Ensemble Auditions

MSU Winds & Percussion Spring 2026

Large Ensemble Virtual Audition Guidelines

All Spring 2026 winds and percussion large ensemble auditions will be recorded by the individual auditionees and virtually submitted. Please pay close attention to the audition and submission requirements:

• All auditions are to be recorded on an iPhone, Android cell phone, laptop, or tablet.
  • Do not use special microphone or other recording technology
• All etudes must be recorded in one take:
  • No splicing together audio from separate recordings
  • No editing of audio is allowed
• Audio files must be submitted as one of the following file types:
  • mp3
  • WAV
• Files should be titled as follows:
  • Lastname_Firstname_instrument
  • Ex. Sedatole_Kevin_trumpet

All audition recordings are due no later than Friday, November 21st
at 11:59 pm. Late auditions will not be accepted.

Submit all audio files to the QR Code/link below
(you must be logged in with you MSU email to submit):

Spring 2026 Winds and Percussion Auditions

or

Bass Trombone

Bassoon

Clarinet

Euphonium

Flute

Horn

Oboe

Percussion

Saxophone

Tenor Trombone

Trumpet

Tuba

Violin

Viola

Cello

Bass

All auditions (instrumentalists and vocalists) will be in person, “behind-the-screen,” and scheduled as follows:

Friday, August 22, 2025

09:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Medium Rehearsal Hall, Billman Music Pavilion (Saxophone)
01:30 p.m. – 03:30 p.m., Medium Rehearsal Hall, Billman Music Pavilion (Guitar)
03:30 p.m. – 05:00 p.m., Medium Rehearsal Hall, Billman Music Pavilion (Drums)

Saturday, August 23, 2025

09:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Murray Hall, Billman Music Pavilion (Trombone)
01:30 p.m. – 03:30 p.m., Murray Hall, Billman Music Pavilion (Vocal)
03:30 p.m. – 05:00 p.m., Murray Hall, Billman Music Pavilion (Trumpet)

Sunday, August 24, 2025

09:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Medium Rehearsal Hall, Billman Music Pavilion (Bass)
01:30 p.m. – 03:30 p.m., Medium Rehearsal Hall, Billman Music Pavilion (Piano)

• Sing melody once
• Improvise on second chorus over the form
• Sing melody from bridge out

• Sing one chorus of the melody
• Improvise one chorus
• Sing melody out

• Sing any selection you wish that displays your best musicianship
• You may use a backing track or perform unaccompanied

• All Saxophones, Trumpets, Trombones, Bass and Drums: play from measure 161 through the end of measure 230
• Piano and Guitar: play from measure 145 through the end of measure 230
• Perform unaccompanied
• Reference recording

• Alto Saxophone – Alto 1
• Alto Saxophone – Alto 2
• Tenor Saxophone 1
• Tenor Saxophone 2
• Baritone Saxophone
• 1st Trumpet (if auditioning for Lead Trumpet chair)
• 2nd Trumpet
• Trombone 1
• Trombone 2
• Bass Trombone
• Guitar
• Piano
• Bass
• Drums

You’ve found the choral ensemble page! There is a choir for you to sing in, regardless of your major. Please find information below for our auditioned and non-auditioned ensembles. If you sang in high school and need a choir family, here are pertinent details.

Unsure where to sing? We can help!

Guide me to the right choir!

Questions: email Dr. Sandra Snow, director of choral programs.

University Chorale (SATB)

Auditions for University Chorale are Thursday-Sunday, August 21-24 in Room 211, Music Practice Building. All returning students, new transfer students who are undergraduate vocal music majors, and new master’s students in vocal performance must audition in this timeframe. Other music majors with a large ensemble requirement must also do these auditions.

Go here to sign up for an audition time.

Please fill out this University Chorale information form prior to your audition.

In preparation for your audition, be prepared to vocalize and sightread. Please prepare this excerpt. As you prepare the excerpt, please demonstrate your best musicianship in addition to vocal accuracy.

MUS 127: MTWTh, 1:50-2:40 p.m.; Hollander Hall, Music Building; 32 members; highly selective; excellent vocalism and musicianship; graduates and upper-level undergraduates. Participation is expected both fall and spring terms unless student teaching or until large ensemble degree requirements are met. Historical and contemporary choral repertoire. Performances on and off campus each semester. Dr. Sandra Snow, conductor.

