Music Auditions

All students who wish to major in music must audition for admittance to the Bachelor of Music, the Bachelor of Music Education, or the Bachelor of Arts degree program. That audition will also serve towards consideration for a music scholarship. Non-music majors are invited to audition as well for a music scholarship to participate in TU ensembles.
If you are interested in either pursing a music degree or earning a music scholarship, the first step is to begin your application to the university. Follow this link to apply. If you express an interest in music, you will be prompted to schedule an audition as part of the University of Tulsa application process.
On-campus auditions for 2025 are:
- Sunday, Nov. 3, in conjunction with the Tulsa Time Visit Program (Please contact David Carter at david-carter@utulsa.edu to schedule your audition for that day.)
- Saturday, Jan. 25
- Saturday, Feb. 1
- Saturday, Feb. 8
If you are unable to attend one of our on-campus audition dates, the University of Tulsa application system will provide instructions for scheduling an alternate date or submitting a video audition.
The deadline for auditioning for scholarship consideration is March 15, 2025.
Repertoire guidelines for auditions are available below. For more information, please contact the School of Music faculty coordinator for your performance area:
- David Carter, Instrumental Music, david-carter@utulsa.edu
- Kim Childs, Vocal Music, kim-childs@utulsa.edu
- Stuart Deaver, Piano, stu-deaver@utulsa.edu
- Alican Çamci, Composition, alican-camci@utulsa.edu
For any other information related to auditions, please contact David Carter, david-carter@utulsa.edu.
Audition Requirements
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Brass
Brass (trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba)
Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Music Minor and non-majors
- Two (2) works (one lyrical and one technical) of contrasting styles and tempos from the standard repertoire including movements of sonatas, concerti or other solo works.
- An All-State audition etude. You may substitute the etude for solo work of comparable difficulty.
TU Brass Faculty
Trumpet: Ron Predl @ ronald-predl@utulsa.edu
Horn: Ben Korzelius @ ben.korzelius@gmail.com
Trombone: Isaac Washam @ isaac-washam@utulsa.edu
Tuba/Euphonium: Shelby Kifer @ sak0522@utulsa.edu -
Cello
Cello
Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- One three octave scale and arpeggio
- One etude (Schroeder Volume II or similar)
- One movement of unaccompanied Bach
- One solo piece or concerto movement (memorized)
Music minor and non-majors
- One three octave scale and arpeggio
- One solo piece of choice
- One etude
TU Cello Faculty
Kari Caldwell @ karicaldwell@gmail.com
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Classical Guitar
Classical Guitar
Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Music Minor and non-majors
- One or two octave major scales in the keys of C, G, D, A, and E in first position.
- Etude or Prelude by Sor, Giuliani, Tarrega.
- Sight reading to be selected at the audition (if audition is in-person)
TU Guitar Faculty
Sean Al-Jibouri @ sda2004@utulsa.edu
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Composition
Composition
Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Arts (BA), and optional Film Scoring Emphasis
- Submit audio or video recordings of two to three original compositions. Provide links to streaming or file-sharing websites (such as Soundcloud, YouTube, Dropbox, etc.). MIDI renditions of pieces are acceptable. Each submission should be clearly marked with the applicant’s name and the title of the piece and sent to the composition faculty via email.
- Submit PDF scores of two to three original compositions. These scores do not need to correspond to the submitted recordings. If notated scores are not central to your practice, please include a brief text for each submission that introduces the piece and the tools you employ (such as instruments, software and hardware technologies, etc.). Each submission should be clearly marked with the applicant’s name and the title of the piece and sent to the composition faculty via email.
- Schedule an interview with the composition faculty.
- Schedule an audition on your primary instrument by completing the Music Audition Request Form found in the link above. Refer to the audition requirements for Music minor/non-major for your primary instrument.
For submission of materials, scheduling an interview, or any other questions you might have, please contact the TU Composition Faculty.
TU Composition Faculty
Alican Çamci @ alican-camci@utulsa.edu
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Harp
Harp
Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Music Minor and non-majors
- 2-handed, 2 octave scale (any key) Play 3 repetitions, non-stop, with turnarounds at the top and bottom of the scale
- An orchestral cadenza of your choice
- An orchestral excerpt of your choice (minimum 6 measures)
- Two (2) solo selections of contrasting style and from different eras/composers (Selections over 3 minutes are subject to being cut at some point during the audition)
- Handel Concerto in Bb is preferred to have been learned but not required
- Be prepared to have a 30-45 minute lesson with the harp instructor at some point after your audition (if in-person auditions are held)
TU Harp Faculty
Lorelei Barton @ lorelei-barton@utulsa.edu
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Jazz
Students interested in performance opportunities with the various jazz workshop ensembles are encouraged to schedule a separate jazz audition in addition to the required classical audition.
Audition requirements include:
- Scales/Chords – major scales & major 7th chord arpeggios; dorian minor scales & minor 7th chord arpeggios; dominant scales and dominant 7th chord arpeggios.
- Prepared Selection – perform a jazz etude, transcribed solo or any excerpt from the jazz idiom that best demonstrates basic knowledge of jazz articulation and interpretation.
