AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY...

» The applicant will contact Dr. Stroope, and set up a time for the voice audition. (405-744-6013 or email: zrandall.stroope@okstate.edu)

» The applicant will perform a minimum of 30 minutes of music representing at least four languages: English, French, German, and Italian.
(Another language may be substituted.) The program should include representative music from Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and the modern period. It is expected that the candidate will also include representative opera/oratorio arias.

» The applicant must supply the voice faculty with comprehensive repertoire sheets at the time of the audition.

» A current resume or curriculum vitae (with at least three references) should be submitted prior to the audition.

» The applicant will meet with the selection committee for a brief question and answer session immediately following the audition. Candidates seeking Music Graduate Assistantships should submit the "Application for Music Graduate Assistantship" form on the OSU Department of Music web site, under "Future Students", click "Degrees", then "Graduate Degrees", and peruse through the "Applying for Graduate School" information. Choral conducting students do not all have music graduate assistantships, but they are encouraged to submit applications for them.

Graduate Assistantships are available. While all students are encouraged to apply for assistantships as a means of alleviating the costs of graduate study and of developing teaching skills, appointments are not guaranteed to all applicants who are admitted. Students interested in applying for Graduate Assistantships should fill out the form on the graduate page. (Go back to the Department of Music web page, and click "future students", "degrees", "graduate" and scroll to the lower portion of the page and click on "Application for Graduate Assistantships".)

Graduate students will perform in the OSU opera productions and concert works. There will also be opportunities to teach non-major voice students.

A Master of Music degree recital of approximately one hour of music is required of all degree candidates. The student shall also submit a substantive paper related to the repertoire of the degree recital. Recitals should consist of repertoire that the student has not performed in any previous degree recital. Voice recitals shall be performed from memory (excluding chamber/oratorio music). The student will be required to pass a recital hearing four weeks prior to the Graduate Recital.

Besides their membership in the OSU opera program, it is expected that graduate voice students are a member of both Concert Chorale and Chamber Choir. They may also elect to be members of other ensembles as well, such as Women's Choir, Men's Choir, or University Singers.

Applicants seeking the MM in Performance and Pedagogy must demonstrate proficiency in French, German, and Italian diction. Dr. Anne-Marie Condacse will administer a three-part language proficiency examination to students during the first week of classes each semester. Students must pass each section of the exam. A student who fails any of the three parts must re-take that portion in a subsequent semester. To remediate the deficiency, a student may enroll in an appropriate undergraduate course or may study independently.

The audition is a two-step process.

1) The applicant should apply graduate school at OSU, and send Dr. Stroope a curriculum vitae, CD of three works recently conducted, and a DVD of the applicant conducting in a rehearsal. The applicant also needs to submit a written list of REPERTOIRE CONDUCTED and a list of REPERTOIRE PERFORMED.

REPERTOIRE CONDUCTED (for example)
» Handel, G. F. - Zadok the Priest
» Martinaitis, Algirdas - Alleluia
» Pearsall, Robert - Lay a Garland
» Vaughan Williams, R. - Dona Nobis Pacem
» Etc.

2) After the materials are evaluated, selected applicants will then be invited to do a "live" audition on campus. The campus audition will consist of the following:

The applicant will conduct the OSU Concert Chorale for a 25-minute rehearsal. (This group meets 3:30 MTWR.)

The applicant will conduct three works:

The first work is a performance-ready work by Concert Chorale. The applicant will conduct through the work without stop. This work will be assigned to the applicant by Dr. Stroop.

The second and third pieces are selected by the candidate in consultation with Dr. Stroope. The candidate will bring 36 copies of each work to the audition. An accompanist will be present if needed. The two pieces should be for mixed chorus (unaccompanied or accompanied) and the applicant will teach a section (not enough time for an entire piece) to the Chorale from each of the two works.

The material taught should be contrasting. (For example, the "B" section of the first work might be highly rhythmic, and the "last section" of the second work might be expressive and legato.)

The audition helps determine the conductor's communication skills, rehearsal pacing and efficiency, conducting gesture, knowledge of the mechanical aspects of the score, ability to solve rehearsal problems concisely and quickly, and general attitude and manner.

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"CONTINUING A TRADITION OF EXELLENCE"
All choirs/opera are open to any OSU student
regardless of major. Placement hearings occur
the weekend before school begins.


Choral Music Office
Seretean Center for the Performing Arts
Room 122
405.744.6013