Audition Requirements

All new and returning instrumentalists interested in participating in the University Symphony Orchestra, University Chamber Orchestra, University Wind Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble are required to audition in order to be considered for membership. Returning musicians, and others who arrive to campus early are urged to sign up for an appointment as early in the audition period as possible.

Audition Requirements

Instrumental Ensemble Auditions will last approximately 12 minutes each.
Prepare 6 to 7 minutes of music to play at the audition. Contrasting excerpts from the solo or orchestral literature are best: something fast and flashy, plus something slow and lyrical. Select repertoire that demonstrates your technical ability and your musical skills, and that shows the strengths of your playing. Do not choose music that is too difficult for you, or that you have not  thoroughly prepared.
Memorization of audition excerpts is not necessary.
You will also be asked to sight-read passages from standard orchestral repertoire, and to demonstrate facility with transposition, if relevant to your instrument. We have provided some strategies for successful sight-reading to help with your audition.
All instrumental auditions take place in the Logan Center for the Arts 703. Percussion auditions take place in the Logan Center for the Arts 901.

Percussion Auditions

For percussion auditions, students may choose to audition on any or all of the following instruments: timpani, snare drum, marimba / xylophone. Other percussion instruments are available by advance request. Students should prepare two or more contrasting excerpts for the auditions, and should bring an extra photocopy of their musical selections as well as their own sticks and mallets (if available) to the auditions. Please note that there is one set of percussion auditions for students interested in any or all of the following performance opportunities: University Symphony Orchestra, University Wind Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble.

Results and First Rehearsal

All musicians accepted for ensemble membership are expected to attend the organization’s first rehearsal, as specified in email acceptance notices and in the ensemble descriptions on the Department website.

Tips for In-Person Auditions

Arrive early in order to be on time for your appointment. Each director has a very large number of auditions to hear, and needs to keep on schedule.
Warm up thoroughly before the audition. Practice rooms on the lower level of the Logan Center for the Arts (915 E. 60th Street) will be available for this purpose during the entire audition period.
Remember that the goal of these auditions is to involve you in our Department of Music Performance Program, and to foster your musical growth while you are at the University of Chicago. There is no reason to be nervous about your audition! Come to the audition well-prepared, confident, and ready to demonstrate your musical strengths to the directors who are listening.

Choral auditions will be held live and via pre-recorded video, depending on the ensemble. Returning or new applicants who select Motet or Rockefeller Chapel Choir as their first preference for ensemble will be required to perform a live audition. Applicants returning to Women’s Ensemble or University Chorus will not be required to submit a video audition or perform a live audition. New applicants who select Women’s Ensemble or University Chorus as their first preference for ensemble will be required to submit a video audition.

Pre-recorded Video Audition Requirements

Be sure to furnish all information required on the  audition form.
At the beginning of your video, clearly state your name, your voice part, and your preferred  ensemble(s).
Your audition video must include the following components, with the first  two  items in a single continuous video:
- A vocalization track
  - Play the vocalization prompt (softly) in the background, and sing along in full voice, OR:
  - Listen to the vocalization prompt on headphones, and sing along, recording only your own voice.
- A sing-through of the furnished excerpt
  - A recording of background chords is also available, and you may choose to sing along with the background chords if you wish (though it is not required). If you are singing along to the chords, please use headphones so the recording showcases JUST your voice.
- (Optional) A  short recording of some prepared song or vocal excerpt, which can be uploaded in a  separate video. Please state the name and composer of the excerpt before you begin.
Your audition video should be no more than 6 minutes in combined duration and should be ONE audition video. You may splice videos together or do it all in one take. Upload as directed on the registration form.

Live Audition Requirements

Auditions will last approximately 7 minutes for returning singers and 10 minutes for new singers.
The audition itself will consist of the following:
1. Vocalization to determine voice range and to evaluate pitch accuracy and vowel purity.
2. Pitch memory exercises and brief sight-reading of one or two melodic phrases.
Experienced singers with previous vocal training may prepare a short solo excerpt, but this is not required.

Results & First Rehearsal

Rosters for all ensembles, including recalls for Motet Choir, will be emailed to auditionees.
Attendance at the first rehearsal of each ensemble, as announced on the posted rosters, is mandatory.
Be sure to check ALL of the acceptance lists carefully, as you may not be placed in your first-choice ensemble.

Tips for Video Submissions

Ensemble directors aren't looking for a professional quality recording or a pristine performance. They just want to get to know you and hear how you sing, so choose audition repertoire that will allow you to put your best foot forward. 
For tips on recording an audition video, see our basic recording guide here.

All  new and returning  musicians  who are interested in participating in the  Jazz Ensemble  must audition. Jazz auditions will be held in person.

Below are the requirements for the University of Chicago Jazz Ensemble auditions to be held in the Logan Center. Please read carefully everything below!