- Jazz Performance – perform contrasting selections with prerecorded accompaniments (Jamey Aebersold Vol. 54 is recommended). Suggested selections include “Now’s The Time”, “Blue Bossa”, “Maiden Voyage”, “Impressions”, “Misty” or other tunes from standard jazz repertoire. Pianists, guitarists and wind players are expected to play the melody and improvise. Pianists and guitarists will be asked to comp the chord progressions as well. Bassists will be asked to play bass lines which outline the harmony and reflect the rhythmic style of the selection. Bassists may also improvise if they choose to.
Jazz Drummers will be asked to:
- Play time (slow, medium and fast).
- Sight read materials provided at the audition.
- Demonstrate time and knowledge of styles in swing, bossa nova, samba, waltz, rock/funk, ballad and brushes.
- Alternate keeping time and improvising for four, eight, and twelve-measure trading groups; repeat in different styles and tempi.
Vocalists will be asked to perform a selection(s) with prerecorded or live accompaniment (Aebersold play-alongs are fine). Tunes should be selected from standard jazz repertoire demonstrating the students understanding of jazz style, phrasing and interpretation.
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Percussion
Percussion
Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Music Minor and non-majors
- Snare Drum: Perform a solo demonstrating technique on the instrument – concert or rudimental style.
- Timpani: Perform a solo for two, three or four drums.
- Mallets: Perform a short solo demonstrating two or four mallet technique on xylophone or marimba.
TU Percussion Faculty
James Clanton @ james-clanton@utulsa.edu
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Piano
Piano
Bachelor of Music (BM)
Please prepare three pieces from the following categories of repertoire (memorization required):
- One Baroque piece
Examples: J.S. Bach Prelude and Fugue (Well-Tempered Clavier), a movement, or movements from a keyboard suite by J.S. Bach or Handel - One movement from a Classical Sonata
Examples: a sonata movement by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, or Schubert - One Romantic work
Examples: a Chopin Nocturne, Scherzo, Ballade, Sonata movement, Schumann Fantasy, Rachmaninoff Études-Tableaux, Preludes, etc. - One Impressionist, Twentieth, or Twenty-First-Century work
Examples: a Debussy Prelude, Prokofiev Sonata movement, works by Samuel Barber, etc.
Additional Items to Bring
- A repertoire list from the last few years.
- A short resume indicating awards, competitions and accompanying experience.
- A letter of recommendation from your current piano teacher.
Students may be asked to demonstrate their ability to sight-read.
Bachelor of Music Education (BME) and the Bachelor of Arts (BA), Music Minor, non-majors
- Two or three pieces selected from the list above are required for the audition, according to the level and ability of the applicant (memorization required for one piece)
Students may be asked to demonstrate their ability to sight-read.
TU Piano Faculty
Stuart Deaver at stu-deaver@utulsa.edu
- One Baroque piece
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String Bass
String Bass
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Music (BM)
- Two octave major scales in E, F, and G
- One octave scales in C, D, and E flat
- One movement of a sonata or piece of similar difficulty
- Sight-reading to be selected at the audition
Music Minor and non-majors
- Three scales of your choice in one octave
- One solo piece of your choice
- Sight-reading to be selected at the audition
TU String Bass Faculty
Dean DeMerritt @ ded4870@utulsa.edu
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Viola
Viola
Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Music (BM)
- One three octave scale and arpeggio
- One etude (Kreutzer or similar)
- One movement of unaccompanied Bach
- One solo piece or movement of a concerto
Music Minor and non-majors
- One three octave scale and arpeggio
- One solo piece of choice
- One etude
TU Viola Faculty
Paulo Eskitch @ paulo-eskitch@utulsa.edu
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Violin
Violin
Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Music (BM)
- One three octave scale and arpeggio
- One etude (Kreutzer or similar)
- One movement of unaccompanied Bach
- One solo piece or movement of a concerto
Music Minor and non-majors
- One three octave scale and arpeggio
- One solo piece of choice
- One etude
TU Violin Faculty
Maureen O’Boyle @ maureen-oboyle@utulsa.edu
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Voice
Required Audition Repertoire for Voice
Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance (BM)
- Three memorized classical-type art songs or arias; one selection in a language other than English preferred
Bachelor of Music Education, Vocal (BME) and Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Two memorized classical-type art songs or arias; one selection in a language other than English preferred
Music Minor and non-majors
- One memorized classical-type art song or aria in a language of your choice
TU Voice Faculty
Brady McElligott @ brady-mcelligott@utulsa.edu
Kim Childs @ kim-childs@utulsa.edu
Judith Raiford @ judith-raiford@utulsa.edu. -
Woodwinds
Woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophones)
Bachelor of Music (BM), Bachelor of Music Education (BME), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Music Minor and non-majors
- Two (2) works (one lyrical and one technical) of contrasting styles and tempos from the standard repertoire including movements of sonatas, concerti or other solo works.
- An All-State audition etude. You may substitute the etude for solo work of comparable difficulty.
TU Woodwinds Faculty
- Flute: Elizabeth Potts
- Oboe: Lisa Iottini-Wagner
- Clarinet and Saxophone: David Carter
- Bassoon: Jim Fellows