Music Scholarships and Audition Information
Scholarship support for your musical journey at Malone University
We welcome all incoming students with a passion for music to join our vibrant ensembles, regardless of their chosen major. Scholarships are available for participants in our ensembles after successfully completing an audition on one of our designated dates or arranged individually to fit your availability.
For those unable to audition in person, video auditions are also accepted. Detailed guidelines and requirements are provided below so that you can prepare.
Audition Information
All students who want to major in music are required to audition, whether you want to be considered for a music scholarship or not. Audition days are scheduled throughout the fall semester. However, if our dates don’t work for your schedule, you may request a different date or submit a video audition.
Additionally, all music and music education majors are required to take the Theory Placement Exam and the Keyboard Placement Exam before beginning classes. These exams can be scheduled the same day as you audition or scheduled at a later time. The theory placement exam can be emailed to students to complete and return.
If you have auditioned for scholarship consideration, a second audition will not be necessary for the music major. An additional audition may be necessary for placement, ensemble participation, or instrument change.
Preparing for Your Audition
The following is a list of repertoire that is considered appropriate for a college audition. Sight-reading will also be included.
Piano
- A composition from the baroque era (Bach, Scarlatti, etc.)
- One movement from a classical sonata or sonatina (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Clementi, Kuhlau)
- A composition from the romantic era (Brahms, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Schubert, Chopin) or a 20th Century composition (Debussy, Kabalevsky, Bartok, Gershwin, etc.)
- At least one of the above should be memorized
- Major and minor scales and chords
Organ
- A piano audition is required – follow the above guidelines for the piano audition
- An organ selection may be performed
Voice
For those desiring to major in music:
- A classical art song in a foreign language
- A 20th-century English art song or musical theater selection
For those majoring in other fields:
- One solo selection of the student’s choosing (possibilities include art song, musical theater, solo & ensemble piece, etc.)
Winds and Brass
- A solo selected from the OMEA contest list, or the equivalent
- One etude or technical study
- Major scales: Concert C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, and Db
- Chromatic scale: Lowest comfortable pitch to highest comfortable pitch, ascending and descending
Percussion
A solo on at least one of the following:
- snare drum
- timpani
- mallets
Strings
- A solo from the classical literature
- A solo of your choice
- Major and Minor scales and arpeggios
Video Audition Instructions
- Check out the audition requirements for your instrument above.
- Record on video yourself performing the repertoire outlined above. If you play an instrument that requires scales/arpeggios, please select two scales and arpeggios of your choice to record. Videos should be unedited and show you and your instrument. Please do not worry about playing or singing without an accompaniment if an accompanist is not available.
- Upload your video to a hosting service (e.g. YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) and copy the link to your video.
- Complete the Music Audition Registration Form. Be sure to include the link to your video, or you may choose to upload your video as part of the form.
Renewable Scholarships
Scholarships will be renewed annually, as long as you continue to participate in a major ensemble (University Chorale or Symphonic Band), take applied lessons, remain a full-time student in good standing at Malone, and demonstrate progress on the auditioned instrument. Half of each award will be credited to the student’s account each semester.