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Auditions
All students interested in majoring in music must audition for the Townsend School of Music. All students who audition are considered for scholarships.
Audition dates for the 2013-2014
- Undergraduate Students: Saturday, February 2, and Saturday, March 2
- Graduate Students: Friday, February 1, and Friday, March 1
If you cannot attend one of the regularly scheduled audition dates, please notify the Music Secretary and a convenient date will be arranged with the appropriate area faculty members. On-campus auditions are required of any students who live within 300 miles of Mercer University. If distance makes it difficult to appear for a live audition, a videotape or DVD recording may be submitted.
Auditions are approximately 20 minutes in length. The appropriate area music faculty members will hear the audition. It is not necessary for instrumentalists to bring an accompanist to on-campus auditions. An accompanist will be provided for vocal auditions. The auditioner will also be asked to take a short musicianship exam as part of the audition process.
Audition Procedures
It is important that any potential music major formally apply through the Office of University Admissions, fill out the appropriate forms with the Office of Student Financial Planning, before schedule an audition with Townsend School of Music on one of the designated music scholarship audition dates. A complete financial package offer will then be put together by the Office of University Admissions, Townsend School of Music and the Office of Student Financial Planning.
Audition Requirements
Voice
First year intended voice majors must prepare two contrasting pieces, to be performed from memory. The pieces performed should be taken from the standard classical, traditional, sacred, or Broadway styles. All transfer students at the second-year level of vocal study pursuing the B.A. or B.M.E. degrees must prepare three (3) pieces from the standard classical repertoire: one in English, one in either: Spanish, French, German, Italian, or Latin, and one in a foreign language other than those languages listed above. All transfer students at the 3rd or 4th year level, and all potential voice performance (Bachelor of Music) transfer students (2nd-4th year) must prepare five pieces from the standard classical repertoire which include English and two or three foreign languages. Students should bring the sheet music for their pieces with them; an accompanist will be provided. The auditioner will be asked to sight sing and take a music theory placement test. After auditioning, there will be a short interview with the voice faculty.
Winds
Students auditioning should prepare two contrasting pieces displaying both lyrical and technical proficiency. Repertoire for an audition may include studies/etudes, orchestral excerpts, sonatas or concerto literature. Students should prepare all major scales/arpeggios and auditions will include a short sight-reading excerpt on the chosen instrument. The auditioner will also be asked to sight sing and take a music theory placement test.
Strings
Students interested in pursuing a Performance degree through the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings should contact the center for more information.
Piano
Pianists should prepare two contrasting pieces for the audition. Suggested repertoire might include a two-part invention or a dance from a suite, a movement of a sonata or sonatina and another piece in contrasting style. Students should be able to play all scales/arpeggios and will be asked to sight read a short excerpt. Prepared pieces should be memorized.
Organ
Applicants should prepare two selections for the audition. The chosen pieces should contrast in style and in technical demands.
Guitar
Candidates for guitar study should be able to play all scales, studies corresponding in difficulty to those of Sor and Carcassi, and perform two contrasting solo works from memory. Students will be asked to sightread and should have a knowledge of music theory.
Percussion
Percussionists should prepare a mallet solo (2 or 4 mallets) and a selection on each of the following instruments: timpani, snare drum, and/or multiple percussion. A drum set selection may be presented if applicable. Sight-reading will be requested on timpani, mallets and snare drum. The auditioner will be asked to sight sing and take a music theory placement test.
Transfer Students
Transfer students are welcome to audition for admission to Townsend School of Music. In addition to their music audition, they will be given a diagnostic test in music theory. For clarification of these requirements, contact Dr. Douglas Hill at (478) 301-2752 or hill_dm@mercer.edu .
The test will consist of the following:
- Roman numeral analysis of an example in 18th century chorale style. This example will include secondary dominants, diminished triads and chords of the seventh, plus their inversions.
- Brief examples of both melodic and harmonic dictation.
- A brief example to be sung at sight.
Graduate Admissions
Get additional information about graduate admissions to the Townsend School of Music.
For More Information
For more information about the audition process and to schedule an audition, contact:
music@mercer.edu
1-800-342-0841 ext. 5751 (within Georgia)
1-800-637-2378 ext. 5751 (outside Georgia)
Get driving directions to the McCorkle Music Building from Google Maps.