The Bob Cole Conservatory features 12 major performance ensembles and over 20 chamber ensembles. All students must audition for placement. The auditions are highly competitive; students are expected to practice all excerpts and other requested material to the best of their ability. For guidance preparing the audition, contact your area director.
Latest update: August 21, 2023.
Due to severe storms, Brass, Opera, and Strings auditions have been canceled or moved to a different date.
If you had an audition scheduled, please see your area below (Brass, Opera, or Strings) for instructions.
Please select your instrument area below for specific repertoire, registration and audition date selection requirements.
If you have additional questions about your audition, please contact the Area Director of your instrument directly using the email address provided.
Due to severe weather warnings in the area, Brass Auditions have been canceled.
If you signed up for an audition already, please check your email for further instructions from your area director.
All students enrolled for Fall 2023 MUST audition for ensemble placement.
Brass and Woodwind students have blind auditions, meaning the adjudicators will not know who is auditioning. Arrive 5 minutes before auditions for your instrument are scheduled to begin (see below). Audition order will be determined by a random drawing.
A Proctor will open and shut the door and turn pages if necessary.
Bring your audition material with you into the room. While in the room do not speak or you will be asked to leave and audition at a later time. You may whisper questions to the proctor.
Due to severe weather warnings in the area, Brass Auditions have been canceled.
If you signed up for an audition already, please check your email for further instructions from your area director.
Thank you for your interest in singing in one of the outstanding choirs of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music. All music majors enrolled in voice lessons for Fall 2023 MUST audition for ensemble placement. Non music majors are encouraged to audition for any ensemble (or sing with ConChord, which doesn’t require an audition).
Chamber Choir Call-backs: Friday, August 18, from 6:00pm-9:00pm
To audition for the Bob Cole Chamber Choir, please do the following:
An accompanist will be provided for your audition.
For more information regarding Chamber Choir auditions, please reach out to Dr. Jonathan Talberg at jonathan.talberg@csulb.edu
To audition for the University Choir, please do the following:
An accompanist will be provided for your audition.
For more information regarding University Choir auditions, please reach out to Dr. Jonathan Talberg at jonathan.talberg@csulb.edu
ConChord is open to all members of the University Community and meets on Tuesday nights. There is no audition requirement for ConChord.
If you have any questions, please direct them to the conductor, Tyler Berg, at tylerberg23@gmail.com
Auditions will happen on the first day of class, or by signing up the week before school.
For more information regarding Bel Canto, please reach out to Tyler Berg at tylerberg23@gmail.com
For more information about Cantus, please reach out to Malcolm McGee at malcolm.mcgee@icloud.com
You must do TWO things to sign up for your audition:
If you have any questions about rep or issues signing up, please contact your area director.
Jazz students audition the week before each Fall Semester and are placed in a Jazz Performance Ensemble based on the merit of their audition.
All incoming and returning jazz studies majors are required to audition. BCCM music majors and other CSULB students interested in performing with a big band or combo are invited to attend.
Individual placement auditions (1st & 2nd day)—These are the same as your entrance audition. We need hear you again since it may have been several months since your entrance audition.
Big Band Reading Session (evening of the 2nd day)—We read through big band charts, rotating players so as to hear everyone in an actual performance setting. After this reading session is done, saxophonists remain for a woodwind doubling reading session.
The audition results will be emailed to candidates the next morning. Rehearsals begin Wednesday, August 23.
Prepare a medium-tempo or up-tempo jazz standard/etude that demonstrates your jazz style. Something in a swing feel is preferred. Be prepared to perform the melody of the tune and, if auditioning for a soloist position, improvise to the chord changes. Bring your own accompaniment track. A sound system with a CD player and connecting cords for laptop computers, iPods, iPhones and similar devices is provided. As part of the audition process, you will sightread a short jazz etude or excerpt to evaluate rhythmic and note accuracy in a consistent time feel.
Saxophonists should be prepared to briefly demonstrate woodwind-doubling skills on a jazz or classical etude or excerpt. Alto saxophonists should be prepared to play soprano sax and flute. Tenor saxophonists should be prepared to play clarinet and flute. Baritone saxophonists should be prepared to play bass clarinet and flute.
Prepare a medium-tempo or up-tempo jazz standards/etudes. Be prepared to perform the melody of the tune, perform a chord melody (guitar only), "comp" the chord changes, and improvise over the changes. Bring your own accompaniment track. A sound system with a CD player and connecting cords for laptop computers, iPods, iPhones and similar devices is provided. As part of the audition process, you will sightread a short jazz etude or excerpt to evaluate rhythmic and note accuracy in a consistent time feel. Guitarists and vibraphonists will be asked to play the written melody line; Pianists will be asked to play the written melody while comping the chord changes in the left hand. A guitar amp is provided, but candidates are welcome to bring their own. Patch cords are not provided.
