On-campus audition days allow students to audition live for Department of Music faculty, sit in on classes with current students and faculty, and experience Drake's campus. 

Please register by the Friday prior to your preferred audition event.

• February 5, 2027
• February 12, 2027

You can select your preferred date while completing the Music Audition Registration Form.

Students who are unable to attend one of the scheduled On-Campus Audition Days above may submit recorded audition materials through the Acceptd platform. If you are considering this option, please keep in mind:

• You will still need to follow the steps outlined above above on how to audition before making an account on the Acceptd platform.
• The Acceptd platform is typically opened for recorded submissions in late September.
• Use of the Acceptd platform will incur a $35 application fee.

Acceptd Platform

Need help? If you need technical support while using the Acceptd platform, please visit this page.

Students who are unable to attend one of the scheduled On-Campus Audition Days and prefer an in-person audition rather than submitting a recording may arrange an individual audition with the Department of Music.

Whether you are applying after the priority deadline, have a scheduling conflict, or are considering transferring to Drake University, we encourage you to contact us for assistance in arranging your audition.

Contact the Music Department

Audition Guidelines

All prospective students desiring to audition on wind or brass instruments are required to perform two selections that contrast in style.

Please prepare about 5-8 minutes of music. We typically ask for two contrasting works that best showcase your abilities. This could be contrasting études that you have played for an All-State competition or movements of a work that you have performed at a state solo/ensemble contest. For specific recommendations, please contact your prospective studio teacher in your area.  

All prospective students desiring to audition on piano or keyboard should demonstrate the ability to perform works of at least comparable difficulty to those listed below. The quality of performance is the principal factor in determining whether a student qualifies for the program, rather than the technical difficulty of the piece; however, more difficult pieces than those listed below are welcome.

Audition Guidelines

It is recommended that students pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Performance in piano should include works selected from at least three of the four categories listed below.

Minors should choose two pieces, contrasting in style, from two of the four listed categories.

Non-major participants are not eligible for Fine Arts Scholarships, but are still welcome to audition for ensemble placement. Auditions will last approximately 10-15 minutes. Students may be asked to sight-read and play scales and arpeggios at the discretion of our faculty.

Memorization of audition materials is recommended.

• Baroque: Inventions, Sinfonias, easier Preludes and Fugues, or easier suites of Bach. 
• Classical: Easier Sonatas of Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven. 
• Romantic: Nocturnes, Waltzes, or Mazurkas of Chopin; Intermezzi of Brahms; character pieces of Schumann, Mendelssohn, etc. 
• Impressionistic and 20th-Century: Preludes of Debussy; Sonatinas of Bartok; various works of Ravel, Schönberg, Prokofieff, Shostakovitch, Dello Joio, etc. 

If you have other questions regarding piano/keyboard audition requirements, please direct them to:

Dr. Nicholas Roth

Phone: 515-271-2857
Email: nicholas.roth@drake.edu
Office: Fine Arts Center 327

Audition Guidelines

Percussionists are asked to prepare 5-8 minutes of music that demonstrates their performance abilities on snare drum, mallets (two or four mallets), and timpani. Students may choose to play all or portions of works/études on each instrument to accommodate this time frame.  

Audition Guidelines

Cello

• A movement of solo Bach.
• A movement of a classical or romantic work from the standard repertoire.
• An étude of your choice.

If you have other questions regarding cello audition requirements, please direct them to:

Ashley Sandor Sidon
Briggs Endowed Professor of Cello

Phone: 515-271-2887
Email: ashley.sidon@drake.edu
Office: Fine Arts Center 324

Guitar

• I-IV-V7-I chord progressions in major: C, D, E, F, G, A, as well as relative minor.
• Two octave scale and arpeggio from the Giuliani 120 daily.
• An étude such as Aguado, Carcassi, Sor, or Giuliani.
• A movement from a concerto or representative work of Tarrega. 

