Concert Band Auditions

How to Audition

Step 1: Sign Up for Your Audition

1. Register to audition by completing the online TWU Bands Audition Form.
2. Please fill out ALL required information.
3. * Note the Audition Schedule Below. NEW THIS YEAR - You are not signing up for a specific time. Each section/studio has a scheduled time block.
4. If you are unable to audition in your section/studio scheduled time block (listed below), please notify Dr. Biggers via e-mail (sbiggers@twu.edu) no later that Monday, August 18 at noon.
5. SECONDARY INSTRUMENT AUDITIONS:
   • All secondary instrument placements (e.g. piccolo, Eb clarinet, etc.) will be made by directors in consultation with studio professors.
6. For SAXES…all saxes must audition on an alto sax. Assignment to other voices in the sax family will be made by the director in consultation with the studio professor.
7. ORCHESTRA AUDITIONS:
   • For those students interested in auditioning for placement in the full orchestra, your band audition will serve as your first round.
   • When you check in for your band audition, please notify the monitor of your intent to also audition for orchestra.
   • Second round call-backs will be announced along with band placement notifications.

Audition Schedule

Thursday, August 21, 2025

9:30 am - 11:30 am - Percussion
12:00 pm - 2:30 pm - Tenor/Bass Trombone
3:00 pm - 5:30 pm - Tuba/Euphonium
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Horn/Trumpet

Friday, August 22, 2025

9:00 am - 11:00 am - Saxophone
11:30 am - 3:30 pm - Clarinet/Bass Clarinet
4:00 pm - 6:30 pm - Flute

Saturday, August 23, 2025

9:00 am - 11:30 am - Oboe/Bassoon
12:00 pm -1:00 pm - String Bass 

Step 2: Prepare for Your Audition

1. Please prepare all scales and required excerpts for your instrument.
2. A faculty panel will be hearing your audition, and they won't be able to see you.
3. You will also be asked to perform 2 major scales and your chromatic, as determined by the audition panel, and there will also be a short sight-reading excerpt. You will have one minute to peruse the sightreading before performing the excerpt.
4. Due to time constraints, the audition panel may stop you at any point in the audition, once they feel they have heard enough to make an appropriate assessment. Please do not be offended. This simply streamlines the process.
5. Auditions will be held August 21-23 in the Fine Arts Annex. For those new to TWU or unfamiliar with this location, directions will be posted in the main lobby of the music building (Margo Jones Performance Hall).
6. Please check in at the Fine Arts Annex no later than 15 minutes prior to the start of your section/studio scheduled time block.
7. Upon check-in you will receive an audition letter and number, as well as any further cuts to the audition and specific scales to perform in your audition.
8. Further instructions will be provided on site.

Audition Excerpts

All audition excerpts for each instrument are available in pdf format below. Music will be provided at the audition, or you may bring your own copy.

PRIMARY INSTRUMENTS

• Flute

• Oboe

• Bassoon

• B-Flat Clarinet 

• Bass Clarinet
  • Bass Clarinet ERRATA: "When Jesus Wept" - m. 39 - The whole note A-flat on beat 1 should be played as a dotted-half A-flat.

• Saxophone
  • Saxophone ERRATA: "Symphony in B-flat, mvt. II (2nd excerpt)" - m. 119 to the end should be played in 12/8 time. Additionally, you are not required to play the tenor sax cues in mm. 112-116.

• Trumpet

• Horn

• Tenor Trombone

• Bass Trombone

• Euphonium

• Tuba

• Percussion

• String Bass