Seating Placement Auditions

Dewberry School of Music ensembles are open to any Mason student based on passing the seating placement auditions.

For questions or concerns regarding auditions, please see area point of contacts below.

Please take note of the following points:

• If you are interested in participating in one of the ensembles, please print the excerpts below, and sign up for an audition time.
• Non-majors from the university community who wish to audition for the Symphonic Band may prepare the excerpts listed below OR a solo/etude of their choice. 
• Brass and Woodwind auditions are blind (students audition behind a screen).
• Voice part-checks will be held during Choral Ensemble meeting times.
• Students will be expected to arrive outside of the room assigned for their specific instrument at least 10 minutes prior to your audition.
• You must have your instrument and music out, tuned and ready to perform at this time.
• A note to winds/brass music majors: Your applied professor may give you different excerpts to prepare for this audition. If that is the case, please bring the excerpts your professor provides. If not, please prepare the excerpts listed below.

Brass

• Brass Seating Audition Sign-Up Link 
• Fill out and bring your Audition Registration Form (new requirement this year)

Choirs

Coming soon.

Jazz (Instrumental & Vocal)

Jazz Ensembles are open to all university students (instrumentalists and vocalists) regardless of major, based on a successful audition the first two days of classes each semester. Questions can be directed to Dr. Darden Purcell.

• Jazz Seating Audition Sign-Up Link 

Percussion

Please contact Prof. Jon Bisesi.

• Fill out and bring your Audition Registration Form (new requirement this year)

Strings

• String Seating Audition Sign-Up Link 
• ALL string students MUST audition prior to enrolling in orchestra. Please see audition information below under the “Strings” Section of “Audition Excerpts.”

Woodwinds

• Woodwind Seating Audition Sign-Up Link 
• Fill out and bring your Audition Registration Form (new requirement this year)

Jazz

• Instrumental Piece: Solar (video)
• Instrumentalists:  Play the melody for one chorus and improvise for multiple choruses. In addition, there will be sight-reading on the audition. Please bring your own musical accompaniment/backing track for iPod, Phone or CD player. (Bring adapter if your phone does not have a headphone jack)
• Vocalists: Sing one song of your choice (jazz preferred), sight-read a solo musical line, and sing a brief tonal melody test. Please bring your own musical accompaniment/backing track for either iPod, Phone or CD player.

Find out more about Jazz auditions.

Strings

Symphony Orchestra: The major symphonic orchestra consisting mainly of music majors. Must pass an audition to be placed into this ensemble. Students who do not pass the audition will be placed in Concert Orchestra.

• Audition requirements for Symphony Orchestra (only)
  Students interested in auditioning for Mason Concert Orchestra should download and prepare audition materials for Concert Orchestra only.
   
  • Mason Symphony Orchestra is the major symphonic orchestra at the Reva and Sid Dewberry School of Music.
  • Orchestra consists of mainly music majors and rehearses M/W 4:30pm – 6:15pm in addition to scheduled strings sectionals on certain Fridays 4:30pm – 5:45pm.
  • ALL members must successfully pass an audition to be placed into this ensemble.
  • Non music majors may audition for this ensemble.
  • ​​​​Students who do not pass the audition will be placed into the Mason Concert Orchestra. Mason Concert Orchestra is an all-campus, string orchestra, open to any students at Mason. Orchestra is open to students of all ability levels. Orchestra rehearses once a week on Thursdays, 7:20pm – 10pm. All members must audition to be placed into this ensemble.
     
• Symphony Orchestra Dvorak excerpts (see audition requirements for additional required audition materials!)
• Audition measure excerpts for Dvorak 9
• Violin I
• Violin II
• Viola
• Cello
• Bass

Concert Orchestra: All-campus, string orchestra, open to any students at GMU of all ability levels. Audition is required for placement into this ensemble.

• Audition requirements for Concert Orchestra
  Students interested in auditioning for Mason Symphony Orchestra should download and prepare audition materials for Symphony Orchestra only.
   
  • Audition materials for Mason Concert String instruments:
    • Short solo of your choice (3-5 mins) demonstrating your technical and musical skillset.
    • Sections, excerpts from larger works permitted.

Voice

• Part-checks will be held during the first week of classes, during ensemble times.

Winds and Brass 

Large Ensemble Auditions Music Excerpts Folder 2023