Ensemble Placement Auditions
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.
NOTE: This page is for currently enrolled students. If you are a Prospective Student looking for audition information for admission into the Bob Cole Conservatory, please start at the Prospective Students page and follow the instructions there:
Prospective Students
Audition Times, Requirements, and Sign-up Forms
Latest update: February 3, 2026.
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.
Brass & Woodwinds
All students enrolled for Fall 2026 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.
Audition Dates, Times, & Locations
Dates, Times, & Locations TBA.
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Ensemble Placement Repertoire
Brass
Woodwinds
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Choral Ensemble Placement
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 2025 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).
Choral Audition Times and Location
Dates, Times, & Locations TBA.
Chamber Choir Requirements
To audition for the Bob Cole Chamber Choir, please do the following:
- Prepare a classical solo, 2-3 minutes in length
- Learn this piece: Helsey Steven’s—Go Lovely Rose
- Those who audition for Chamber Choir will automatically be considered for University Choir.
- If granted a call-back, there will be a second piece that you will need to prepare for the audition. Consequently, it behooves you to audition early in the week so you have more time to prepare the second piece.
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
University Choir and Bel Canto Requirements
To audition for University Choir or Bel Canto, please do the following:
- Prepare any accompanied classical, musical theater, or folk song
- Be prepared to sightread and demonstrate your pitch memory
An accompanist will be provided for your audition; you must provide sheet music in the proper key.
For more information regarding University Choir auditions, please reach out to Dr. Jonathan Talberg at jonathan.talberg@csulb.edu
For more information regarding Bel Canto, please reach out to Slav Sokolov at zlatoslav.sokolov01@student.csulb.edu
Audition Registration
Please check back on August 3 for sign-up information.
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Composition Ensemble Placement
New Music Ensemble (MUS 200/400/600B) is required for all Composition students. No audition is needed for New Music Ensemble.
If you are a composition student and would like to participate in a traditional ensemble then you must audition for that ensemble. Use the information on this page under the respective area.
Instrumental Jazz Ensemble Placement
Greetings new and returning music majors! Jazz ensemble placement auditions are coming up soon. Big band rehearsals have been rescheduled so as not to conflict with orchestra and wind band rehearsals.
You do not have to be a jazz studies major to participate. Here is a great opportunity for classical players to complete their professional skill sets by playing in a big band and/or combo. We are particularly interested in welcoming more brass players and saxophonists to the ensembles.
The Concert Jazz Orchestra won the graduate college division of the 2024 Downbeat Student Music Awards, thus continuing our legacy as a leading collegiate big band in the nation. And our Studio Jazz Band has taken top honors at several jazz festivals. So, we are looking forward to an exciting season. Sign up for a placement audition today!
Audition Times and Location
Dates, Times, & Locations TBA.
Instrumental Jazz Requirements
Wind Players
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.
Guitar, Piano, Vibes
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.
Bass
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.
Drums
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.
Jazz Combo Ensemble Placement
If you would like to audition for a spot in a jazz combo there are two options:
- If you already have a Big Band audition slot scheduled, or will be scheduling one, your Big Band audition will also cover your combo placement.
- If you would like to participate in Jazz Combos but are not participating in a Big Band audition, please contact combo director Jimmy Emerzian at jimmy.emerzian@csulb.edu to provide a pre-screen recording and/or schedule a live audition.
About Jazz Combos
Combo placements will be completed and announced by the first day of classes. 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.
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Vocal Jazz Ensemble Placement
Participation in any CSULB Vocal Jazz Ensemble is by audition only.
Audition Times and Location
Dates, Times, & Locations TBA.
Audition Requirements
To audition, please do the following:
- Print and review the Vocal Jazz repertoire document
- Sign page 2 ("Statement of Policy") and bring both pages with you to your audition
- Register online for a date and time to audition
Vocal Jazz repertoire: ep-vocal-jazz.pdf
Audition Registration
Please check back on August 3 for sign-up information.
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Opera Auditions
All students enrolled for Fall 2026 MUST audition for ensemble placement.
Opera Audition Times and Location
Dates, Times, & Locations TBA.
Audition Requirements
Undergraduate
Prepare two memorized selections, including at least one in a language other than English. Opera arias are preferred but not required.
Graduate
Prepare two or three contrasting opera arias.
**IMPORTANT: Please email clean copies of your audition sheet music to pianist Grace Hong (grace.hong@csulb.edu) by Wednesday, Aug. 20.
If you have any questions about the audition, please email Dr. Alexander Hahn.
Audition Registration
Please check back on August 3 for sign-up information.
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Percussion Ensemble Placement
All students enrolled for Fall 2026 MUST audition for ensemble placement.
Percussion Audition Times and Location
Dates, Times, & Locations TBA.
Ensemble Placement Repertoire
Ensemble Placement Repertoire
| Instrument |
Repertoire |
| Xylophone |
Gershwin—Overture to Porgy and Bess: opening |
| Glockenspiel |
Mozart—The Magic Flute: excerpt |
| Snare Drum |
- Prokofiev—Lt. Kije Suite: Mvt. 1, #1-2
- Rimsky-Korsakov—Capriccio Espagnol: Mvt. 4, opening—11 measures after reh. L
|
| Cymbals |
Tchaikovsky—Overture to Romeo and Juliet: begin at 2 measures before letter O—end |
| Timpani |
Tchaikovsky—Symphony No. 4, Mvt. I, 4 before reh. T—downbeat of 2 bars before reh. V |
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Strings Ensemble Placement
All students enrolled for Fall 2026 MUST audition for ensemble placement.
Orchestra String Seating Audition Times and Location
Dates, Times, & Locations TBA.
All incoming and returning students will receive their packets by email. If you have not received one by August 1, please email Johannes.Stosch@csulb.edu for more information.
Ensemble Placement Repertoire
Audition Registration
Please check back on August 3 for sign-up information.
