Save the Date! March 3, 2024
Scholarship Auditions
Registration opens January 5, 2024
Through the generous financial support of our donors, the Conservatory annually awards merit scholarships to new and current students. These merit scholarships are meant to reward accomplishment, effort, and to encourage our talented students to further their skills. The Conservatory’s scholarship auditions provide a wonderful opportunity for students to have a professional assessment of their abilities within a positive and supportive environment.
Applications are due by 7:00pm on February 3, 2024. Auditions will take place on March 3, 2024.
NEW STUDENTS: AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
NEW STUDENTS: AUDITION REGISTRATION
CURRENT STUDENTS: AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
New Student Auditions
New student applicants can participate in the audition process on any instrument or voice offered at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. We encourage highly motivated students at any level of accomplishment to apply, including those at the early stages of their musical study.
Complete new student applications will include:
- Completed Scholarship Audition Application. Registration opens January 5, 2024.
- Brief Letter of Recommendation from a music teacher. Letters should be submitted to Teresa Drews, Director of Education at tdrews@wcmusic.org.
- Registration Fee | Payment is accepted upon submission of the online application.
Questions? Contact Student Services at 414-276-5760 or info@wcmusic.org.
Current Student Auditions
Current student applicants can participate in the audition process with their instructor’s consent. Students must speak with their WCM instructor to receive an online application once registration opens. Current student applicants can audition for more than one department if they are a student in multiple departments, but are asked to submit separate applications for each audition.
Complete current student applications will include:
- Completed Scholarship Audition Application. Registration opens January 5, 2024. Talk to your WCM instructor for guidance on how to apply.
- Registration Fee | Payment is accepted upon submission of the online application.
Questions? Contact your WCM instructor, or contact Student Services at 414-276-5760 or info@wcmusic.org.
Audition Requirements by Department
Entry Level | All students must enter and audition in the appropriate age category based on year in school at the time of the audition. Age categories are:
- Early Elementary – Grades 2 and under
- Late Elementary – Grades 3 – 5
- Middle School – Grades 6 – 8
- High School – Grades 9 – 11
- Adult – Grade 12 and Post High School
Audition Material | Students will be asked to prepare and perform two compositions from two of the three categories listed under the age level requirements. All repertoire and scales must be memorized (exception to this requirement is indicated in the adult category). All pieces must be at least 16 measures in length excluding repeats. No folk songs or arrangements may be used.
Evaluation | Auditions will be judged on the following elements of musical performance: precision, expression, tone, technique, presentation including memorization, and technical difficulty. All judges’ decisions are final.
Day of Audition | Students must provide judges with clean, published editions of their compositions with measures numbered. Judges reserve the right to stop students for the sake of time. Students should arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to their scheduled audition time and report to the audition site 10 minutes prior to their scheduled time. Only performers, adjudicators, and proctors may be present in the audition.
Entry Level | All students must enter and audition in the appropriate age category based on year in school at the time of the audition. Age categories are:
- Early Elementary – Grades 2 and under
- Late Elementary – Grades 3 – 5
- Middle School – Grades 6 – 8
- High School – Grades 9 – 11
- Adult – Grade 12 and Post High School
Audition Material | Students will perform two contrasting compositions representative of their current level of achievement, and the techniques outlined per the guidelines below. Scales and arpeggios must be memorized as well as the repertoire unless otherwise noted. If indicated in the level that the judge will choose from one of the following scales, you are to choose a scale from the scale options presented. Students who require a pre-recorded backing track must provide their own.
Evaluation | Auditions will be scored on the following elements of musical performance: precision, expression, tone, intonation, technique, interpretation, and technical difficulty. All judges’ decisions are final.
Day of Audition | At the beginning of your audition, first announce your name, then announce which scale(s) and arpeggios you are going to play per the level indicated below, then proceed to announce and perform your repertoire. Students must provide judges with a clean, published copy of their selections with measures numbered. Judges reserve the right to ask students to skip sections for the sake of time.