Jazz Audition Requirements

Jazz Ensemble Auditions will last approximately 10 minutes for each applicant.
At the beginning of the audition, the Director will ask you who is one of your favorite jazz improvisers. Please identify the musician and be prepared to briefly discuss why you admire that artist’s music.
Choose one of the following jazz standards for your audition in the key indicated (if needed, vocalists may perform in a different key that better fits your range). Prepare to perform the chosen song at a medium swing tempo (between mm. 100-140).
-“Out of Nowhere” (by Johnny Green and Edward Hayman), in the concert key of G
-“All The Things You Are” (by Jerome Kern), in the concert key of Ab
-“Take The A Train” (by Billy Strayhorn), in the concert key of C
Choose one of the following 12-bar blues compositions for your audition in the key indicated (if needed, vocalists may perform in a different key that better fits your range). The applicant will choose the tempo.
-“Billie’s Bounce” by Charlie Parker in the concert key of F
-“Straight, No Chaser” by Thelonious Monk in the concert key of Bb
-“Now’s the Time” by Charlie Parker in the concert key of F
All auditioning musicians prepare the following with your selected jazz standard and 12-bar blues (it is preferred that you commit your tune selections to memory, however you may bring a lead sheet to the audition):
-Play the melody, improvise up to two choruses of the standard, and up to four choruses of the 12-bar blues, and then play the melody again. 
-Identify the following theoretical components that relate to the tune’s structure: name the pitches of the chord structures (e.g., Major 7, minor 7, dominant 7, minor 7 b5, and diminished 7) and identify scale/chord relationships (e.g., C major scale for Cmaj7).
Pianists and guitarists: Be prepared to accompany the Director’s solo by playing the chords of the song in tempo.
Bassists: prepare to walk bass lines in tempo as accompaniment to the Director’s solo.
Drummers: prepare to sing the melody. Also, be prepared to accompany the Director’s solo and trade eights with the Director.
Vocalists: Prepare the lyrics for your selections. If your selection does not contain lyrics (e.g., Charlie Parker’s “Billie’s Bounce”), please scat the melody. If you have experience with scat improvisation, the Director will ask you to improvise. You may use a lyric sheet during your audition.

Results & First Rehearsal

Rosters for the ensemble will be emailed to the accepted auditionees on the morning of Wednesday, September 30. These rosters will be the official rosters for the entire 2026–27 academic year.
Accepted students will be placed in either the 5:30 PM–7:00 PM ensemble or the 7:30 PM–9:00 PM ensemble. If there is a conflict for either of these times, please let the Director know as soon as you have been accepted and placed.
All accepted musicians are required to attend the organization’s first rehearsal on Wednesday, September 30 in Logan Center 901.

Tips for In-Person Auditions (please read carefully)

Please arrive early! Each director has a very large number of auditions to hear and needs to keep on schedule.
Guitarists and bassists: there will be an amp with a cable at the audition. Please arrive to your audition with your instrument out of its case and tuned, ready to play.
Pianists: there will be a piano for you.
Drummers: There will be a drum kit with cymbals for you to use. You are required to bring sticks and brushes.
All auditionees should warm up thoroughly before the audition. Practice rooms on the lower level of the Logan Center for the Arts (915 E. 60th Street) will be available for this purpose on the audition day. 
The goal of these auditions is to involve you in our Department of Music Performance Program, and to foster your musical growth while you are at the University of Chicago. The audition is not about playing perfectly, but honestly demonstrating your present capacity (i.e., strengths and limitations) as a musician and improviser so that the Director may develop a program for everyone’s improvement, growth, and enjoyment.

Thank you for your interest in the Middle East Music Ensemble for the 2026-2027 concert season!

All new instrumentalists and vocalists will be required to audition in person with Wanees Zarour, the director of the Middle East Music Ensemble. However, the director may waive the audition requirement if he is sufficiently familiar with your work.

Returning members need to fill out the registration form to confirm participation in the Ensemble but will not need to audition. The director may request a check-in to be scheduled for some of the returning members, no preparation needed.

Auditions/check-ins will be held on Thursday, October 1 from 5:00–9:00 PM at the Logan Center for the Arts, 915 East 60th St., Room 803. New members, please prepare two contrasting pieces or movements in the Western Classical, Jazz or Middle Eastern genres. Confirmed.

MEME Audition Requirements

MEME auditions will last approximately 7 minutes for each applicant.
Instrumentalists are asked to prepare two contrasting pieces or movements in either the Classical or Middle Eastern genres.

Results & First Rehearsal

Rosters for the ensemble will be emailed to auditionees.
All musicians accepted for membership are expected to attend the organization’s first rehearsal as announced on the posted list

Tips for in-person auditions

Please arrive early! Each director has a very large number of auditions to hear and needs to keep on schedule.
All auditionees should warm up thoroughly before the audition. Practice rooms on the lower level of the Logan Center for the Arts (915 E. 60th Street) will be available for this purpose on the audition day.
Remember that the goal of these auditions is to involve you in our Department of Music Performance Program and to foster your musical growth while you are at the University of Chicago. The audition is not about playing perfectly, but honestly demonstrating your present capacity (strengths and limitations) as a musician and improviser so that the Director may develop a program for everyone’s improvement, growth, and enjoyment.

All new musicians interested in participating in the Chamber Music Program, as well as returning musicians who do not have an established chamber group, must play a short audition for placement in an appropriate ensemble. Returning musicians who have an established chamber group must confirm their interest in participating in the Chamber Music Program by registering through the online form. All members of the established group must register.

Any student who can't make it on the audition date or is unsure whether they need to audition should email the director of the Chamber Music Program, Heather Wittels (hwittels@uchicago.edu) to set up an alternative.