Auditions/New Students

Auditions for new and transfer students who plan to begin classes in Fall 2025 will be held live on the Marywood University campus.

Departmental Auditions

During the audition process, there will be opportunities to perform for our audition committee and meet members of our faculty. Additional arrangements may be made to meet with academic advisors and current Marywood music and theatre students.

Audition Dates

Voice and Musical Theatre | Schedule an Audition

Voice and musical theatre auditions take place in the Marian Chapel at the Swartz Center.

Auditions may be booked online for the following Saturdays:

• December 14, 2024
• January 11, 2025
• February 1, 2025
• February 15, 2025*

Instrumental | Schedule an Audition

Instrumental auditions take place at the Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts.

Auditions may be booked online for the following Saturdays:

• December 7, 2024
• January 18, 2025
• January 25, 2025
• February 8, 2025*
• February 22, 2025

*February 8 and February 15 are audition/workshop days intended to give prospective students a fuller experience than the audition alone. The schedule on those two days will include:

12:45-1:45 PM: Complimentary lunch with Marywood faculty
2:00-2:45 PM: Question-and-answer session with current Marywood students
2:45-3:45 PM: Optional complimentary sample lessons with Marywood faculty

After February 2025, please contact Dr. Rick Hoffenberg to schedule an audition.

Important Contacts

If you have questions about our programs, please contact any of our program directors via email:  

Dr. Rick Hoffenberg – Co-Director, School of Visual & Performing Arts (rhoffenberg@marywood.edu)

Professor Allison Fox – Director, Music Therapy Program (amfox@marywood.edu)  

Dr. Joan McCusker – Director, Music Education Program (mccusker@marywood.edu)

Dr. Timothy Pyles – Director, Theatre Programs (tpyles@marywood.edu)

All Undergraduate & Transfer Students

Acceptance by the University is required before an audition can be scheduled. 

• Apply to University. 
• Apply for financial aid.
• For talent scholarship consideration, auditions must be completed by March 1.
• Transfer students must complete a minimum of 30 credits in music courses at Marywood. Transfer students in education must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 for acceptance.
• First-year music education majors must have a minimum SAT score of 970 (Math/Reading combined).

Accompaniment

A pianist will be provided for vocal auditions.

Instrumental applicants should plan to perform unaccompanied.

General Guidelines for All Auditions

For Musical Arts

• BA Arts Administration/Music
• BM Music Education; Music Therapy; Music Performance

Perform two contrasting works demonstrating technical skills and musicianship (see below for suggested repertoire by instrument). Memorization of vocal audition pieces is strongly recommended.

For Theatre Arts 

Musical theatre majors must audition in voice, acting, and dance.

Prospective theatre, theatre education, and arts administration (theatre) majors should contact Dr. Timothy Pyles to arrange an interview.

Voice (for Musical Theatre Majors)

Musical theatre applicants should perform two contrasting musical theatre selections, or one classical piece and one musical theatre selection.

Dance (for Musical Theatre Majors)

You will be taught a short dance routine. Please bring attire that allows freedom of movement.

Acting (for Musical Theatre Majors and Theatre Majors whose focus is performing)

Please prepare a 1-2 minute memorized monologue from a published play. Select a piece that is appropriate for your age and ability. The theatre evaluator will be looking for a truthful and believable representation of the character. Show through your voice and body that you understand the character’s thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Non-performance (for Theatre Majors whose strength is in production work)

If you have exhibited a talent for non-performing aspects of theatre such as stage management, design, or technical production, contact Dr. Timothy Pyles and be prepared to discuss your experience and goals in these areas.

Do I Need to Audition?

An audition is required for BM music education, music therapy, music performance; BA arts admin/music; and BA music (musical theatre) majors. Theatre students should audition/interview with Dr. Timothy Pyles. 

Skills Assessment

Sight-Singing and Sight-Reading

Sight singing and sight reading are a part of all auditions.

All auditioning students will be asked to take a short music theory test. This test is used only for placement and does not impact acceptance in our programs. 

Suggested audition repertoire (by instrument)

Vocal

1. Art song (in Italian, French, or German)
2. Classical, folk, or musical theatre selection in English

Keyboards

Piano

Two contrasting works from different compositional periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary)

Organ

1. Classical work from standard organ repertoire
2. Two verses of a traditional hymn: (1) include appropriate introduction; (2) first verse played as written; second verse may be a re-harmonization or improvisation based on first verse
3. Technique exercises (facility on manuals and pedals)

Woodwinds & Brass

• Flute; Clarinet; Saxophone; Oboe; Bassoon
• Trumpet; Horn in F; Trombone; Euphonium; Tuba

1. Be prepared to perform two excerpts, each lasting from 3-5 minutes. One excerpt should emphasize technical skill and the other should be lyrical to emphasize expressiveness. These excerpts may be taken from a concerto, sonata, or solo work.
2. Major scales ascending and descending (multiple octaves when possible) with articulations as determined by audition committee.

Percussion

Applicants should bring drum sticks and mallets and demonstrate proficiency on multiple instruments.

• Snare Drum: Concert-style snare drum solo demonstrating concert rolls, flams, ruffs
• Drum Set (Optional): drum set proficiency in swing, rock, & Latin styles

• Keyboard Percussion/Mallets: Two-mallet solo from standard repertoire required (Optional: four-mallet solo demonstrating skill level)

• Timpani: Timpani solo on at least two timpani, including rolls. Demonstrate ability to tune timpani from a given piano reference pitch

Strings

Violin; Viola; Cello; Harp; Double Bass

1. Two stylistically contrasting movements (technical v. lyrical) from standard classical repertoire demonstrating performance skills as soloist
2. Major/minor scales (2 octaves)

Acoustic Guitar

1. Two stylistically contrasting solo pieces from standard classical repertoire
2. Major/minor scales (melodic minor form, 2 or 3 octaves)

Electric Bass Guitar

1. Two contrasting jazz pieces, melody
2. An improvised bass line and bass solo
3. Major/minor scales, arpeggios (2 octaves)