<p>My D is soul-searching for her college audition pieces and it seems one that has been recommended by 2 different music teachers was done by a male actor in the original musical. I have always thought that you should keep true to the gender of the character singing. My D did reminded me that a male friend of hers who got in to most of the competitive colleges of his choice for 2007 including CMU, UMich (currently at CMU) sang a female ballad.
Anyone care to give advice???</p>
<p>I think it depends on the song and just how perfect it is. I sang a male song for an audition once (by the recommendation of my voice teacher) and it went really well.</p>
<p>Depends on the Song... What song is it?</p>
<p>It also depends on the college you are auditioning for -- some specifically state that your song should reflect a realistic casting choice. In other words: is the song/role appropriate to your age, ethnicity, and gender?</p>
<p>If you sing it well and you can find a believable backstory for it, DO IT! It's just an audition. They want to see YOU and YOUR TALENT, not a character.</p>
<p>The caution my son was given was that the song should not be so attributed to a character that the comparison can hurt the audition. If the male actor/song is very well known and comes to mind immediately, it can be a problem, if she does not really do an absolutely phenomonal job with it.</p>