Voice Division - Undergraduate
Admission Requirements and Process
The undergraduate voice audition is about 15 minutes in length. Applicants for all vocal programs (Performance, Music Education, Music Therapy, Composition, and the Bachelor of Arts) are required to:
- Perform one art song in English from memory.
- Perform one art song in Italian, German, or French from memory.
- Demonstrate sight-reading proficiency on one short exercise.
- Complete a short interview with Q&A with the voice faculty.
- Provide their own accompanist or pay the Vocal Audition Fee.
Vocal Audition Fee
The voice faculty strongly feels that applicants give their best auditions when they perform with the pianists with whom they have prepared their audition repertoire. If bringing the applicant's pianist to the audition is not possible, the School of Music can arrange for a collaborative pianist for a nonrefundable fee of $10. If the applicant chooses this option, they should complete the payment process via the following link:
http://commerce.cashnet.com/ohiomusicad
This fee must be paid through this website; no payments can be accepted at the audition. In addition, applicants will need to send Pdfs of their audition repertoire to rentz@ohio.edu. Professor Rentz will pass the music along to the collaborative pianist. Applicants who do not pay this fee are responsible for providing their own pianists. Taped/CD accompaniments are not allowed for in-person auditions.
Choosing Your Vocal Repertoire
Appropriate solo vocal literature can be found in a number of publications and/or online resources.
Popular sheet music books include The First book of Solos series (Edited by Joan Frey Boytim), the Standard Vocal Literature series (Edited by Richard Walters), and the Twenty-Eight Italian Songs and Arias (Edited by Richard Walters). These books are available in a number of school music libraries or for purchase at a local music store or through an online retailer. Additionally, many vocal works are in the public domain and are available for free PDF download at www.imslp.org.
The voice faculty is eager to hear the applicant's ability to sing healthily and beautifully with great attention to style, diction, interpretation, and stage presence. Please do not bring difficult songs to the audition that are not suitable to your current vocal abilities.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
We provide several options for students seeking talent-based scholarships, as well as opportunities for first-year and transfer students seeking funding for specific programs. Explore these details on the Financial Aid and Scholarships page.
Have a Question?
If you have questions about the appropriateness of your audition repertoire, please contact Professor Debra Rentz at rentz@ohio.edu