Auditions and Admission

One of the many great things about singing at Boise State is that anyone who wants to sing will be placed in a choir — no one gets turned away. We have five great ensemble options: Meistersingers (our top select group), Vox Angelis (our select treble ensemble), University Singers (a non-auditioned mixed group), the Opera Studio (separate audition info below) and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble.

Meistersingers, Vox Angelis, University Singers and Vocal Jazz placements take place during the first week of school, Monday, August 21-Thursday, August 24, 2023.

During that week, you’ll sign up for a time to sing for Choir Director Dr. Michael Porter. During that placement appointment, you’ll be asked to sing a short, prepared work (anything you feel comfortable singing), do some simple sight singing and some short vocal exercises.

Please sign up for a placement audition time slot, fill out the form linked below and bring it to your placement appointment. From there, Dr. Porter will discuss your singing goals, schedule and preferences to help you find the perfect choir fit.

For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact Dr. Porter. 

Click here to sign up for an audition time

Choir Placement Form

Auditions for Opera Theatre will take place on Wednesday, August 23rd, in C200 from 1:30-2:50pm. No sign-up or appointment is required. Simply arrive during the scheduled audition window, leaving yourself plenty of time.

Students will perform one aria/song. Please bring a clean copy of your music for pianist Dr. Chad Spears.

If you have any questions, contact Dr. Seppala. Jeffreyseppala@boisestate.edu

Requirements for admission into the Department of Music at Boise State University consist of two main steps:

1. Apply to Boise State
2. Audition for the Department of Music

Note that these steps only apply if you want to major or minor in music.  Any Boise State student is eligible to participate in our ensembles — regardless of major.  Other than auditions for the Blue Thunder Marching Band, our ensemble directors typically hold membership auditions and placement auditions during the first week of classes.  More information on the ensembles and their types of auditions can be found at Boise State Music Ensembles.

Part I – The Vocal Audition

Students should present two songs from memory. If possible, one song should be in a language other than English. Songs should be in contrasting moods and demonstrate vocal range, tonal color, and vocal dexterity. Literature must be chosen from the Art Song or Folk Song repertoire or from the current Idaho State Solo list. Musical Theatre repertoire is permitted only if it is identical to or similar to its original score.

The following song anthologies are excellent sources of quality audition repertoire:

• The First Book of [Soprano, Mezzo-soprano/Alto, Tenor or Bass/Baritone] Solos. Published by G. Schirmer, compiled and edited by Joan Frey Boytim.
• Thirty-six Solos for Young Singers. Published by Hal Leonard, compiled and edited by Joan Frey Boytim.
• Twenty-four Italian Songs and Arias. Published by G. Schirmer.
• Twenty-six Italian Songs and Arias. Published by Alfred Publishing, edited by John Glenn Paton.
• **The Singer’s Musical Theatre Anthology. Published by Hal Leonard, available for all voice types. (The songs in these anthologies are excerpted from original vocal scores.)

Part II – Musicianship Assessment

To assess basic knowledge of all elements of musical notation, students will be given a series of simple melodies to 1) sight-read on the piano and 2) sight-sing. The sight-singing portion may be done on solfege or any vowel or syllable. Students should be able first to play a melody on the piano and then sing it.

Questions? Please contact Dr. Michael Porter

Schedule an Audition