Scholarships

• AUDITION APPLICATION FORM

• November 23, 2024 - 9 a.m.  *Brass, Woodwind, and Percussion Only
• February 14, 2025 - 10 a.m. 
• February 28, 2025 - 12 p.m.  *Voice Only
• March 8, 2025 - 2 p.m.
• April 5, 2025 - 2 p.m.

• Complete the online AUDITION APPLICATION FORM (link above) at least three weeks prior to your chosen audition date. The Music Office will assign your audition time and confirm by e-mail approximately one week before your chosen date.

• If you are unable to audition in-person, you may submit a video instead. The Department of Music recommends uploading the videos to YouTube as "unlisted" (so anyone with the video link can see the video). E-mail the video link (URL) to Jeanene Rushing at rushingj@winthrop.edu. Your audition link will be shared with faculty in your area for evaluation.

  • Video Submission Tips: Please do not overly concern yourself with perfected video/audio quality. The music faculty want to hear you play your best, but using a smartphone or something similar will be just fine. Rest assured that the music faculty at Winthrop want to hear where you are, learn your goals, and help you achieve them.

• You may include a letter of recommendation from a band or choral director or from a private music teacher who is familiar with your musicianship.

• Submit a Winthrop University Application Form available from the Office of Admissions at 800/763-0230 or online. You may audition prior to acceptance into the university, but a music scholarship may not be officially offered until you have been accepted to Winthrop University.

Bassoon applicants should prepare two contrasting selections to demonstrate technical and lyrical abilities.  One or both of these could be from etudes in the Weissenborn Studies for Bassoon or Melodious and Progressive Studies for Bassoon, Volume 1 or 2, or Milde Concert Studies.  Solo repertoire might include Telemann Sonata in F minor, Mozart A minor sonata, Cioffari Sonatina for Bassoon or any other solo piece which reflects your highest musical achievement.  Scales and sight reading may also required. Accompaniment is not required.

Singers:

Students must perform two selections during the audition. The first piece should showcase the musician's interests and be presented in a style or genre associated with American popular music. This includes styles such as jazz, rock, country, gospel, funk, hip hop, R&B, grunge, folk or an original composition.

For the second selection, suitable repertoire includes opera and oratorio arias, English and foreign language art songs, African American spirituals, American folk songs, and both traditional and contemporary musical theatre pieces. There is no foreign language requirement for Commercial Music majors. All selections must be memorized. The audition may also include sight-reading, scales, and sight-singing.

All auditionees seeking degrees in the vocal division must perform their audition with an accompanist. If you need a university accompanist, please indicate this on the audition application, and we will provide one free of charge. You may use an accompaniment track for the commercial selection.

Instrumentalists:

Students must perform two selections during the audition. The first piece should showcase the musician's interests and be presented in a style or genre associated with American popular music. This includes styles such as jazz, rock, country, gospel, funk, hip hop, R&B, grunge, folk, or an original composition.

For the second selection, suitable repertoire includes standard classical works or an etude that demonstrates technical proficiency on the instrument. You may be asked to perform majo scales and/or sight-read. Accompaniment is not required. 

Portfolio Requirements:

1. Two recent works submitted either in score from or as a recording, preferably both. These works should represent your best compositional efforts to date. Recordings should be submitted as digital media only - CDs, MP3, drop box, SoundCloud, etc. Scores may be submitted via mail, or as a pdf. or link to a .pdf via e-mail to lewism@winthrop.edu 
2. A brief essay (or interview) outlining your compositional interests, goals, likes, dislikes, and aspirations. While we realize that aesthetic outlooks and goals may change throughout the educational process, we find it very helpful in assessing goodness of fit if we know what you hope to achieve and what kind of music you are most passionate about writing (and listening to) currently.

Upon receipt and review of your portfolio we will contact you regarding a potential on campus or telephone interview. Therefore, it is critical that we have your current contact information.

Clarinet applicants should prepare at least two selections that demonstrate contrasting styles, one fast and technical and the other slow and lyrical. These can include etudes as well as solo pieces. Two single movement works, two individual movements from multiple movement works or two contrasting sections of a single work are acceptable.
Some appropriate audition pieces include standard etudes by C. Rose, the Melodious Studies or Artistic Studies by David Hite, standard repertoire by Mozart, Saint-Saens, Stamitz, Weber, Tartini, Cavallini, Schumann, or pieces chosen from collection books such as the Sixteen Grand Concert Pieces (pub. Southern) or Masterworks for Clarinet and Piano (pub. Schirmer). Accompaniment is not required.

All students interested in auditioning on euphonium should prepare two short pieces of the applicant's choice, featuring differing styles (one fast and one slow) and showcasing the best of their abilities. The selections can either be from two different pieces, two movements from the same piece, or an All-State solo plus one other piece or etude in a different style. Auditions may also contain major scales and sightreading. Accompaniment is not required.

Prepare two selections from the following: a movement from a sonata or concerto, and/or a standard solo from the repertory that show a contrast in style and tempo (one fast and one slow). Two movements from a single work are acceptable. Major scales and sightreading may be required. Accompaniment is not required.