State Singers (SATB)

Auditions for State Singers are Thursday-Sunday, August 21-24 in Room 114, Music Building. Freshman vocal music majors and all non-music majors interested in an auditioned mixed ensemble must do this audition.

Go here to sign up for an audition time.

Please fill out this State Singers information form prior to your audition.

No prepared excerpt or solo is required for this audition. The audition will include vocalization, range-testing, pitch memory, and a short sight-reading example.

MUS 126: MTWTh, 12:40-1:30; Hollander Hall, Music Building; 50+ members; selective; primarily undergraduate music majors and non-majors. Historical and contemporary choral repertoire; two performances on-campus each semester. Dr. Derrick Fox, conductor.

Mosaic (SSAA)

Auditions for Mosaic will take place on the first day of class, Monday, August 25 from 4:00-5:30 in Hollander Hall, Music Building. Returning majors and non-majors must audition as well as new or transfer students.

Please fill out this Mosaic information form prior to your audition.

Returning non-majors/new students/transfers:
In preparation for your audition, please use this excerpt. Be prepared to demonstrate your ability to learn the song and demonstrate your singing voice. You will also be asked to vocalize and sight-read.

Rehearsals begin Wednesday, August 28, 4:10-5:30 p.m. in Hollander Hall, Music Building.

Singers in Mosaic who are vocal music majors MUST also sing in either Chorale or State Singers, as assigned. Vocal majors singing in Chorale or State Singers are not required to enroll in Mosaic for credit as a second ensemble.

MUS 125:003: Mosaic; MW, 4:10-5:30 p.m., Hollander Hall, Music Building; 24-32 members; selective. Choral repertoire for soprano/alto voices, with a focus on contemporary treble choral literature. On-campus performances each semester, possible off-campus performances. Dr. Meredith Bowen, conductor.

Choral Union (Community/Campus Symphonic Choir)

Do you love to sing?

Interested in singing with choirs and orchestra?

MSU has a wonderful opportunity for everyone in the community to join in song through the MSU Choral Union. Led by Dr. Sandra Snow, College of Music, the Choral Union welcomes interested new members to audition/interview in our new rehearsal location, University United Methodist Church, at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 3 or 10, 2025.

The church is located at 1120 S Harrison Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823, and rehearsal immediately follows auditions at 7:00 p.m.

Repertoire for Fall 2025 includes:

• Messiah, Handel, sung in new Spanish libretto
• Ramerez Navidad Nuestra, for orchestra and indigenous instruments of Argentine.
• Festival Lights, world premiere by Lee R. Kesselman, settings of Jewish festival prayers

Interested singers should be prepared to sing the first verse of America, the Beautiful. Find music for America, the Beautiful here.

We welcome all from our community to experience the joy and thrill of singing music in a large group setting! Contact Dr. Sandra Snow with questions or to arrange a different audition time.

Please complete this Choral Union information form prior to your audition.

Choral Union singers who are joining as community members (not current MSU students) should complete the information form above and register directly with the Community Music School using one of three options:

• Online: Choral Union Registration (select Adult Community Ensembles then the One Rehearsal Per Week category)
• Phone: 517-355-7661
• In-Person: CMS office, 4930 S. Hagadorn Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823

There is a discount for MSU faculty, staff and students so please ASK when you register.

MUS 124: Choral Union; W, 7:00-9:00 p.m.; University United Methodist Church; 100 members; mostly adults of the greater Lansing community and campus faculty/staff; brief audition/interview required. Major choral-orchestral works; one or two performances on-campus each semester; Dr. Sandra Snow, conductor.

No audition required! Vocal placements (what part you sing) will take place during the first class.

These ensembles are open to all students in any degree program. Rehearsals and performances of a broad range of choral repertoire each semester. Bring a friend!

Campus Choir (SATB)

MUS 123-001: T/Th 3:00-3:50 p.m., Large Rehearsal Room, Billman Music Pavilion. Michael Huey-Jones, conductor.

Viridis (SSAA)

MUS 125-001: T/TH 4:10-5:30 p.m., Eichler Hall, Billman Music Pavilion. Mariana Romero-Serra, conductor.

Singing Spartans (TTBB)

MUS 125-002: M/W 4:10-5:30 p.m., Eichler Hall, Billman Music Pavilion. Dr. Stuart Hill, conductor.