@musicalkid98: I believe some schools specifically say no JRB and I think some others say something along the lines of “avoid modern composers who write complex accompaniment like JRB, Adam Guettel, Michael John LaChiusa, and/or John Bucchino.” On the flip side, I have no doubt that anecdotes abound about people that have used pieces from these composers at some auditions and it ends up working out well for them.
You should always check the audition requirements carefully for every school that you audition for, there is much variance and no blanket assumptions should be made about what is and is not permitted and/or recommended.
The problem with complex accompaniment, no matter who the composer is and whether or not the piece is on a “do not do” list or not, is that you run the risk of things going south and the audition being ruined. Not a very smart risk to run in my estimation.
Emsdad gives excellent advice. But I will say that there are some JRB songs that do not have complicated accompaniment (which I define by… I can play it, and I am NOT a skilled pianist ). Stars and the Moon from Songs for a New World comes to mind.
@toowonderful - d was warned award from Songs for a New World by the experts that she knows - they said anything from SFNW is a tough sell for an 18 year old at a college audition.
@musicalkid98 - if the school does not say “no JRB” and if recorded accompaniment will be used and if the song/character is age appropriate and if you can deliver a convincing performance and if you are sure they won’t wince at a JRB song being used … lots of “ifs.”
Again- excellent advice from @EmsDad. I was only speaking to difficulty of accompaniment- my D didn’t/doesn’t use JRB - so I have no experience with reaction in an audition room
@toowonderful - thank you for your consistent graciousness. I should have expanded on my original comments - difficult accompaniment is not the only reason that some schools say “no JRB” and many vocal coaches recommend against using his songs for college auditions. My non-expert impression of why “no JRB” is somewhat similar to “no Sondheim,” where “difficult accompaniment” is the short answer and “in general, 18 year-olds just can’t deliver the songs” is the part of a longer answer that includes, “your time is probably better spent to go find songs that are easier to deliver and don’t flirt with disaster, whether from interpretation, accompaniment, or panel preference.”
If a composer shows up on several “do not use lists” that should be a red flag, IMHO. Examples include Sondheim, JRB, and Andrew Lloyd Webber (I would also recommend putting Wildhorn on that list). There are so many other songs to choose from that are probably far less likely to be on a “do not use list,” whether explicit or implicit, that it just seems to make sense to avoid potential problems and go look elsewhere. Of course, if you are in the rarefied air of those who will be be accepted almost everywhere, then you can probably sing anything that you want - but that is a very select handful of applicants.
My S really tried to find something odd, unusual, unique, out-of-the-norm, seldom-heard, fantastic that would show how “immersed” he was in the genre. In the end, he believes it backfired. One of his songs he really liked, but it was not really “him” and while some auditors said, “you’ve made some interesting choices”, others seem to be “meh”. A “tried and true” would have done a better job of showcasing his voice and probably would have felt more like “comfortable old jeans” rather than “fancy pants”. I’m pretty sure the auditors can tell the difference.
). Stars and the Moon from Songs for a New World comes to mind.