If you have other questions regarding string bass audition requirements, please direct them to:

David Crabbs
Teaching Artist, Music

Phone: 515-271-1824
Email: david.crabbs@drake.edu
Office: Fine Arts Center 242

String Bass

• Any two-octave scale and arpeggio in any bowing combination. 
• A movement of a classical or romantic work from the standard repertoire. 
• An étude of your choice. 

If you have other questions regarding string bass audition requirements, please direct them to:

Emily Airhart
Teaching Artist, String Bass

Phone: 515-271-1824
Email: emily.airhart@drake.edu
Office: Fine Arts Center 421

For String Instrument Music Minors & Non-Major Participants

• Two contrasting pieces (no orchestral excerpts or chamber music).

If you have other questions regarding strings audition requirements, please direct them to:

Héctor Agüero
Associate Professor, Orchestral Studies

Phone: 515-271-2244
Email: hector.aguero@drake.edu
Office: Fine Arts Center 402

Violin & Viola

• Two contrasting repertoire movements/selections, such as unaccompanied works, concertos, or concert pieces.
• One major scale and one melodic minor scale OR an étude of your choice.

If you have other questions regarding violin and viola audition requirements, please direct them to:

Rebecca Vieker
Teaching Artist, Violin & Viola

Phone: 515-271-1824
Email: rebecca.vieker@drake.edu

Audition Guidelines

Prospective majors should prepare two pieces in contrasting styles (one in English and one in another language). Prospective minors/non-majors should prepare one piece.

Previous students have prepared from the following suggestions:

• Italian songs from the 17th and 18th centuries (i.e., those found in the Twenty-four Italian Songs and Arias). 
• German lieder (i.e., Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Brahms). 
• Arts songs by American or British composers (i.e., 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, but audio/video recording will be accepted in the case that students cannot travel to Drake University. Please also bring a copy of your most updated résumé to your audition.

An accompanist will be provided unless students wish to bring their own pianist. If you would like to collaborate with the accompanist provided, please bring them your prepared sheet music that is three-hole punched and in a binder. The sheet music should be clearly marked, and it can be single or double-sided. Our pianist will not accept incorrectly prepared sheet music. 

As mentioned above, Fine Arts Scholarships are available to qualified students (regardless of their major) in all areas of voice.

Audition Guidelines

Fine Arts Scholarships for the Concentration in Jazz Studies are offered to rhythm section players: piano, guitar, bass, and drums.

Guidelines:

• Piano/guitar: record two jazz standards with a backing track or iReal Pro. Play the melody, comp one chorus, then improvise over one or more choruses.
• Bass: record two jazz standards with a backing track or iReal Pro. Play the melody, walk one chorus, then improvise over one or more choruses.
• Drums: demonstrate swing at a medium and fast tempo. Play bossa and samba grooves. Add anything else that demonstrates your jazz skill set.

For further information concerning the Concentration in Jazz Studies, please contact Prof. Andrew Classen (andrew.classen@drake.edu).

The Bachelor of Arts in Music program is specifically designed for students who wish to double-major in Music and another area of interest.

No. Fine Arts Scholarships are competitive and are not automatically awarded to all music students. Incoming first-year and transfer students participating in music programs are eligible for scholarship consideration and must complete an audition by February 19, 2027, to receive priority consideration.

Auditioning for the Department of Music serves as the application for Fine Arts Scholarship consideration. While students may continue to audition after the priority deadline for admission to the Department of Music, scholarship consideration is not guaranteed after February 19, 2027.

Please note that Fine Arts Scholarships may affect a student's overall financial aid package. Students who apply for Fine Arts Scholarships in more than one fine arts area (Art & Design, Music, or Theatre) may receive only one Fine Arts Scholarship. Recipients of a Fine Arts Scholarship are not eligible for the Drake Grant or Drake Supplemental Grant.

Students who are unable to attend one of the scheduled On-Campus Audition Days and prefer an in-person audition rather than submitting a recording may arrange an individual audition with the Department of Music.

Whether you are applying after the priority deadline, have a scheduling conflict, or are considering transferring to Drake University, we encourage you to contact us for assistance in arranging your audition.

Contact the Music Department