Jazz guitarists should prepare the following:

1. Scales: All major and harmonic minor scales in at least 2 positions — with eighth-note rhythm and the metronome setting of 120. Repertoire (demonstrate both lyricism and technical proficiency):  one chord-melody tune (your choice: swing, ballad, blues, Latin, etc.), one single-note melody (example: Billie's Bounce, Anthropology, etc.)
2. Chords: B-flat blues, ii-V-I (major key) played through the cycle of 4ths, ii-V-i (minor key) played through the cycle of 4ths.
3. Improvisation (your choice) (demonstrate both lyricism and technical proficiency) In your single-note melody tune or chord-melody, over B-flat blues (Jamey Aebersold, track #8, Volume One — "How to Improvise."  This can be ordered from most music stores or ordered online at www.jazzbooks.com (Jamey Aebersold website). Sight-reading (chord symbols and notation) - 2 contrasting styles.  One will be swing and the other will be chosen from ballad, Latin, or rock.
   
   

Classical guitarists should prepare the following:

1. Major and relative minor scales (as edited by Segovia) A prepared piece (memorized) from the following: studies or works by Sor, Carcassi, Carulli, Giuliani, Aguado, Brouwer, and Sagreras, pavans by Milan, dances by Sanz, DeViseé, Bach, etc., preludes by Ponce, Villa-Lobos, sightreading.

All students interested in auditioning on horn should prepare two pieces, one being the Senior SC All-State solo. The other would be a contrasting piece, ideally from a concerto or sonata. Applicants will need to demonstrate a two-octave chromatic scale, starting from the note of their choice, as well as selected major scales announced by the audition committee during the audition. Accompaniment is not required.

Auditionees should prepare two movements from a concerto or sonata, which will best demonstrate your lyrical and technical abilities. Major scales and sightreading may be required. Accompaniment is not required.

A Baroque prelude and fugue by any mainstream composer (Bach, Buxtehude, Lubeck Bruhns, etc.); a standard organ work from the 19th/20th/21st centuries; 2 standard hymns.

Students should be able to play all major and harmonic minor scales (92=quarter note, 16th-note rhythm, 4 octaves.
- The student entering the BM in organ performance may be asked to sight-read a piece either at the organ or the piano.

Students interested in auditioning for the percussion program at Winthrop are encouraged to perform selections in three areas: snare drum, timpani, and keyboard percussion. 

Below are the audition requirements with suggested styles of works for all undergraduate and transfer students as well as requirements for graduate auditions. 

The lists below contain suggested repertoire, but the student is not limited to this material. 

Other solos or etudes that show a similar level of technical and musical achievement may also be used for auditions. All-State solos in the three areas are fine for undergraduates. Accompaniment is not required.

Students auditioning to be considered for a performance degree should prepare a balanced program of three memorized works from contrasting style periods.  The program may involve either complete works or individual movements from larger works.  Students auditioning for the BM in performance or BME should be prepared to play all major and harmonic minor scales, hands together, four octaves, quarter note = 92, 16th note rhythm.  Students enrolling in the BA should be prepared to play all major scales, hands together, four octaves, quarter note = 92, 16th note rhythm.
Students auditioning for entrance to other music degree programs or a auditioning for a minor in music should prepare two works from contrasting style periods.  Students majoring in areas other than music, but wishing to pursue elective study in piano, should prepare one piece which best represents their skills. In the case of non-performance degrees, memorization is encouraged but not required.  There is no examination of technical rudiments, but all applicants will be asked to sightread during live auditions.

Saxophonists should prepare two contrasting selections that demonstrate 1) the ability to play lyrically and 2) technical proficiencies. Chosen from standard classical saxophone literature, the selections can be either from two different compositions or can be two movements from the same composition. Native All-state scales and/or sightreading may be requested. Accompaniment is not required.

Strings candidates should be prepared to play two works in contrasting styles that best represent the student's highest technical and musical achievement. Recommended is a movement of solo Bach selection, as well as a concerto movement or short solo piece. In addition, candidates should be prepared to play a major scale and a melodic minor scale of the candidate's choice. Accompaniment is not required.

Prepare two selections from the following or another standard solo work that demonstrates a contrast in style and tempo (fast vs. slow, lyrical vs. technical). The selections can either be from two different pieces, two movements from the same piece, or an All-State solo plus one other piece or etude in a different style. Auditions may also contain major scales and sightreading. Accompaniment is not required.

All students auditioning on trumpet should prepare two pieces of the applicant's choice, preferably in contrasting styles/tempos (one fast and one slow). Students can choose from movements of a standard solo, various etudes, and/or the SC Senior All-State solo. One of the selections may also be a jazz standard, if desired. Students are encouraged to choose pieces that best reflect their playing abilities. Major scales and sightreading will be also required. Accompaniment is not required.

All students interested in auditioning on tuba should prepare two short pieces of the applicant's choice, featuring differing styles (one fast and one slow) and showcasing the best of their abilities. The selections can either be from two different pieces, two movements from the same piece, or an All-State solo plus one other piece or etude in a different style. Auditions may also contain major scales and sightreading. Accompaniment is not required.

Auditionees in the vocal division should prepare selections of contrasting style (see the degree list below for the amount and type of repertory required at the audition).

• Suitable repertory for the audition includes opera and oratorio arias, English and foreign language art songs, African-American spirituals, American folksong, and legitimate and contemporary Musical Theatre selections.

• Auditions may contain sight-reading, scales, and sightsinging.

• All selections must be memorized.  

• All auditionees seeking degrees in the vocal division must perform their audition with an accompanist. If you require a university accompanist, please indicate that on the audition form. We will provide one free of charge.

Music Education and B.A. degrees: Two selections, including one selection in a foreign language

B.M. performance degree: Three selections, including at least one in a foreign language