Applying & Auditioning For Undergraduate Music Programs

Program Audition/Interview Information

Applying for a Music program involves applying to the University and applying to the Department. Most undergraduate programs require an audition; most graduate programs require an audition or portfolio.

Auditions are either by video recording or in person. In-person auditions should take place on the intended home campus

In-person Audition Dates:

Students wishing to pursue the Bachelor of Music or the Bachelor of Arts, general track must complete an entrance audition. Students wishing to pursue the Bachelor of Arts in Music with a Concentration in Music Industry must sit for an entrance interview. The entrance audition/interview will also be used to determine scholarships for qualified students.

  • Statesboro In-person Audition Dates:
    • Saturday, February 8, 2025 — All Areas
    • Monday, February 17, 2025 – All Areas
    • Wednesday, February 26, 2025 – Voice-Piano
    • Wednesday, February 26, 2025 – Voice-Piano
    • Saturday, March 8, 2025- Instrumental
    • Saturday, March 29, 2025 – All Areas
Undergraduate Music Major Online Application Video Audition Submission Form
  • Armstrong Campus Interview Dates:
    • Friday, November 15, 2024
    • Friday, March 7, 2025
    • Friday, April 11, 2025
Interview Registration Open House Registration
  • Armstrong Campus Open House Dates:
    • Tuesday, October 22, 2024 (in person, Armstrong Campus) 
    • Tuesday, February, 18, 2024 (virtual, 7PM EST)
Audition RequirementsDownload
WoodwindsIn-Person  By Video
BrassIn-Person  By Video
PercussionIn-Person  By Video
VoiceIn-Person  By Video
Piano / KeyboardIn-Person  By Video
StringsIn-Person By Video

Scholarships

  • The Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music has scholarships available for new music majors. Offers are made by the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music Scholarship Committee, based on audition/interview results and academic qualifications. Typically, the Entrance Audition for admission as a music major also serves as the audition for a scholarship.  Through a substantial Endowment program, scholarships are available for continuing music majors, based on performance/academic excellence.  Carol A. Carter scholarships for new students are renewable for four years.

Fall Semester (priority deadline) February 1

University Application Deadlines:

  • Fall Semester (final deadline) August 1
  • Spring Semester December 1
  • Summer Term April 1

Questions: Contact the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music.

Ensemble Audition Information

Many Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music ensembles require an audition.

The Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music offers opportunities for students at Georgia Southern, both music majors and non-music majors, to participate in ensembles. Some ensembles require an audition.

Ensemble Audition Dates

Auditions for ensembles take place the weekend before the start of the fall and spring semesters. Please contact the appropriate ensemble director to reserve and audition time.

Students wishing to participate in the Southern Pride Marching Band in the Drum Line, Color Guard, or as a Majorette, please refer to “More Information about the Southern Pride Marching Band” on the Gretsch School Home Page.

Prepare for your audition

Review the audition requirements for the ensemble in which you would like to participate.

Audition Requirements

Jazz Ensemble

Georgia Southern Jazz Ensemble 
Auditions Fall 2024
Questions? Contact 
Dr. Rick Mason, Director
rlmason@georgiasouthern.edu
The Georgia Southern University Jazz Ensemble is a “big band” of 16-19 members. It is open to all Georgia Southern students by audition.
Instructions:
• All musicians must perform the prepared music etudes for their instrument.
• If you are auditioning for Lead Trumpet, you will play both the Lead Trumpet and the Section Trumpet excerpts.
• If you are auditioning for Lead Trombone, you will play both the Lead Trombone and the Section Trombone excerpts.
• If you are a trumpet or trombone player and not auditioning for a Lead spot, you will only play the Section excerpts.
• All musicians (with the exception of drum set auditionees) will be prepared to play the following blues scales (concert pitch): C, G, F, D-flat.
• All musicians must be prepared to sight-read.
Click on highlighted instrument name for access to the audition excerpts.
Auditions dates:
Monday, August 12 
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Rhythm section (piano, bass, drums, guitar, aux perc) (Annex)
Piano
Guitar
Bass
Drums
Aux Percussion
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM – (Foy 3052
Lead Trumpet 
Section Trumpet
Tuesday, August 13 
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM – (Foy 3052)
Lead Trombone
Section Trombone
Bass Trombone
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM – (Foy 3052)
Saxes

