MUSIC AUDITIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Audition Requirements

B.A. in Music Applicants
B.M. in Music Education Applicants
B.M. in Performance Applicants 
(See next section below for Music Therapy and Composition)

Voice Applicants

Voice applicants in B.A. Music and B.M. Music Education should prepare three pieces of contrasting style. We encourage selections from the standard classical vocal literature, however other styles are acceptable as well. 

Voice applicants in B.M. Performance should audition with at least two of their three selections being from the standard classical literature. One of those two selections should be in a foreign language The third selection may be the applicant’s choice. 

Music for Accompanist: Voice applicants must forward files of their music to dangelomusic@mercyhurst.edu at least one week in advance for the accompanist.

Virtual auditions: If submitting a virtual audition with video links, vocalists may choose either to record with a live accompanist or with a pre-recorded track. Please send your videos by April 1 for full scholarship consideration.

Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, and Guitar Applicants

Strings, woodwinds, and brass applicants should prepare two contrasting pieces. Guitar applicants must audition on acoustic guitar with two contrasting pieces. 

Virtual auditions: if submitting a virtual audition, send video links to dangelomusic@mercyhurst.edu. Please send your videos by April 1 for full scholarship consideration.

Percussion Applicants

Percussion applicants are required to audition with one piece on snare drum and one piece on mallet percussion. Timpani is encouraged, but not required. 

Virtual auditions: if submitting a virtual audition, send video links to dangelomusic@mercyhurst.edu. Please send your videos by April 1 for full scholarship consideration.

Piano Applicants

Piano applicants for B.M. in Music Education or B.A. in Music degrees will perform two solo works in contrasting styles, with at least one of these being memorized. They can be chosen from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, or 20th/21st Century periods.

Piano applicants for the B.M. in Performance degree will perform three memorized solos in contrasting styles. They can be chosen from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, or 20th/21st Century periods.

Virtual auditions: if submitting a virtual audition, send video links to dangelomusic@mercyhurst.edu. Please send your videos by April 1 for full scholarship consideration.

B.M. in Music Therapy

Voice Applicants

Voice applicants in Music Therapy will be expected to audition with two pieces of their choice.

Music for Accompanist: Voice applicants must forward files of their music to dangelomusic@mercyhurst.edu at least one week in advance for the accompanist.

Virtual auditions: If submitting a virtual audition with video links, vocalists may choose either to record with a live accompanist or with a pre-recorded track. Please send your videos by April 1 for full scholarship consideration.

Additionally, in a separate session on the day of your audition (or virtually if choosing the virtual option), Vocal applicants in Music Therapy will:

• Sing two pieces from popular music (1940s-current, any genre) while accompanying yourself on either guitar or piano
• Interview with the director of the Music Therapy program 
• Submit an essay regarding your personal philosophy of music, as applied to a therapeutic setting. Please include any areas of Music Therapy or specific patient populations you may be interested in working with while enrolled in our Music Therapy degree, and why. You may submit a hard copy or send it via email to dangelomusic@mercyhurst.edu.

Instrumental Applicants

Instrumental applicants in Music Therapy should perform two pieces of contrasting style on your primary instrument.

Virtual auditions: if submitting a virtual audition, send video links to dangelomusic@mercyhurst.edu. Please send your videos by April 1 for full scholarship consideration.

Additionally, in a separate session on the day of your audition (or virtually if choosing the virtual option), Instrumental applicants in Music Therapy will:

• Sing two pieces from popular music (1940s-current, any genre) while accompanying yourself on either guitar or piano
• Interview with the director of the Music Therapy program 
• Submit an essay regarding your personal philosophy of music, as applied to a therapeutic setting. Please include any areas of Music Therapy or specific patient populations you may be interested in working with while enrolled in our Music Therapy degree, and why. You may submit a hard copy or send it via email to dangelomusic@mercyhurst.edu.

B.M. in Composition

B.M. in Composition applicants will be required to show evidence of a strong creative ability, demonstrated through completed works. Applicants should bring scores, and, if possible, recordings of at least two recent compositions to their audition.

Virtual auditions: Applicants may submit .mp3 files of live recordings or software graphics scores and .pdf files of scores, to dangelomusic@mercyhurst.edu, preferably by April 1 for full scholarship consideration.

.mp3 files may also be submitted prior to an audition, provided the applicant brings hard copies of scores to the audition, and either a CD recording or .mp3s ready to play on the applicant's computer or other device. Contrast in style and media is preferred. Electronic works and pieces that by their nature cannot be represented through standard notation may be submitted in recorded form, without accompanying scores. All applicants should possess a well-developed ear and should have an intermediate technique on at least one instrument.

Additional Audition Information

A Theory Placement Test will be administered on the day of your audition. It has no bearing on your acceptance, but it allows us to best meet the needs of the incoming class. 

Most communication about your Audition Day and application is via email; please be certain to check yours regularly for specifics regarding your audition, audition time slots, special arrangements, and other critical information.

Scholarships

Merit-based scholarships are awarded at the discretion of the faculty and the Chair of the Department of Music through the audition process. Any prospective student is eligible to compete for scholarship assistance, regardless of financial status. Students wishing to apply for financial assistance must submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid and include Mercyhurst (school code 003297) on their FAFSA.