<p>Hey everyone
I'm getting ready to audition at several schools for vocal performance as a mezzo soprano at Indiana, Michigan, Denver, Tulsa, and Butler.
At Indiana there is a "selection of applicant's choice." Does this necessarily mean it should be classical? I'm thinking of auditioning a Bernstein piece which is borderline classical I guess.
Any thoughts?
Thanks</p>
<p>My daughter is only a hs junior so we will not be doing auditions until next year. She is a soprano. I would also like to know what might be good audition songs. She has heard from some that she needs to be careful and choose only "age appropriate" songs. Her vocal teacher has a different philosophy and believes that anything she can sing well is appropriate. I would love to hear any thoughts as well as what others think of the Bernstein piece eme is suggesting.</p>
<p>I'm a soprano and I've used a song from Street Scene, which is what people call an "American opera," I guess. It's performed on Broadway and everything, but it definitely shows classical technique and style, at the same time. What piece is it, out of curiosity? If the requirements don't say one classical selection, then I think you should be fine.</p>
<p>Before auditions my D met with and/or corresponded via email with the teachers she was interested in (especially at IU ). They were always very
forthright and helpful with audition repetoire. (D is a mezzo) Her teacher at home made sure she had a French, an Italian, a German as well as an English
piece ready. She also made sure that different types/epochs of music were represented.(18th century,19th and 20th)</p>
<p>At DS's schools (both grad and undergrad) the vocal performance majors were specifically told that NO Broadway show tunes were acceptable as audition pieces. In my experience, show tunes are only appropriate for musical theater majors. Most vocal performance programs require classical audition pieces, usually one in a foreign language, and one "art song" type of piece...contrasting styles. Your private voice teacher should be able to help you select appropriate audition pieces...actually hopefully your voice teacher gave you some guidance into audition repertoire pieces in the fall....</p>
<p>If it sounds fabulous in your voice bring it but have another to offer just in case. Berstein has some fabulous operatic pieces that are accepted by all.</p>
<p>I was thinking about "Simple Song" from Bernstein's "Mass". It's originally sung by a tenor but it's not gender specific. Of course my voice teacher has given me guidance on my audition repetoire and I have other pieces prepared that I could use. I'm using the Bernstein for Michigan were it specifically states that "operatic literature" is not expected. Thanks for all the input</p>
<p>Hmm...well....Simple Song is a lovely and challenging piece (like most Bernstein pieces) for a tenor. Personally I would sing a piece written for your voice part.</p>
<p>I am not familiar with using Bernstein for a vocal performance audition, but I know the song is not easy so just make sure you really nail it. They would rather hear you sing a simple song incredibly well than a difficult song with issues. Generally, you should have an English and an Italian piece as your first choices. Use German and French if more than 2 are requested, as very few high schoolers have perfect German and French diction and you don't want the adjudicators to be distracted by diction. Just because they don't want operatic literature does not mean they don't expect classical pieces - as in one of the Italian 24. Collegesearch2, it is very important that the pieces be age appropriate. Please make sure her voice teacher understands this - and I'd be a little concerned if he or she doesn't understand how important that is. This generally means no arias from operas as they should not be done - largely for vocal health reasons - by younger singers. In every sample lesson that my D took, the teacher pointed out right away that the pieces she sang were good choices because they were age appropriate and demonstrated healthy technique. That is perhaps the main thing they want to see - that the young singer is not already doing things that can cause damage - the last thing they want to do is deal with impending vocal damage. This is especially true with sopranos. Pushing at an early age can cause damage that is very difficult to repair. Hearing a soprano wobble at age 17 can be the kiss of death. They also want to see musicality. Choosing a too difficult piece or one not age appropriate makes it more difficult to show musicality. I don't necessarily have a problem with a soprano doing a song that is often done by tenors. My D's Italian song is normally done by tenors and the teachers she has sung it for have commented that is a great choice for her.</p>
<p>Personally, I would not do a song that was not gender/fach specific - just because you don't know the prejudices that the judges hold. There are so many choices you can select from - why do something that is in the least questionable?</p>
<p>My daughter had two Italian arias, German lieder, a German oratorio, a French art song and two English arias in her repertoire for conservatory auditions. She also had a Russian piece that wasn't perfected yet. I think if you have the support of a fabulous vocal coach who is a diction Nazi, offering multiple languages is real bonus. If not, as usual, stick with what you are comfortable with and sing very well.</p>
<p>ABlestMom wrote: "...diction Nazi..."</p>
<p>I fell off the chair.</p>
<p>I'm still laughing...</p>
<p>Made my day. Thank you.</p>
<p>You VILL zing dee words eggzactly as dey are on dee page. Dere vill be no
miztakes allowed...</p>
<p>ABlestMom...</p>
<p>Ha, yes i have a voice coach who is a diction nazi we literally spent 20 minutes yesterday on one phrase because of two sounds he thought weren't open enough. But which conservatories is your daughter applying to because i know it was either at NEC or Boco that i talked to someone and they specifically said no operatic Arias, they'd like to only here for undergraduate auditions Italian Art songs, German lieder, French art songs, and english art songs. I know Mannes is requesting an Aria, but i think a lot of other schools aren't.</p>
<p>DD had one aria that was considered appropriate for her. It was on her list and she used it when they requested it at an audition. Otherwise she used art songs and lieder. She usually led with her English art song and Italian art song unless they requested other. It did not seem to be a problem.</p>
<p>violadad...you know him too,lolol!</p>
<p>Applied last year....Mannes, MSM, McGill, Juilliard, Curtis</p>
<p>For college auditions, the faculty is listening to voice, voice, voice. Terrible foreign language diction will call into question one's preparation and judgement. Early Italian songs and arias are only gender specific if the language is clearly male or female (lullaby, war song, etc.) Arias tell the tale of where the singer is and how they are doing, they explore range, dynamics, characterization, phrasing, and they show it all. Certainly few high school students can satisfy a Verdi aria, but there are Handel and Mozart arias which can be carried with a lighter sound. There are many rewarding songs which have similar dramatic elements, however, and these may be a safer choice. Noone on this forum can recommend an appropriate vocal selection for any singer they have not heard. The voice teacher needs to guide the singer. Frequently, in a competition, it is not so much that one person wins as that everyone else loses.....so pick carefully, find things to sing which show the voice at its very best and do not reveal or even suggest flaws and limitations.</p>
<p>Good luck to all! Lorelei</p>
<p>A bit of advice I recieved from the director of music admissions at BU.....pieces must be age appropriate, expressive,good diction, highlighting all the best attributes of your voice, and should show your potential. My voice teacher and conservatory director took time to choose what pieces would best fit my instrument. Classical pieces are almost always what is expected as most schools say musical theatre, popular songs, and show tunes are not acceptable. I think you should air on the side of caution and go with something that is deffinitely classical.</p>
<p>Do they care if you do two italian songs (if they only want 2 songs) or would mixing it up and doing english/italian be better?</p>
<p>Jeremybeach-</p>
<p>I think doing a song in Italian, and another one in English or another language would be best. You want to show them that you are versatile in different languages. I just had my audition at Indiana University and I prepared three selections: and Italian and French Aria from two different opera's and an English art song. </p>
<p>Hope this helps...</p>
<p>Sing whatever sounds best in your voice. Period. If that's two Italian songs, so be it. If it's an Italian and an English, then do that. You are putting yourself at a disadvantage if you sing anything less than your very best.</p>