All undergraduate applicants to the School of Music, unless applying for Sound Recording Technology (audio technology/non-performance track) or Performing Arts Management (BS), are required to audition.
Although the auditions are competitive and extremely important, you'll
find the setting relaxed and the audition itself an interesting and
rewarding experience.
Please note that if you are pursuing the non-performance track for Sound Recording Technology, you only need to submit a video audition, not a live audition.
Vocalists, violinists, clarinetists and all jazz instrumentalists must submit a pre-audition screening video (under "Portfolio Submission"), by the deadline of January 6. Each piece for the pre-screening should be recorded in a single take and uploaded as an individual track. Recordings of individual tracks edited together from multiple takes are not acceptable. All videos received after the January 6 deadline will only be considered based on the availability of audition times. Audio files will not be accepted.
All other instrumentalists who are not required to submit a pre-screening will be able to schedule a live audition or submit their non-performance track Sound Recording Technology video audition after submitting an application to DePaul.
All classical woodwind auditions should be performed on the principal
instrument of each woodwind family: flute, oboe, Bb/A clarinet, bassoon,
and alto saxophone.
All instrumental auditions are unaccompanied. Voice auditions are
accompanied. For on-campus auditions, DePaul will provide an accompanist unless the student
notifies us they will bring their own.
Instrumentalists playing saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, string
bass, guitar, vibraphone or drum set may choose to perform a classical
or jazz audition. Students who wish to have both classical and jazz private instruction should schedule both a classical and
jazz audition. Please see your instrumental category for
audition requirements.
Private jazz studio instruction and auditions are not
available for the following instruments: Cello, Electric
Bass, Euphonium, French Horn, Harp, Organ and Electronic Keyboards,
Percussion (other than drum set and vibraphone), Tuba, Viola, Violin, or Woodwinds other than Saxophone.