Audition Requirements for Voice Students

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Admission and Scholarships

In order to qualify both for admission to the Department of Music and for a music scholarship, all prospective students must audition by March 1 and should prepare two pieces in contrasting styles, one in English and the other in another language. You may want to choose from the following suggestions: :

Italian songs from the 17th and 18th centuries (such as those found in the Twenty-four Italian Songs and Arias)
German lieder (such as those of Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Brahms)
Arts songs by American or British composers (such as those of Copland, Barber, Ives, Quilter, Britten, etc.)
operatic/oratorio arias

Pieces selected for audition should be contrasting in style and performed from memory. We prefer a live audition, although an audio or video tape is acceptable. We encourage you to spend the entire day of your audition on campus and would be happy to provide you with the opportunity to observe a music class, take a lesson with one of the voice faculty (or observe a Drake student taking a lesson, if you prefer), and sit in on an ensemble rehearsal.

To schedule an audition, please register online at our Scholarship Audition Days page. We will provide an accompanist for you unless you wish to bring your own pianist.

Please note that the voice area offers scholarships only to students who major in music.

Singers may choose from among the following degree programs at Drake:

Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance
Bachelor of Music in Music Education
Bachelor of Music, with Elective Studies in Business
Bachelor of Arts in Music

For further information concerning the vocal/choral area, please contact: Dr. Aimee Beckmann-Collier, 1-800-44-DRAKE, extension 2841, or via e-mail at Aimee.Beckmann-Collier@Drake.edu

For further information about Drake University, please contact the Office of Admission, Drake University, 2507 University Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50311-4505, 1-800-44-DRAKE, extension 3181.