on the number of sign-ups. (Last year, for example, auditions began at 11am.)
Prepare 4 arias and/or art songs. Repertoire must include:
- At least three different languages
- At least one aria in Italian
- At least one aria in English
Students are expected to provide clean and clearly marked scores for the pianist.
Sign-Up
Sign up for an audition time no later than August 4. Make sure to upload clean, clearly marked copies of your audition music when submitting the form.
Strings
(for ensembles in rotation)
Symphony Orchestra (M W F 12-2pm)
Chamber Orchestra (M W F 2-4pm)
New Music Ensemble (M W F 12-2pm)
Opera Orchestra (M W F 12-2pm or M W F 2-4pm during productions)
Audition Information
Requirements and Schedule
All auditions will take place in the Orchestra Room 2.118.
Click on your instrument below for repertoire requirements. Students should prepare one movement of a concerto or a solo work of equal difficulty in addition to all of the excerpts for your instrument.
Students should show up at least 10 minutes before scheduled audition time with music prepared and instrument tuned.
Cello
Sunday, August 24
Double Bass
Sunday, August 24
Violin
Saturday, August 23
Viola
Saturday, August 23
Sign-Up
Register for an audition and sign up for an audition slot by August 15. Please note that we reserve the right to adjust the schedule as needed so students should monitor their email in case a change is made.
Any questions about the audition process should be directed to the Graduate TAs at utorchestras@utexas.edu and Prof. Khudyev at Farkhad.Khudyev@austin.utexas.edu. Please contact us if there are no audition slots remaining for your instrument.
University Orchestra
T Th 7-8:30pm
All University of Texas students are eligible to audition for University Orchestra; being a music major is not a requirement.
Audition Information
Requirements and Schedule
Auditions will take place in the evenings on Friday, August 22 and Saturday, August 23 5-10pm.
Students should show up at least 10 minutes before scheduled audition time with music prepared and instrument tuned.
Click on your instrument below for repertoire requirements. The entire excerpt packet should be prepared in addition to 1-2 minutes of a solo work that best represents your musical and technical abilities.
Keyboard, harp, percussion, should contact the directors for more information at utorchestras@utexas.edu.
Cello
Double BasS
VIOLA
violin
bASSOON
cLARINET
Flute
Horn
Oboe
Percussion
Trombone / Bass Trombone
Trumpet
Tuba
Sign-up
Register for an audition and sign up for an audition slot by August 15. Please note that we reserve the right to adjust the schedule as needed so students should monitor their email in case a change is made.
Any questions about the audition process should be directed to the Graduate TAs at utorchestras@utexas.edu. Please contact us if there are no audition slots remaining for your instrument.
Symphony Band
M W F 2–4p
Audition Information
Information coming soon.