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.
**If you are a Prospective Student looking for audition information for admission into the Bob Cole Conservatory, please visit the Prospective Students Page and follow the instructions there.
All students enrolled for Fall 2022 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.
Thank you for your interest in singing in one of the outstanding choirs of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music. All students enrolled for Fall 2022 MUST audition for ensemble placement.
Choral Audition Times and Location
Wednesday-Friday, August 17, 18, & 19 in the Frank Pooler Choir Room, UMC-A301.
Chamber Choir Call-backs: Friday, August 19, from 6:00pm-9:00pm
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 (you don’t need to memorize) these two pieces: Brahms—Im Herbstep-brahms.pdf and Mence: Kalejs Kala Debesis ep-mence.pdf
Those who audition for Chamber Choir will automatically be considered for University Choir.
An accompanist will be provided for your audition.
University Choir Requirements
To audition for the University Choir, please do the following:
Prepare 32 bars of any accompanied classical, musical theatre, or folk song
Be prepared to sightread and demonstrate your pitch memory
An accompanist will be provided for your audition.
ConChord Requirements
ConChord is open to all members of the University Community and meets on Tuesday nights. There is no audition requirement for ConChord.
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.
Audition Times and Location
Monday, August 15 from 9:00am-5:00pm in Room UMC-A307 Tuesday, August 16 from 9:00am-5:00pm in Room UMC-A307 (Individual Auditions) 7:00pm-9:00pm in Room UMC-A307 (Reading Session)
The audition results will be emailed to candidates the next morning. Rehearsals begin the first day of classes, Monday, August 22nd.
Instrumental Jazz Requirements
During the individual auditions, you will perform one prepared jazz tune or étude with a backing track you provide. We have sound system connectivity for smartphones, tablets, and laptops. You will also perform a brief sightreading excerpt that we provide.
Saxophonists: Please prepare a short jazz or classical piece on the woodwind instrument(s) that correspond with your saxophone: alto sax/flute, tenor sax/clarinet and flute, and baritone sax/bass clarinet and flute.
On Tuesday evening, all applicants will play in a big band reading session. Players will be rotated as we sightread big band charts. After this, the brass and rhythm section players will be excused and saxophonists will demonstrate their woodwind doubling skills in a section setting. Attire is casual for both days.
Audition Registration
To sign up for your audition, please email Jeff Jarvis directly at jeff.jarvis@csulb.edu
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 (August 15 or 16), 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 (August 17-19).
About Jazz Combos
Combo placements will be completed and announced by the first day of classes, Monday, 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. You must download all audition information (in the "Ensemble Placement Repertoire" section below), print it, fill it out, and bring it with you to your audition.
Audition Times and Location
Tuesday, August 16 from 10:00am-6:00pm, Room UMC-A504 Wednesday, August 17 from 1:00pm-4:00pm, Room UMC-A504
Audition Requirements
The Vocal Jazz repertoire pdf contains a form. Please print this form, fill it out, and bring it to your audition. ep-vocal-jazz.pdf
Audition Registration
You must do TWO things to sign up for your audition:
Fill out the online audition form. After you click "submit" you will receive a confirmation email
Follow the link in the confirmation email and SCHEDULE YOUR AUDITION
If you have questions about your audition repertoire or difficulty signing up, please email christine.guter@csulb.edu.
**Please note: This form will begin to accept responses on August 1**
All students enrolled for Fall 2022 MUST audition for ensemble placement.
Opera Audition Times and Location
Saturday, August 20 from 11:00am-2:45pm in the Daniel Recital Hall.
Audition Requirements
Please bring two memorized selections, at least one of which is in a language other than English. Arias are preferred, but not mandatory.
Students New to The Opera Institute
For students new to the Opera Institute, a zoom chat with opera faculty prior to audition will be required. These sessions will take place Wed-Fri August 17-19. 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.
All students enrolled for Fall 2022 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.
Orchestra String Seating Audition Times and Location
Sunday, August 21, Room UMC-A311
Cello 12:00pm-2:15pm
Viola 2:30pm-3:15pm
Bass 3:30-4:25pm
Violin 4:30-7:45pm
All incoming and returning students will receive their packets by email. If you have not received one by August 1, please email moni.simeonov@csulb.edu for more information.
