Ensemble Placement Auditions

Fall 2024

Brass, Percussion, Strings, and Woodwinds

Complete the audition sign-up form before August 8

All interested students, including returning orchestra and/or wind ensemble members, must complete the Ensemble Audition Sign-Up form before August 8, 2024 to secure an audition time and access the audition music. You MUST download the music on the FINAL page of your Google form submission. Please also note:

• You will receive your ensemble audition time via email on August 10, 2024, please do not inquire sooner than that date.
• All majors are welcome!!
• General schedule to help you plan ahead:
  • Monday, August 26, 2024 in Lilly Hall (LH)
    • Bassoon 5:30-6:30 PM
    • Clarinet 11:30am-2:00 PM
    • Flute 7:00-9:00 PM
    • Oboe 6:30-7:30 PM
    • Saxophone 7:30-9:00 PM
    • Percussion 4:00-8:00 PM
    • Euphonium/Tuba 5:00-8:00 PM
    • Trombone 7:00-7:30 PM
    • Trumpet 7:30-9:00 PM
    • Horn 6:30-7:30 PM
  • Tuesday, August 27, 2024 in Lilly Hall (LH)
    • Viola 5:30-6:30 PM
    • Violin 7:15-9:15 PM
    • Bass 5:30-7:00 PM
    • Cello 5:30-7:00 PM

Fall 2024

Instrumental Jazz

Excerpts/Materials: Jazz Audition Materials

Schedule/Sign-up sheet: Jazz Ensemble/Combos Auditions Sign-Up Fall 2024 – Google Sheets

Jordan Jazz (Vocal Jazz ensemble)

Excerpts/Materials

• Be prepared to sing a Jazz standard of your choice.

Schedule and Sign-Up Sheet

• Contact Prof. Erin Benedict at ebenedic@butler.edu to set up an audition.

Fall 2024

Butler Choral ensembles: Chorale and Spectra

Calling all singers! We are excited to offer two different choruses open to all Butler students through audition: Chorale is offered for SATB voice parts and Spectra for treble voices (SA) only.

Complete the audition sign up form by 6:00 PM on August 23, 2024.

ALL students must complete the form linked above. Forms must be received before 6 pm on Friday, August 23, 2024. Submissions received after this time are not guaranteed membership in a Butler choir. Note that your confirmed audition time will be sent to you on August 25, 2024. For your planning purposes, all auditions will take place on August 26, 2024, between 5 and 10 pm. Last year’s members of Chorale who wish to return to Chorale do not need to re-audition, but must complete this form.

In the meantime, please contact Director of Choral Activities Dr. Eric Stark with any questions you may have: estark@butler.edu

Orchestra (BSO) and Wind Ensemble (BUWE)

1. We will audition for BSO, and BUWE placement at the start of each fall and spring semester. Auditions will happen just before the start of classes, as close to the first day of class as possible.  Ensemble directors and their Graduate Assistants will oversee this process.
2. For spring semester auditions, the schedule should be determined before the end of the fall semester. The fall semester audition schedule will be included with Orientation information to incoming students and emailed to all incoming and returning students as well as posted on the Ensemble Auditions webpage.
3. Every effort will be made to have anonymous auditions where the identity of the performer is unknown to the evaluators.
4. Auditions will be grouped in schedule blocks by instruments (i.e. all violins will audition in one schedule block). Logistical and scheduling details may prevent this in some cases, but every effort will be made to keep instruments grouped together.
5. Auditions will be evaluated by studio teachers when possible.  These may be grouped by individual instruments (i.e. bassoon students will audition for the bassoon instructor), by groups (i.e. double reed students will audition for the oboe and bassoon instructors), or by area (i.e. woodwind students will audition for the woodwind faculty).  Details will be arranged by each area and may depend upon schedules and availability.
6. Evaluators will rank the auditionees based upon their performance in that audition only. After the order has been determined, the identity of the auditionees will be revealed to the evaluators.
7.  Faculty will then present this ranking to the ensemble directors and meet with them to determine ensemble assignments (BSO, WE, SB). Ensemble assignments will be decided jointly by the studio instructors and the ensemble directors. A schedule conflict may preclude a student’s placement in a specific ensemble. Furthermore, faculty will take into consideration previous ensemble participation, the needs of the ensembles, and the best interest of individual students when determining ensemble assignments. (i.e. ‘Wind Ensemble needs a strong EH player this semester’; ‘This student needs more orchestral experience’, etc.)
8. Directors will consider audition results when making part assignments for their ensembles.
9. Percussionists will continue to be auditioned and assigned to ensembles by the percussion faculty.

Jazz Ensemble and Combos

1. We will audition for Jazz Ensemble and Combo placement at the start of each fall and spring semester. Auditions will happen just before the start of classes, as close to the first day of class as possible.  The ensemble/combo directors and Jazz Area Graduate Assistant will oversee this process.
2. For spring semester auditions, the schedule should be determined before the end of the fall semester. The fall semester audition schedule will be included with Orientation information to incoming students and emailed to all incoming and returning students as well as posted on the Ensemble Auditions webpage.
3. Auditions will be grouped in schedule blocks by instruments (i.e. all saxophones will audition in one schedule block). Logistical and scheduling details may prevent this in some cases, but every effort will be made to keep instruments grouped together.
4. Auditions will be evaluated by jazz faculty.  These may be grouped by individual instruments (i.e. sax students will audition for the jazz sax instructors), by groups (i.e. brass students will audition for the brass instructors), or by area (i.e. rhythm section students will audition for the rhythm section faculty).  Details will be arranged by each area and may depend upon schedules and availability.
5. Evaluators will rank the auditionees based upon their performance in that audition only.
6. Jazz faculty will then present this ranking to the ensemble directors and meet with them to determine ensemble assignments. Ensemble assignments will be decided jointly by the jazz faculty and director of jazz studies. A schedule conflict may preclude a student’s placement in a specific ensemble. Furthermore, faculty will take into consideration previous ensemble participation, the needs of the ensembles, and the best interest of individual students when determining ensemble assignments.
7. Conductors will consider audition results when making part assignments for their ensembles.

Choral Ensembles

• Choral ensembles will host choral auditions and hearings at the start of each fall and spring semester. Auditions will happen just before the start of classes, as close to the first day of class as possible.  Ensemble directors and the Choral Area Graduate Assistants will oversee this process.
• For spring semester auditions, the schedule should be determined before the end of the fall semester and may only apply to new choir members or those desiring to switch choral ensembles. The fall semester audition schedule will be included with Orientation information to incoming students and emailed to all incoming and returning students as well as posted on the Ensemble Auditions webpage.
• Auditions will be evaluated by choral faculty, and voice faculty when applicable.

If you have questions about the audition process or about specific ensembles, please contact the School of Music office at music@butler.edu or contact the appropriate ensemble director.