McGill.CA / Music / Ensembles / Ensemble Auditions

Piano Auditions

All new/first-year undergraduate piano students are required to successfully complete MUEN 581 Introduction to Ensemble Playing for Pianists prior to taking any of the other auditions for piano ensemble work.

Mixed Ensemble Auditions

The Mixed Ensemble Audition covers the following ensembles:

  • McGill Symphony Orchestra
    MUEN 597 McGill Symphony Orchestra 2 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • CME (Contemporary Music Ensemble)
    MUEN 594 Contemporary Music Ensemble 2 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • McGill Wind Orchestra
    MUEN 590 McGill Wind Orchestra 2 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • Beethoven Orchestra
    MUEN 567 Beethoven Orchestra 1 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • Schoenberg Ensemble
    MUEN 568 Multiple Ensemble 1 1 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • Sonata Masterclass
    MUEN 585 Sonata Masterclass 1 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • Studio Accompanying
    MUEN 584 Studio Accompanying 1 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer


    MUEN 684 Studio Accompanying 2 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

Collaborative Piano major students are exempt from auditioning for Studio Accompanying MUEN 684

  • Chamber Music (Small ensembles i.e.: piano trio, piano quartet) (
    MUEN 560 Chamber Music Ensemble 1 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

Audition Instructions:

  • Sign up for your audition on the appropriate sheet across from Clara Lichtenstein Hall (C209)- posted one week prior to the auditions.
  • Learn the quick study piece (see below) and prepare your choice of solo piece(s) of minimum 4 minutes
  • If you are an undergraduate student, the prerequisite for this audition is completion of MUEN 581- Introduction to Ensemble Playing for Pianists. All graduate students are eligible to take this audition without taking MUEN 581 first.

MUEN 581 Intro to Ens Play for Pianists 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

could be substituted by
MUEN 556 Intro to Collaborative Piano 1 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Additional Information:

  • If a student is unable to attend a live audition, they must contact Prof. Hashimoto as soon as possible.
  • Any student that already has an established agreement with an instructor of a studio that they will accompany for Studio Accompanying  (MUEN 584/586) must have the instructor confirm this with Prof. Hashimoto directly. Upon receiving the confirmation, the student may be exempt from auditioning for Studio Accompanying MUEN 584, 684.
  • Piano Mixed Ensemble Auditions are restricted to students enrolled in performance programs unless special permission has been granted by the coordinator.
  • There will be no auditions in January; students wanting to participate in the Winter semester must take the audition this term.

Audition Materials:

  • Quick study piece PDF icon found here  (Beethoven, Theme and variations 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 from the 7 variations on the theme “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen“ of the Mozart‘s opera „Die Zauberflöte“ for cello and piano)
  • (hard copies are posted outside of C-416)
  • A selection of your choice from the solo piano repertoire; minimum of 4 minutes in duration.

Audition Time/Date:

  • Sunday, August 29, 11:00 – 16:00 in Clara Lichtenstein Hall

Questions? kyoko.hashimoto [at] mcgill.ca (Contact Prof. Hashimoto by email)

Song Interpretation Auditions

This audition is for participation in:

SONG INTERPRETATION 1 & 2

MUEN 578 Song Interpretation 1 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

&
MUEN 579 Song Interpretation 2 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

with Michael McMahon on Fridays.
These ensembles are not open to Non-Music students.

Audition Instructions:

  • Complete the online audition sign-up form found here
  • Sign-up for an audition time on the board across from C-209
  • Arrive 5 minutes prior to your audition time.

Audition Material:

  • Pianists: 1 Romantic work, up to 7 minutes in length.

Audition Time/Date: 

  • Day 1: August 30, 10:00 – 17:00 in Tanna Schulich Hall
  • Day 2: August 31, 10:00 - 16:00 in Redpath Hall

 

Vocal Chamber Ensemble Auditions

This audition is for participation in:

Vocal Chamber Ensemble 

MUEN 553 Vocal Chamber Ensemble 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

(Coordinator: Annamaria Popescu)

This ensemble is open to Voice Majors and Pianists.

Audition Instructions:

  • Complete the online audition sign-up form found here
  • Sign-up for an audition time on the board across from C-209
  • Arrive 5 minutes prior to your audition time.
  • Singers must provide their own pianist.

Audition Material:

  • Pianists: 1 Romantic work, up to 7 minutes in length.
  • Vocalists: 2 songs, 1 German and 1 of your choosing.

Audition Time/Date:

  • Tuesday, August 31, 17:30 – 21:30 in Clara Lichtenstein Hall (C-209)

Opera McGill Auditions

This audition is for pianists who wish to participate in:
Opera McGill

  • This ensemble is not open to non-music students.
  • Pianists can now take Opera McGill for ensemble credit.

Each pianist will have assignments within Opera McGill based on experience and the audition which can include but are not limited to: playing for production rehearsals, workshops, masterclasses, or coachings. Pianists will be invited to participate in Opera McGill classes.

Audition Instructions:

  • Complete the online audition sign-up form found here
  • Sign-up for an audition time on the board across from C-209
  • Arrive 5 minutes prior to your audition time.
  • Bring a resumé or C.V.

Audition Requirements: 

  • 1 Solo Piano Work (or portion) 5 to 6 minutes in length.
  • Opera pianist excerpt 1  PDF icon found here
  • Opera pianist excerpt 2  PDF icon found here
  • Sight-reading

*Opera McGill pianist auditions: please be prepared to play all of the excerpts. You will not be asked to sing.

Audition Time/Date:

  • Wednesday, September 1st from 10:00 – 13:00 in Wirth Opera Studio
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