Scholarships and Auditions
All students wishing to major in music must audition to be accepted into music major status in the Department of Music and Theatre.
One audition will serve for both admission to the music degree program and for scholarship consideration. Non-music majors are also eligible for music scholarships and invited to audition. Sight reading and major and minor scales may be requested. Failure to audition prior to the eighth day of regularly scheduled classes will result in automatic non-major status.
Scholarship acceptance and financial awards are distributed based upon the strength of auditions. Current students and high school seniors are invited to audition on a scholarship audition date. Students unable to audition in person may submit an audio or video file of high quality made on the best equipment available.
Members of the Marching Blues are awarded separate scholarships, based upon participation, with no audition required. Basketball pep band membership is via a separate audition in October and members are awarded a stipend for each game performed.
Use the drop-down menus below to find contact information and suggested repertoire for auditions.
Scholarship audition dates for 2024-25 school year:
- November 16, 2024
- February 1, 2025
- March 8, 2025
- Other dates/times by appointment
To schedule an audition or for further information use the contacts found in the drop-downs below.
William E. and Emilie F. Gahnstrom Music Scholarship
William and Emilie Gahnstrom have generously created a scholarship opportunity for talented students interested in pursuing careers in music. The scholarship was created for those students studying the primary instrument of bassoon, oboe, or violin. Other orchestral instrumental performers will also be considered based on the demonstration of significant musical skills that best serve the greatest needs for the Washburn University Orchestra.
The Gahnstrom award will be granted to one recipient based on audition and can be renewed each year for up to four years as long as the student retains full-time music major status and maintains a minimum 3.25 GPA throughout their academic career. Applicants should prepare a major work for consideration such as a complete sonata, concerto, variation set, etc. Auditions will be held February 1, 2025 in White Concert Hall. Scholarship award decisions made by the audition committee are final.
For more information or to schedule an audition, contact Dr. Craig Treinen, craig.treinen@washburn.edu.
For Vocal Major / Minor auditions, please prepare the following based on your preferred degree program.
Bachelor of Music – Vocal Performance: Three contrasting musical selections performed from memory.
- One (1) Foreign Language Art Song
- One (1) English Art Song
- One (1) song selection of your choice that may be from the Musical Theatre Canon.
Bachelor of Music – Music Education (Voice Emphasis): Three contrasting musical selections performed from memory.
- One (1) Foreign Language Art Song
- One (1) English Art Song
- One (1) song selection of your choice that may be from the Musical Theatre Canon.
Bachelor of Arts & Music Minor: Two contrasting musical selections performed from memory. Pick two:
- One (1) Foreign Language Art Song
- One (1) English Art Song
- One (1) song selection of your choice that may be from the Musical Theatre Canon.
An accompanist will be provided free of charge for your audition day. Please have your sheet music in the correct key, hole punched, double sided, and in a binder to hand to the accompanist. You may bring your own pianist if you prefer, but you must perform with live accompaniment at your audition. No tracks, no acapella singing.
Examples of appropriate composers include but are not limited to: Mozart, Handel, Schumann, Schubert, the 24 Italian Art Songs/Arias, Purcell, Bellini, Sullivan, Faure, Debussy, Copland, compositions from The First book of Voice type Solos, Spirituals, Gershwin, Rodgers, Porter, and any composition from the Musical Theatre Anthology Series that is age appropriate.
Voice Contact: Joseph DeSota, joseph.desota@washburn.edu
Trumpet: F.J. Haydn Concerto in Eb; Goedicke Concert Etude; A. Arutunian Concerto; H.L. Clarke Carnival of Venice; G. Balay Prelude Et Ballade; Handel/Fitzgerald Aria Con Variazioni; Arban - etudes from 14 Characteristic Studies (from the Arban's Complete Method), Goldman- etudes from Practical Studies for Trumpet.
Horn: Kopprasch 60 Studies for Horn; Maxime-Alphonse 200 New Melodic and Gradual Studies - Book 1 or 2, Max Pottag etude books, Any Mozart horn concerto - 1st movement - exposition, 3rd movement of 2, 3, or 4; Strauss Horn Concerto No. 1; Haydn Horn Concerto No. 1 or 2.
Trombone: Galliard Sonatas (one), Grafe Grand Concerto, Guillmant Morceau Symphonique, Ropartz Andante and Allegro, Hasse Suite, Barat Andante et Allegro, Telemann, G.P. Sonata in f Minor, Rimsky-Korsakov Concerto; David Concertino. And/or etudes from the following books:Rochut Melodious Etudes - Book I, Tyrell 40 Progressive Studies, Blazehevich Clef Studies.
Euphonium: Galliard Sonatas (one) Guillmant Morceau Symphonique, Ropartz Andante and Allegro, Barat Andante et Allegro. Any selections from the following etude collections: Tyrell Advanced Studies, Kopprasch 60 Selected Studies, Rochut Melodious Etudes Book 1.
Tuba: Bach/Bell Air and Bouree, Haddad Suite for Tuba, Beethoven/Bell Variations on Judas Maccabaeus, Jacob Tuba Suite, any Wilder Sonata or Suite, any selections from the following etude collections:Tyrell Advanced Studies; Blazevich 70 Studies; Kopprasch 60 Selected Studies.