Entry Level | All students must enter and audition in the appropriate age category based on year in school at the time of the audition. Age categories are:
- Early Elementary – Grades 2 and under
- Late Elementary – Grades 3 – 5
- Middle School – Grades 6 – 8
- High School – Grades 9 – 11
- Adult – Grade 12 and Post High School
Audition Material | Students will be asked to perform two compositions from contrasting musical periods and/or styles (two contrasting movements from a single work are also acceptable). Students will be expected to perform two scales that judges select from the list in the student’s respective category. A collaborative pianist (accompanist) is REQUIRED. WCM will schedule each participant for a rehearsal time with the pianist. Students must provide WCM audition staff with the piano score upon registration of this event. Memorization of audition pieces and scales is strongly recommended, but not required.
Evaluation | Auditions will be judged on the following elements of musical performance: precision, expression, tone, intonation, technique, presentation, and technical difficulty. All judges’ decisions are final.
Day of Audition |Students must provide judges with a clean, published copy of their composition with measures numbered. Judges reserve the right to ask students to skip sections for the sake of time.
Entry Level | All students must enter and audition in the appropriate age category based on year in school at the time of the audition. Students may only enter in one category/style. Age categories are:
- Middle School – Grades 6 – 8
- High School – Grades 9 – 11
- Adult – Grade 12 and Post High School
Audition Material | Students will be expected to prepare all the requirements as listed in the appropriate audition category and level. The judges will determine which and how much of each selection the student will be asked to perform during the audition time. All audition repertoire must be memorized.
Evaluation | Auditions will be judged on the following elements of musical performance: precision, expression, tone, intonation, technique, presentation, interpretation, and technical difficulty. All judges’ decisions are final.
Day of Audition | Students must provide judges with clean, published editions of their compositions with measures numbered. Judges reserve the right to ask students to skip sections of selections for the sake of time. Students are asked to introduce themselves and the collaborative pianist at the beginning of the audition and the title and composer prior to performing each selection.
Entry Level | All students must enter and audition in the appropriate age category based on year in school at the time of the audition. Age categories are:
- Late Elementary – Grades 3 – 5
- Middle School – Grades 6 – 8
- High School – Grades 9 – 11
- Adult – Grade 12 and Post High School
Audition Material | Students will be expected to prepare all the requirements as listed in the appropriate audition category and level. Memorization is encouraged but not required.
Evaluation | Auditions will be scored on the following elements of musical performance: precision, expression, tone, intonation, technique, interpretation, and technical difficulty. All judges’ decisions are final.
Day of Audition | Students must provide judges with a clean, published copy of their composition with measures numbered. Judges reserve the right to ask students to skip sections of selections for the sake of time.
Entry Level | Auditions are open to current students in Jazz & Contemporary Music programs entering 5th -12th grades in Fall 2024. If you are interested in Jazz & Contemporary Music but are not currently enrolled in programming, you can register for a New Student Scholarship.
Audition Material | Students will be expected to prepare all the requirements as listed in the appropriate category. Time limit is 10 minutes.
Evaluation | Auditions will be judged on the following elements of musical performance: improvisation, accuracy, rhythm, time, technique, stylistic awareness, and harmonic skills. All judges’ decisions are final.
Day of Audition | Judges reserve the right to ask students to skip sections of selections for the sake of time. Live accompaniment will be provided.
Questions | Contact Jazz & Contemporary Music department chair Mitchell Shiner at mshiner@wcmusic.org.
Open To The Community By Audition
Advanced Chamber Music Institute
The Advanced Chamber Music Institute is an intensive program for high school musicians to rehearse and perform in small ensembles coached by musicians from the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Admittance into the program is by audition.
- Eligibility | Auditions are open to woodwind, brass, percussion, strings, and piano students currently in grades 8 – 11. New and current students are welcome to audition.
- Audition Material | Students are expected to prepare all the requirements as listed in the appropriate category.
- Evaluation | Auditions will be judged on the following elements of musical performance: precision, expression, tone, technique, interpretation, and technical difficulty. All judges’ decisions are final.
- Day of Audition | Students must provide judges with clean, published editions of their compositions with measures numbered. Judges reserve the right to ask students to skip sections of selections for the sake of time.
Auditions for the 2024-2025 school year will take place on March 3, 2024.