Choirs

The Choral Audition process
WHEN?
Auditions for Southern Chorale and voice placement for University Singers occur the weekend before classes start each Fall Semester. Placement for U singers also occurs the weekend before the Spring Semester. Southern Chorale is a year-long commitment with the exception of Student Teachers who are allowed Fall admittance only. When unexpected events require a person to leave Southern Chorale auditions will be held for that student’s
voice part.
WHERE?
Auditions occur in the Foy Music Building on the Georgia Southern University campus room 4030 on the fourth floor. Building number 205 on the campus map.
WHO?
Anyone is welcome to audition for Southern Chorale and all are welcome to sign-up for University Singers. Again, there is no “audition” for acceptance into U Singer, just a voice placement, so a placement time is required.
HOW?
In August, you will find a link to a Google Doc via the Sing at Southern and Southern Chorale Facebook pages. On this online document, you will sign up (whether you are audition for Southern Chorale or doing voice placement for University Singers) for a 10 min time slot for your in-person audition on either Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. Call Backs for Southern Chorale occur on Sunday afternoon. A list of student who are invited to “Call backs” will be posted on the Sing at Southern and Southern Chorale Facebook pages. You must attend Call Backs in order to be considered for Southern Chorale. During these, you will take a Music Skills Test.
WHAT?
You do NOT need to have a solo prepared. The audition focuses on materials that you have not seen. Please, however, be ready to sing “My Country Tis of Thee”.
Application:
You will receive this when you arrive from the choral assistant. Please arrive about 10 minutes prior to your scheduled time.
In Person Audition
“You have to be brave enough to put it all on the line and try your hardest”
a. Simple vocalizations to determine your natural voice, areas of strength and weakness, and find the voice that best serves the choir.
b. “My County Tis of Thee”
sing at a given tempo unaccompanied in a couple of keys
sing a few bars straight tone
sing a few bars sotto voce (with a quiet undertone quality, as if singing to yourself)
sing a few bars loudly
perform a few short vocal exercises to help determine your natural voice range
c. Aural Skills/tonal Memory
sing back a series of played pitches
a chord is played (only once) – sing the middle or top or bottom pitch
d. Sight-Reading
You are given a sing line written in either treble or bass clef, I-IV-VI in the key area, and your starting pitch.
You have a about a minute to look over the example (best to sing out loud) and then you will be given the key area and starting pitch again.
You Sing!
The starting pitch will not be played again, nor any other pitches in the example.
e. Before leaving, the candidate will be told when they can expect to hear back about how they did (posted on Facebook). Do not expect any feedback immediately following your audition.
Call Backs
a. Usually men and women are first asked to come at separate times then will meet back all together
b. I will give everyone a copy of a least two choral pieces for which you will sight-read and rehearse together
c. You may be asked to sing a part by yourself or with another
d. Music Skill Test
This is a multiple-choice test taken aurally. Music examples will be played twice; you will indicate whether they were the same, if the rhythm was different or if a pitch was different.

Orchestra

Music Majors & Minors
Music Students auditioning for a Music Scholarship will have the opportunity to audition for the Georgia Southern Symphony. In addition to the audition requirements* for a specific degree program, students will be asked to prepare the following orchestral excerpts below:
Strings Audition Requirements
Mozart: Magic Flute Overture
Bizet: L’Arlesienne Suite No. 1

Non-Music Majors
Non-Music Majors will have the opportunity to audition for the Georgia Southern Symphony by appointment. Students will be asked to prepare a scale/arpeggio (up to 4 sharps and 4 flats, 2-3 octaves), a short solo work that best demonstrates level of ability and the following orchestral excerpts below:
Mozart: Magic Flute Overture
Bizet: L’Arlesienne Suite No. 1

Concert Bands