Brass Contact: Bryce Call, bryce.call@washburn.edu
You should be prepared to perform a short piece on snare drum, keyboard percussion and timpani. Sight-reading may be included. Students who have not yet studied in all of these areas should prepare what they can. Suggested literature:
Snare Drum: solos or etudes by Cirone, Pratt, Morgan;
Keyboard Percussion: solos or etudes from Kite Reading Mallet Percussion Music, Goldenberg Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba and Vibraphone, 4-Mallet solos by Peters, Abe, Smadbeck, Tanaka, Stout; Timpani: solos or etudes from Firth, Peters, Goodman, Carroll. Students who play drumset should be able to demonstrate swing, rock/funk, and ethnic styles.
Percussion Contact: Von Hanson, 785.670.1847, von.hansen@washburn.edu.
Non-Majors and Minors: One musical selection of your choice
Music Education and Bachelor of Arts: One musical selection of your choice + One scale of your choice
Music Performance: Two musical selections of your choice + One scale of your choice
String Contact: Zsolt Eder, zsolt.eder@washburn.edu
Students with organ experience: One organ piece from the Baroque Era (preferably by Bach) plus another selection in contrasting style; two hymns in contrasting style.
Pianists wishing to begin organ study: Two contrasting works from separate eras of music, memorized. Examples of audition literature may include, but is not limited to, a movement from a classical sonata, a two-part invention by J. S. Bach, or a nocturne by Frédéric Chopin.
Note: All organ students will be asked to sight-read a short, simple piece at the organ.
Organ Contact: Lucy Tan, lucy.tan@washburn.edu
Bachelor of Music - Piano Performance: Two piano works from separate eras of music, memorized. Examples of audition literature include, but is not limited to: selections from J. S. Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier or one of his suites, a movement from Haydn/Mozart/Beethoven sonatas, Chopin’s impromptus/nocturnes/polonaises/ballades, selections from Robert Schumann’s Fantasiestücke, selections from Bartok’s Mikrokosmos Vol. 6, Ginastera’s Danzas Argentinas, selections from Debussy preludes or arabesques, etc.
Bachelor of Music - Music Education (piano emphasis): Two piano works from separate eras of music, memorized. Examples of audition literature include, but is not limited to: inventions or little preludes and fugues by J. S. Bach, a movement from one of Beethoven’s op. 49 piano sonatas, studies by Burgmüller, intermediate-level Chopin preludes/waltzes/mazurkas; selections from Mendelssohn’s Songs without Words, selections from Lyric Pieces for the Young by Dello Joio, selections from Bartok’s Mikrokosmos Vol. 5, Satie’s Gnossiennes, etc.
Bachelor of Arts & Music Minor: Two contrasting works of the student's choice, memory optional. Examples of audition literature may be less advanced than any of the selections above or they may be of a similar level of difficulty.
Note: All piano students will be asked to sight-read a short, simple piece at the piano.
Piano Contact: Lucy Tan, lucy.tan@washburn.edu
Flute: J. S. Bach Sonatas, Handel Sonatas, Telemann Sonatas or Fantasies, Mozart Concertos or Andante in C, Flute Music by French Composers (pub: Schirmer), Debussy Syrinx, etudes from Selected Studies for Flute (H. Voxman, Pub: Rubank).
Oboe: Selections demonstrating student's most advanced level: one lyrical and one technical.
Clarinet: C. M. Weber Concertino or Concertos, Mozart Concerto, Finzi Five Bagatelles, Tartini Concertino, Wagner Adagio, Concert and Contest Collection (H. Voxman, pub: Rubank), 16 Grand Solos de Concert (Published Southern Music Co.).
Bassoon: Mozart Concerto in B flat, C. M. Weber Concerto, Telemann Sonata in f minor, Galliard or Marcello Sonatas, Vivaldi Concertos, etudes from the Weissenborn 50 Studies.
Saxophone: Bozza Aria, Creston Sonata, J. Rueff Chanson et Passepied, etudes from Selected Studies for Saxophone (H. Voxman, Pub: Rubank), 48 Studies after Ferling (M. Mule, pub: Leduc), 27 Virtuoso Studies for Saxophone (L. Bassi, pub: Carl Fischer).
Woodwind Contact: Rebecca Meador, 785.670.1518; rebecca.meador@washburn.edu
Sight-reading will be part of all jazz auditions.
Horn players: Play the melody and improvise over one selection from the Jamey Aebersold play-along of your choice.
Pianists: Be able to "comp" chord changes.
Bassists and Drummers: Be able to demonstrate swing, rock/funk, and ethnic styles.
Jazz Contact: Craig Treinen, 785.670.1520; craig.treinen@washburn.edu
GET IN TOUCH WITH Music Program
Music Program
Garvey Fine Arts Center, Room 211
Washburn University
1700 SW College Ave.
Topeka, KS 66621
Phone & Email
Phone: 785.670.1511
music.theatre@washburn.edu
