A student who wishes to enroll as a music major or minor at Westminster College, in any of the available degree plans, must fulfill the general admission requirements of the college and must successfully perform an audition for the Department of Music Faculty. Students who are considering music at Westminster should plan a visit to the campus to view first hand the excellent facilities and to meet some of the faculty and students.

Initial visits to campus should be scheduled through the college Office of Admissions (724-946-7100). The college has set aside a series of Saturdays throughout the fall and spring as Campus Visitation Days where prospective students and parents may meet with administrators, faculty, and students, to discuss interests, financial aid, majors, minors, and extra-curricular activities.

Subsequent visits can be scheduled directly through the Department of Music (724-946-7270). Usually the student attending a Campus Visitation Day will be too busy on that day to also perform an audition for the music faculty. The Department of Music has set aside a series of dates throughout the fall and spring as Music Scholarship & Admission Audition Days.

Admission Auditions

Music Scholarship & Admission Auditions for the 2013-2014 academic year will be held at Westminster on the following days:

November 9, 2012
November 30, 2012
February 8, 2013
February 15, 2013
March 15, 2013
March 22, 2013
April 5, 2013
April 26, 2013

Times for Auditions:
Voice 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Instrumental 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Requirements:

Instrumental:
Be prepared to perform solo literature that best demonstrates your technical ability and your musicality (tone, lyricism etc).  This may be accomplished in one work (concerto or sonata) or in multiple pieces.  Consult your private teacher for input.

We do not use a set piece(s) as these may be limiting to the performer based upon their background and abilities.
Additional components of the audition include:  a short sight-singing line, pitch matching (ear training), rhythm sight-reading (pat or clap).
The final component is a theory diagnostic exam that allows us to see what experience you have had in this area.
We will also talk with you about your future plans, what our curriculum offers and we will answer all questions that you (and your parents) may have.

Students interested in the BM in music performance must exhibit exemplary skills to be accepted into the music program.  Acceptance into the performance program follows the jury at the end of the students first semester of study at Westminster.

Vocal:
Music Education Majors, must prepare two selections (one in English and one in a foreign language) that show off a student's abilities as a singer (range, flexibility, character, etc.). All selections must be memorized and should be performed in a manner that demonstrates a student's ability to interpret as well as to sing in a technically proficient manner.

Singers will be evaluated on their technical preparation, intonation, musicality, language skills and interpretation.

For Music Performance Majors, please prepare three selections (one in English and two in a foreign language) that show off a student's abilities as a singer (range, flexibility, character, etc.). All selections must be memorized and should be performed in a manner that demonstrates a student's ability to interpret as well as to sing in a technically proficient manner.
Singers will be evaluated on their technical preparation, intonation, musicality, language skills and interpretation.

Westminster College Symphony Orchestra Auditions

2012-2013Westminster College Symphony Orchestra Audition Lists (also listed below).
Auditions will take place immediately prior to the start of classes in the Fall.
Similar to last year, all orchestra members must audition. More information will follow.

Excerpts are taken from: Fauré’s “Élégie,” Haydn’s “Symphony No. 94 ‘Surprise’,” Mendelssohn’s “Piano Concerto No. 1,” Ravel’s “Pavane pour une infant défunte,” Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Dance of the Tumblers,” and Sibelius’s “Finlandia.” All pieces will be performed during the upcoming academic concert season.
Please email Dr. Crawford Perttu (perttumh@westminster.edu) with any questions.

Flute:
Faure: Solo @ H
Haydn: meas. 83 – 115
Ravel: Flute I: meas. 26 - end
Oboe:
Faure: D-E
Haydn: F – end
Ravel: All
Clarinet:
Faure: C – E
Mendelssohn: Beginning - 49, D – 130, & 159 – 189
Ravel: Clar. II: 26 – 35 & Clar. I: 43 – fermata
Bassoon:
Ravel: Bssn I: 13 – 20, 41 - 59
Haydn: meas. 224 – H, 60 – 70
Mendelssohn: Beginning – 55, D – F
Horn:
Haydn: I – 143
Mendelssohn: Andante: 3 – 12
Ravel: Horn I - all
Trumpet:
Haydn: I – 143
Rimsky-Korsakov: “Tr-be” line; top part. Part is in Bb
Sibelius: D – 118
Trombone:
Rimsky-Korsakov: “Tr-bni e Tuba” lines; top part (tenor clef – directly beneath “Tr-be” line)
& Bottom part (Tuba line – directly above “Timp.”)
Sibelius: D – G
Tuba:
Rimsky-Korsakov: Bottom of the two “Tr-bni e Tuba” lines (Directly above “Timp.”)
Sibelius: meas. 95 – G
Percussion:
Sibelius: Timpani part: F – 112
Harp: Ravel: All
Violin (all):
Haydn: Vivace assai: meas. 18 – 38 & Andante: 58 – 74
Kalinnikov: meas. 84 – 115
Sibelius: meas. 121 – 127 (no repeat)
Viola:
Kalinnikov: C – 88
Ravel: 6 meas. before E – F
Sibelius: meas. 121 – 127
Cello:
Kalinnikov: B – E, and meas. 109 – 116
Mendelssohn: Andante: top line – all
Ravel: B – 1 after C (au Mouvement)
Sibelius: H – 127
Bass:
Haydn: Beginning – meas. 17, Andante: 57 – 70, Allegro di molto: 241 – 249
Mendelssohn: F – 189

Minors:
Music Minors, on all instruments, must audition in order to be available for any scholarship money. 
A student planning to audition for scholarship or admission should schedule such an audition with Peggy Flynn, the Music Department Secretary, at (724)946-7270 or by e-mail.