Ensembles
Instrumental & Choral Ensemble Placement Auditions
ATTENTION: Ensemble Placement Audition details for the 2018-19 year will be posted during summer 2018.
IMPORTANT: ALL ensembles, except marching band, require an audition each academic year. We want to get to know each person's present ability, level, and potential. For Orchestra and Wind Ensemble auditions, the director of both ensembles will be present for your audition, so you will only need to perform one audition to be considered for more than one ensemble. However, a separate audition is required for the instrumental and vocal Jazz Ensembles, Jazz Combos and for placement in the percussion sections of the Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. For Choral auditions, the directors of each choral ensemble will be present for your audition, so you will only need to perform one audition to be considered for more than one ensemble.
Ensemble auditions for Fall 2017 will take place during Welcome Week (August 20-22). Audition information and materials are listed below by ensemble and instrument area.
View the full University Welcome Week Schedule (includes audition/exam times).
Questions? Please contact the School of Music office at music@butler.edu or 317-940-9246 or contact the ensemble director directly.
Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble
For Orchestra and Wind Ensemble auditions, you need only perform ONE audition to be considered for more than one ensemble as the director of both ensembles will be present for your audition. However, auditions for the percussion sections of Orchestra and Wind Ensembles are held separately. Please see the details below for your specific instrument area.
STRINGS
Audition Music:
Strings students should prepare the full pieces as provided in the documents below.
Strings Audition Procedures, Schedule, and Sign-Up:
- Returning Students: Returning students will audition from approximately 11:30 AM-5:00 PM on Sunday, August 20. Please sign up for a specific audition time using the following link (log in with Butler credentials): Orchestra Audition Schedule and Sign-Up Sheet: STRINGS (2017 sign-up is closed, 2018 sign-up will open in July 2018). If you have an extenuating time conflict and/or must alter your audition time after signing up, please contact Courtney Trachsel at music@butler.edu as soon as possible.
- NEW Students: New students have been assigned a specific audition time between 5:15-8:00 PM on Sunday, August 20. Please make note of your specific audition time using the following link (log in with Butler credentials): Orchestra Audition Schedule and Sign-Up Sheet: STRINGS (2017 sign-up is closed, 2018 sign-up will open in July 2018).. Your audition should take approximately 10 minutes plus any warm-up time you utilize beforehand (a total of 20-30 minutes). NOTE: The audition times will overlap with the Welcome Week Campus Picnic. Orientation groups will attend dinner at the Campus Picnic as a group at a specific time. If your audition time requires you to leave your Orientation Group meeting early and/or arrive to the picnic at a different time than your orientation group, please inform your Student Orientation Guide (SOG). Your SOG will be aware that some students in their group will have auditions and will help you make appropriate accommodations. Please allow yourself ample time to warm-up and locate the audition area. Feel free to contact music@butler.edu with questions.
Strings Audition Instructions:
- Feel free to warm-up in the practice rooms on the second floor of Lilly Hall anytime before your audition. New students, be sure to coordinate your schedule with your Student Orientation Guide as outlined above.
- Arrive to the audition location between 5-10 minutes prior to your specific audition time. You will be called into the room when it is your turn to audition.
- Your audition should consist of the excerpts at butler.edu/music/wwauditions. Your audition should take approximately 10 minutes.
- Once your audition is complete, you are free to leave. New students should reunite with their Student Orientation Group at the Campus Picnic or the next scheduled Welcome Week activity.
WINDS/BRASS
***NEW INFORMATION: Please complete the following online Ensemble Audition Info form prior to your audition (winds/brass only).***
Audition Excerpts:
Winds/Brass Audition Procedures and Schedule:
Blind auditions (new): In order to provide more fair and efficient placement, we are instituting a “blind” audition procedure for brass and woodwind auditions effective immediately. Brass and woodwind auditions for Wind Ensemble and Butler Symphony Orchestra (BSO) will take place behind a screen, keeping the auditioning student’s identity anonymous to the audition panel. The audition panel will consist of the ensemble directors as well as applied faculty. There will be no communication between the auditioning student and the audition panel during the audition time block; all questions should be communicated to the audition proctor.
The audition schedule is available for viewing using the following link (login with Butler credentials): Orchestra and Wind Ensemble Audition Schedule BRASS/WOODWINDS (2017 sign-up is closed, 2018 sign-up will open in July 2018). Please make special note of the specific check-in time for your instrument area. It is vital that all auditioning students be present at the appropriate times listed on the schedule below. The audition order will be determined at check-in; therefore, students should block out the full audition time frame for their instrument in their schedule. If there are extenuating circumstances that may pose a time conflict with one or more of the audition times, please contact Courtney Trachsel at music@butler.edu as soon as possible. NEW STUDENTS: The schedule takes in to account your Welcome Week activities schedule. However, if you need to be excused from a Welcome Week activity to warm-up for and/or attend your audition time, you may communicate this information directly to your Student Orientation Guide (SOG). Your SOG will be aware that some students in the group will have auditions. Feel free to contact music@butler.edu with questions.
Winds/Brass Audition Instructions:
- Report to the audition proctor (a grad assistant) outside of Lilly Hall room 133 at the appropriate check-in time. The audition proctor will have the sign-in sheet.