Prepare a medium-tempo or up-tempo jazz standard/etude in contrasting styles. Be prepared to perform the melody of the tune, provide a bass line (comp), and improvise to the chord change. Bring your own accompaniment track. A sound system with a CD player and connecting cords for laptop computers, iPods, iPhones and similar devices is provided. Candidates must audition on acoustic bass. The Jazz Studies area does not admit candidates who play electric bass exclusively. As part of the audition process, you will sightread a short jazz etude or excerpt to evaluate rhythmic and note accuracy in a consistent time feel. A bass amp is provided for auditions, but candidates are welcome to provide their own.
Prepare a medium-tempo or up-tempo jazz standard/etude. Be prepared to perform the tune with accompaniment tracks provided by you. A sound system with a CD player and connecting cords for laptop computers, iPods, iPhones and similar devices is provided. You may be asked to demonstrate grooves in a variety of styles. As part of the audition you will be asked to sightread a portion of a big band chart to demonstrate your ability to play a consistent groove in the style, play set-up figures, and accurately play notated ensemble cues. A drum kit is provided for all auditions. Candidates should provide their own cymbals.
You must do TWO things to sign up for your audition:
If you have questions about your audition repertoire or difficulty signing up, please email jeff.jarvis@csulb.edu.
If you would like to audition for a spot in a jazz combo there are two options:
Combo placements will be completed and announced by the first day of classes, Tuesday, August 22nd. Combos will begin rehearsing the first week of school.
Combo participation is open to all students, based on skill and our instrumental needs, but priority is given to Jazz Majors, then Music Majors, and then to other majors. Placement in a combo is by audition only and is not guaranteed with course registration.
Our groups rehearse Thursdays from 5:00pm-7:00pm and 7:00pm-9:00pm and Fridays 10:00am-12:00pm. Your placement in the time slot you register for is not guaranteed. We try to accommodate availability to avoid conflicts with other mandatory ensembles, but when you audition please know that you may be placed in any of these time slots.
Participation in any CSULB Vocal Jazz Ensemble is by audition only.
Vocal Jazz repertoire: ep-vocal-jazz.pdf
You must do TWO things to sign up for your audition:
If you have questions about your audition repertoire or difficulty signing up, please email christine.guter@csulb.edu.
Due to the severe storm forecast for Sunday, opera auditions have been moved to Tuesday, August 22 (3:00-6:30).
If you have an opera audition time you should have already heard from Dr. Anglin.
Please reach out to Dr. Anglin with any questions about your audition time. Stay Safe!
All students enrolled for Fall 2023 MUST audition for ensemble placement.
Due to the severe storm forecast for Sunday, opera auditions have been moved to Tuesday, August 22 (3:00-6:30).
If you have an opera audition time you should have already heard from Dr. Anglin.
Please reach out to Dr. Anglin with any questions about your audition time. Stay Safe!
Please bring two memorized selections, at least one of which is in a language other than English. Arias are preferred, but not mandatory.
For students new to the Opera program, a zoom chat with opera faculty prior to audition will be required. These sessions will take place Fri-Sat August 18-19. The purpose of the chat is for us to get acquainted with you a bit, and to give you an opportunity to ask any questions you might have prior to the audition.
Contact Dr. Anglin for more info david.anglin@csulb.edu.
You must do TWO things to sign up for your audition:
If you have questions about your audition repertoire or difficulty signing up, please email Dr. Anglin at david.anglin@csulb.edu
All students enrolled for Fall 2023 MUST audition for ensemble placement.
| Instrument | Repertoire | Area Director |
|---|---|---|
| Marimba | B minor Sarabande from Sonatas and Partitas for violin—Bach | Ted Atkatz ted.atkatz@csulb.edu |
| Snare Drum | Mvt. I, Lt. Kije Suite—Prokofiev: reh. 1-2 | Ted Atkatz ted.atkatz@csulb.edu |
| Xylophone | Overture to Porgy and Bess—Gershwin: opening | Ted Atkatz ted.atkatz@csulb.edu |
| Cymbals | Romeo and Juliet Overture—Tchaikovsky: begin at 2 measures before reh. | Ted Atkatz ted.atkatz@csulb.edu |
| Glockenspiel | The Magic Flute—Mozart | Ted Atkatz ted.atkatz@csulb.edu |
| Tambourine | España—Chabrier | Ted Atkatz ted.atkatz@csulb.edu |
| Bass Drum | The Rite of Spring—Stravinsky | Ted Atkatz ted.atkatz@csulb.edu |
| Timpani |
|
Ted Atkatz ted.atkatz@csulb.edu |
To sign up for an audition, please contact Ted Atkatz at ted.atkatz@csulb.edu
Due to severe weather warnings in the area and room availability, Strings in-person auditions have been canceled.
An Audition Video will be accepted in place of your live audition.
See further instructions in the "Audition Dates, Times, & Location" section.
All students enrolled for Fall 2023 MUST audition for ensemble placement. If you’re not yet vaccinated, please go and get it done. The campus will require it for all students and faculty.
Follow the Audition Video guidelines below, and please check your email for any further instructions from your area director.
You must do TWO things to sign up for your audition:
If you have questions about your audition repertoire or difficulty signing up, please email Johannes Müller Stosch at moni.simeonov@csulb.edu
