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School of Music

Music Major Auditions & Talent Scholarships

Renewable Talent Scholarships are awarded up to $40,000 per year and are based on your audition (uploaded or live) and academic background.  A limited number of $50,000-plus awards are available to musicians who demonstrate exceptional ability. You are automatically considered for our Talent Scholarships at the time of your audition (no additional forms to complete).  Learn more about financial aid at 91ÁÔÆæ.

On Campus Auditions

Audition Dates for the 2026-2027 Academic Year are:

November 14, 2026

January 16, 2027

February 27, 2027

You will select your audition date when you apply. Applications will be available in August!

Video Auditions

1. Apply to 91ÁÔÆæ. Once you have submitted your application for admission you will be given instructions for accessing your student status portal where you will have the ability to upload a video to your personal portfolio.  For those students applying via Common App, you will be sent an email once your application has been uploaded (usually within 24 hours of submission) that will contain instructions for logging on to your 91ÁÔÆæ student status portal.   

2. Upload your audition video. Log in to your  (this is where the checklist is located).  Clicking the edit portfolio link at the bottom of the page, will take you to instructions for uploading your audition video.  Don't worry if your video is sideways when you drop it in the upload section, it will appear in the proper orientation on our end. 

3. Once the admissions office has received the results of your audition, they will be able to process and award the recommended Talent Scholarship.

 

If you have questions or need help, please contact Laura Dolan at ldolan@iwu.edu

Music Major Audition Requirements

Unless otherwise specified, all audition materials are to be performed frommemory.Bachelor of Music (B.M.) Piano Performance Three contrasting piano works selected from the following style periods:Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Impresionistic/20th-Century All major and harmonic minor scales and arpeggios with up to foursharps and flats, hands together, four octaves, ascending anddescending.Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) At least two pieces in contrasting style selected from the Baroque,Classical, Romantic, and Impresionistic/20th-Century All major and harmonic minor scales and arpeggios with up to threesharps and flats, hands together, four octaves, ascending anddescending.Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) At least two pieces in contrasting style selected from the Baroque,Classical, Romantic, and Impresionistic/20th-Century. Only one of therepertoire pieces needs to be memorized All major and harmonic minor scales and arpeggios with up to twosharps and flats, hands together, four octaves, ascending anddescending.If you have any questions about the Piano Audition Requirements, pleasecontact Dr. Radoslavov at iradosla@iwu.edu.​

Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied.

String candidates should prepare at least one movement from a standard concerto or comparable composition (memorized), a movement from an unaccompanied Bach suite, and technical material (an etude or caprice).

Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied. 

String candidates should prepare at least one movement from a standard concerto or comparable composition (memorized), a movement from an unaccompanied Bach suite, and technical material (an etude or caprice).

Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied.

Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied.

Classical Guitar Requirements: Guitar candidates should prepare two pieces from different musical periods, e.g. Renaissance and Classical or Romantic and Modern. Candidates should feel free to reach out with any questions about their chosen audition material. 

Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied. 

 Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied

 Snare Drum:
  1. Advanced concert etude or solo of your choice.
  2. 3-5 contrasting orchestral excerpts.
  3. Optional rudimental solo.
Keyboard:
  1. 2 or 4-mallet marimba solo of your choice.
  2. Optional: 2-3 contrasting xylophone excerpts.
  3. Optional: vibraphone solo or etude of your choice.
Timpani:
  1. A solo or etude of your choice.
  2. Optional: 2-3 contrasting orchestral excerpts.
Drum-set:
This is not required but it is highly recommended that the applicant be able to demonstrate between 3-5 styles (swing with sticks/brushes; funk; afro-cuban, etc.) on drum-set.

Unless otherwise specified, all audition materials are to be performed from memory.


Bachelor of Music (B.M.) Piano Performance
- Three contrasting piano works selected from the following style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Impresionistic/20th-Century
- All major and harmonic minor scales and arpeggios with up to four sharps and flats, hands together, four octaves, ascending and descending.


Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.)
- At least two pieces in contrasting style selected from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Impresionistic/20th-Century
- All major and harmonic minor scales and arpeggios with up to three sharps and flats, hands together, four octaves, ascending and descending.


Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- At least two pieces in contrasting style selected from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Impresionistic/20th-Century. Only one of the
repertoire pieces needs to be memorized
- All major and harmonic minor scales and arpeggios with up to two sharps and flats, hands together, four octaves, ascending and descending.


If you have any questions about the Piano Audition Requirements, please contact Dr. Radoslavov at iradosla@iwu.edu.

Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied.

Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied.

Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied.

Prepare two selections of solo repertoire (contrasting styles and tempi). One selection may be an etude or study. Memorization is not required and auditions are heard unaccompanied.

String candidates should prepare at least one movement from a standard concerto or comparable composition (memorized), a movement from an unaccompanied Bach suite, and technical material (an etude or caprice).

String candidates should prepare at least one movement from a standard concerto or comparable composition (memorized), a movement from an unaccompanied Bach suite, and technical material (an etude or caprice).

Auditionees are asked to sing two art songs in contrasting styles and languages. Your pieces should be performed from memory. Choose repertoire that you sing well and shows your voice to its best advantage. Books such as Joan Boytim's First Book series or the 26 Italian Songs and Arias are good sources for undergraduate audition repertoire. 

 

For more information about music auditions and scholarships, contact Fine Arts 91ÁÔÆæ Coordinator Laura Dolan at ldolan@iwu.edu.

For more information on financial aid, contact the 91ÁÔÆæ Office.