INDOOR ENSEMBLE AUDITIONS

For current and returning Purdue Bands & Orchestras Students

Openings in all Concert Bands and Orchestras for Piccolo, Flute, all Clarinets, all Double Reeds, all Saxophones, Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, and Percussion.

Audition Dates

  • Current Students:  Week of October 21, 2024
  • Purdue University Co-Op Program/Internship: Reach out directly to the faculty member hearing your audition. For full consideration for ALL ensembles, auditions must be received by October 30. 

Sign up for an Audition

  • Members of the faculty will hold in-person auditions and place instrumentalists into appropriate ensembles.
  • If you are currently enrolled in Purdue Bands & Orchestras, audition assignments will be communicated in rehearsal.
  • If you are not currently enrolled in Purdue Bands & Orchestras, please reach out to the appropriate director below to schedule an audition.

Audition Etudes & Requirements

ALL STUDENTS

  • Students will play alone, without accompaniment.
  • If you do not have access to the instruments needed to perform your audition, please contact audition Caitlin for alternative audition instructions.

WOODWIND/BRASS

  • Students should prepare two of the three etudes.
  • Students interested in Wind Ensemble or Philharmonic Orchestra Winds must play Etude 2 and 3.
  • Please prepare the two scales specified on your audition sheet.

PERCUSSION

  • Please prepare the snare and mallet requirements and etudes specified on the audition sheet.
  • Students interested in Wind Ensemble or Philharmonic Orchestra should play the timpani audition, in addition to snare and mallet.
  • Percussionists should follow all instructions on the top of the audition sheet with regards to rudiments and scales.

Enroll in a Band or Orchestra class

  • Ensemble lists will be emailed this fall.  Place your Band or Orchestra course near the top of your batch registration preferences, if possible, to help avoid conflicts.

Openings for Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass.

Audition Dates

  • Current Students:  Week of September 30th, Week of October 7th, & Week of October 14th
  • Purdue University Co-Op Program/Internship:  Send a recorded audition to Professor Bodony as soon as possible. Students who wish to be considered for the Purdue Philharmonic Orchestra, must contact Professor Bodony immediately.

Sign up for an Audition

  • Members of faculty will hold in-person auditions and place instrumentalists into appropriate ensembles. Professor Bodony will coordinate auditions and sign-up times.

Audition Requirements

  • One prepared solo or etude (2-3 minutes in length.)
  • Students will play alone, without accompaniment.
  • Please prepare two scales of your choosing (ascending and descending in three octaves.)
  • For Philharmonic consideration choose two from the following:
    • Violin – A, C, E-flat major
    • Viola/Cello – D, F, A major
    • Bass – E, F, G major
  • If you do not have access to the instruments needed to perform your audition, please contact Caitlin for alternative audition instructions.

Enroll in an Orchestra class

  • Ensemble lists will be emailed this fall.  Place your Orchestra course near the top of your batch registration preferences, if possible, to help avoid conflicts.

Audition Dates

Current Students: October 21-22, 2024 in Hagle B09. 

  • If you are currently enrolled in a Purdue Bands & Orchestras jazz band, you will audition during your regularly scheduled rehearsal time.
  • If you are not currently enrolled in a Purdue Bands & Orchestras jazz band, you can fill in an available slot outside of rehearsal times.

Sign Up for an Audition

Audition Intake Form: Fill Out to Audition

Audition Time Sign-Up: Please sign up during your current rehearsal, or if not currently enrolled, sign up during a time when a rehearsal is not meeting.

Audition Requirements

Please prepare the appropriate etude including additional requirements found below:

Saxophones:

  • All students should play from the pick-up to mm13 and play to the end. The backing track starts at the beginning, so come in at pick-up to mm13.
  • Students auditioning for Purdue Jazz Band or AMRE should improvise with the chord changes over the 2nd full chorus of the backing track.
  • Students not auditioning for Purdue Jazz Band or AMRE should improvise 2 choruses over the Bb Concert Shuffle Blues w/backing track.
  • All students should play a 2-octave chromatic scale.

Trumpets:

  • All students should play from the pick-up to mm13 and play to end. The backing track starts at the beginning, so come in at pick-up to mm13.
  • Students auditioning for Purdue Jazz Band or AMRE should improvise with the chord changes over the 2nd full chorus of the backing track.
  • Students not auditioning for Purdue Jazz Band or AMRE should improvise 2 choruses over the Bb Concert Shuffle Blues w/backing track.
  • Students auditioning for lead trumpet should play the first 8 measures an octave up from what is written, and then play the rest of the etude from mm13 the same as section trumpets.
  • All students shouldplay a 2-octave chromatic scale.

Trombones & Bass Trombones:

  • All students should play from the pick-up to mm13 and play to the end. The backing track starts at the beginning, so come in at pick-up to mm13.
  • Students auditioning for Purdue Jazz Band or AMRE should improvise with the chord changes over the 2nd full chorus of the backing track.
  • Students not auditioning for Purdue Jazz Band or AMRE should improvise 2 choruses over the Bb Concert Shuffle Blues w/backing track.
  • All students shouldplay a 2-octave chromatic scale.

Guitar/Vibraphone:

  • Comp for the first 12 measures of the etude.
  • All students should play the written music from the pick-up to mm13 and play to the end.
  • Students auditioning for Purdue Jazz Band or AMRE should improvise with the chord changes over the 2nd full chorus of the backing track.
  • Students not auditioning for Purdue Jazz Band or AMRE should improvise 2 choruses over the Bb Concert Shuffle Blues w/backing track.
  • All students shouldplay a 2-octave chromatic scale.

Piano:

  • Comp for the first 12 measures of the etude.
  • All students should play from the pick-up to mm13 and play to the end.
  • Students auditioning for Purdue Jazz Band or AMRE should improvise with the chord changes over the 2nd full chorus of the backing track.
  • Students not auditioning for Purdue Jazz Band or AMRE should improvise 2 choruses over the Bb Concert Shuffle Blues w/backing track.
  • All students shouldplay a 2-octave chromatic scale with both hands.
  • In addition, please prepare a piece (no longer than 1 minute) that you feel best exemplifies your jazz piano skills.

Bass:

  • All students should play Etude #1 in its entirety with the backing track.
  • All students should play Etude #2 in its entirety with a metronome.
  • Students auditioning for Purdue Jazz Band or AMRE should improvise with the chord changes over the 2nd full chorus of the backing track.
  • Students not auditioning for Purdue Jazz Band or AMRE should improvise 1 chorus over the Bb Concert Shuffle Blues.
  • All students shouldplay a 2-octave chromatic scale.

Drums:

  • All students should play the etude in its entirety with the backing track w/o drums.
  • Students auditioning for Purdue Jazz Band or AMRE should improvise over the 2nd full chorus of the backing track.
  • Students not auditioning for Purdue Jazz Band or AMRE should improvise 2 choruses over the Bb Concert Shuffle Blues w/backing track.

Vocalists:

  • All students should prepare 2 contrasting (tempo and style) pieces that you feel best exemplify your jazz capabilities.
  • All students should prepare to sing with a “karaoke track” or “play-a-long” from YouTube or from Prof. Harris.
  • All students should sing a 2-octave chromatic scale.

Enroll in a Jazz Band class

  • Ensemble lists will be emailed this fall.  Place your Band course near the top of your batch registration preferences, if possible, to help avoid conflicts.