- Sign your name on the first available time slot on the audition sign-in sheet. You will be assigned a number at this time (ex. “Trumpet 4”). Your number will be called when it is your turn to audition. You may warm-up in practice rooms on the 2nd floor at any time before your audition.
- Return to the audition room at least 10 minutes prior to your specific audition time slot.
- When your number is called, please enter the room, wait for the door to shut behind you, and begin playing the excerpts as you have prepared them. NOTE: To maintain anonymity, please do not communicate directly with the audition panel who will be situated behind the screen. Any questions should be directed to the audition proctor(s) before you enter the audition room.
- Once your audition is complete, you are free to leave. Each audition will take approximately 10 minutes.
PERCUSSION
Percussion Excerpts:
- Please prepare the following: Percussion (UPDATED as of 7/25/2017)
Percussion Audition Procedures, Schedule, and Sign-Up:
Auditions will take place Tuesday, August 22 from 5:30-8:30 PM in Lilly Hall room 320.
- Returning Students: Please sign up for a specific audition time using the following link (log in with Butler credentials): Orchestra Audition Schedule and Sign-Up Sheet: PERCUSSION (2017 sign-up is closed, 2018 sign-up will open in July 2018). If you have an extenuating time conflict and/or must alter your audition time after signing up, please contact Courtney Trachsel at music@butler.edu as soon as possible.
- NEW Students: New students have been assigned a specific audition time. Please make note of your specific audition time using the following link (log in with Butler credentials): Orchestra Audition Schedule and Sign-Up Sheet: PERCUSSION (2017 sign-up is closed, 2018 sign-up will open in July 2018). Feel free to contact music@butler.edu with questions.
Percussion Audition Instructions:
- Arrive to the audition location around 5-10 minutes prior to your specific audition time. You will be called into the room when it is your turn to audition.
- Your audition should consist of the materials outlined above and at butler.edu/music/wwauditions. Auditions will last approximately 10 minutes per student.
- Once your audition is complete, you are free to leave.
Choral Ensembles
For choral auditions, you need only perform ONE audition to be considered for more than one ensemble as the directors of all choral ensembles will be present for your audition. Please see the details below.
University Choir, Spectra, and Butler Chorale
Choral Audition Schedule and Sign-Up:
Auditions will take place Monday, August 21, 2017 from 5:00-10:30 PM in Lilly Hall room 124.
- Returning Students: To sign up for an audition time, use the following link (login with Butler credentials): Choral Ensemble Audition Schedule/Sign-Up (2017 sign-up is closed, 2018 sign-up will open in July 2018).
- New Students: Any new voice majors, music majors or non-majors registered for a choral ensemble, and non-music majors who requested an audition have been assigned an audition time that works with the Welcome Week schedule. Please make note of your audition time using the following link (log in with Butler credentials): Choral Ensemble Auditions Schedule/Sign-Up (2017 sign-up is closed, 2018 sign-up will open in July 2018). If you have questions or a scheduling conflict, contact music@butler.edu as soon as possible.
- All other interested students: Feel free to sign up for an audition time using the following link (login with Butler credentials): Choral Ensemble Audition Schedule/Sign-Up (2017 sign-up is closed, 2018 sign-up will open in July 2018).
Choral Audition Materials:
Music selections should include the following:
- Solo repertoire of your choice OR "America the Beautiful"
- Be prepared to sight-read
NOTE: An accompanist is provided for the audition. If you choose to sing "America the Beautiful," copies of the music will be provided to you at the audition.
Choral Audition Instructions:
- Feel free to warm-up in the practice rooms on the second floor of Lilly Hall anytime before your audition.
- Arrive to the audition location around 5-10 minutes prior to your specific audition time. You will be called into the room when it is your turn to audition. An accompanist is provided.
- Your audition should consist of the materials outlined above. Auditions will last approximately 5 minutes per student.
- Once your audition is complete, you are free to leave.
Questions? Please contact Dr. Stark at estark@butler.edu
Instrumental and Vocal Jazz
Jazz Ensembles and Jazz Combos
Audition Excerpts:
Audition Sign-Up:
Auditions will take place on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 from 4:00-10:00 PM. To sign up for an audition, please use the following link (login with Butler credentials): Instrumental and Vocal Jazz Audition Sign-Up (2017 sign-up is closed, 2018 sign-up will open in July 2018).
Jordan Jazz (Vocal Jazz Ensemble)
Audition Excerpts:
Audition Sign-Up:
Auditions will take place Monday, August 21, 2017 from 5:45-7:45 PM. To sign up for an audition, please use the following link (login with Butler credentials): Instrumental and Vocal Jazz Audition Sign-Up (2017 sign-up is closed, 2018 sign-up will open in July 2018).
Contact an Ensemble Director
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 below:
Chorale
Dr. Eric Stark
317-940-9981
estark@butler.edu
Spectra (formerly Women's Chorus), University Choir
Dr. John Perkins
317-940-9636
jdperkin@butler.edu
Instrumental Jazz Ensembles
Dr. Matt Pivec
317-940-9068
mpivec@butler.edu
Vocal Jazz
Prof. Erin Benedict
ebenedic@butler.edu
Orchestra
Prof. Richard Clark
317-940-8031
rclark@butler.edu
Wind Ensemble
Prof. Michael Colburn
317-940-6672
mcolburn@butler.edu
Percussion Ensemble
Prof. Jon Crabiel
317-940-9488
jcrabiel@butler.edu