Applicants pursuing Jazz Bass must submit a prescreen by December 1. Prescreens are not required for applicants pursuing Classical String Bass.
Bassists may choose to perform either a classical or jazz audition. Applicants who wish to schedule both may do so. In order to apply and audition for both, please email musicadmissions@depaul.edu.
Successful applicants will be assigned to the applied studios within the category (classical or jazz) for which they have auditioned. If an applicant wishes to study in both the jazz and classical studios they must participate in both a classical and jazz audition. All bass auditions must be performed on a string bass. Bass guitars are not acceptable for the audition.
Please see the audition requirements below. Uploads must be video files. Audio files will not be accepted.
We encourage all applicants, if at all possible, to audition in-person.
- Live audition dates are scheduled during the weekends in February. Review list of audition dates by instrument here.
- Recorded video auditions are available by request and must be submitted by February 1 to your Blue Demon Domain (for undergraduates) or your application portal (for graduates/post-masters), in the “edit portfolio" section. To enable the recorded audition submission, contact musicadmissions@depaul.edu.
Audition Repertoire
- two contrasting orchestral excerpts
- one movement from a Bach cello suite
- one movement from a standard bass concerto
Recorded Interview Questions (only applicable to those who select a recorded submission to audition)
Please upload a video that is no longer than 2-3 minutes and responds to the below questions:
What is your musical background?
Why are you applying to DePaul?
Applicants have a choice between two audition formats: in person auditions or recorded submissions. Though recorded auditions are accepted, we strongly encourage applicants to audition on campus to benefit from the in-person experience of meeting our faculty and seeing our facilities.
Prescreen and Audition Requirements. Prescreen Video due by December 1.
Please be prepared to play two of the four songs listed below. For the pre-screen video the student may choose the two selections, but for the live audition the faculty will choose the two selections. Be prepared to play the melody one time in and once out, walk for three choruses and improvise for two. The ballad will be the exception to this. For the ballad, the head in, improvise to the bridge and then out.
•Oleo- Bb. Quarter note: 240.
• “I let a song go out of my heart’ in E flat by Duke Ellington. Quarter note: 110.
• Billies Bounce-F. Quarter note: 140.
• Polkadots and moonbeams in F. Ballad tempo. Quarter note: 60.
Recorded Interview Questions (only applicable to those who select a recorded submission to audition)
Please upload a video that is no longer than 2-3 minutes and responds to the below questions:
- What is your musical background?
- Why are you applying to DePaul?