Prepare Your Audition Materials this Summer

This article first appeared on GoLocalPDX.com on June 24, 2015.

Summer is officially here and by now you have had a few weeks to decompress from a hectic school year. Maybe your summer plans include a job, internship, volunteer work, travel or plenty of chill time with friends. Perhaps you have a long list of books you hope to read just for fun, or a goal to watch every movie that won the Academy Award for Best Picture. If you are a rising 10th-12th grader with an interest in performing arts, your summer should include dedicated time to work on your audition materials.

The admission process for performing arts majors often has an added layer of complexity. You have to submit the same application for academic admission as every other student, and then you need to prepare audition materials that showcase your talent. The process of putting together this portfolio is time consuming (often 50-100 hours of effort), so it is best to tackle it in the summer when you do not have an overlay of homework and school-year extra-curriculars.

If you want to know more about some of these performing arts programs, read prior GoLocalPDX articles on conservatory dance programs, non-conservatory dance programs, music production, acting, and liberal arts colleges with music conservatories.  

If you are a rising senior with a solid list of schools you are applying to, the best way to get started is to create a document where you compile the exact audition requirements of each school. This saves you time and money in the long run. For example, if you are recording songs or monologues and need to arrange studio space, equipment and help, it is most cost-effective to record everything all at once.

If you are a rising sophomore or junior you probably don’t yet know where you plan to apply. That’s okay! You can still work on elements of your portfolio, although you probably won’t finish until the summer between junior and senior year.

Below is a list of the most commonly requested components for highly selective (BFA) performing arts programs. Please note that many highly selective performing arts require a Pre-Screen which is usually open to submissions by September 1 of your senior year. You must make it through the Pre-Screen process in order to be eligible for live auditions, either at the school or at the regional Unified Auditions.

Musical Theatre

• Resume
• Headshot
• Video with high-quality audio recording of two songs (one ballad and one up-tempo)
• Video with high-quality audio recording of one monologue
• Dance technique video showing competence in assorted genres (ballet, tap, jazz, modern)
• 1-3 recommendation letters from voice teachers, drama directors, dance masters

Acting

• Resume
• Headshot
• Video with high-quality audio recording of two age-appropriate monologues (one classical and one modern)
• 1-2 recommendation letters from acting coaches/drama teachers, stage directors

Vocal Performance

• Resume that includes language skills, contact info for voice teachers, competitions won and knowledge of music theory
• Headshot
• Video and high-quality audio recording of three songs (one classical song in a language other than English, one art song in English; and One selection of the applicant's choice)
• 1-3 recommendation letters from vocal coaches/music teachers

Instrumental Performance

• Resume that includes contact info for instrumental teachers, competitions won and knowledge of music theory
• Headshot with your instrument
• Video and high-quality audio recording of three pieces in assorted genres (sometimes a specific piece is required and you get free choice for the others)
• 1-3 recommendation letters from instrumental coaches/music teachers

Composition

• Resume that includes contact info for music teachers, competitions won and knowledge of music theory
• Artist’s statement (your vision for the type of compositions you plan to contribute to the musical cannon)
• three or more scores in various media and a recording (audio or audio-visual) of each score
• 1-3 recommendation letters from music teachers

Music Production

• Resume
• A self-produced recording of an original work (can be made using any combination of acoustic and virtual instruments)
• Artist’s statement (your vision regarding the intersection of music and technology)
• 1-3 recommendation letters from music teachers

Dance

• Dance resume that includes height and weight measurements
• Headshot
• Dance/body shot 
• Artistic statement that addresses academic, artistic, or professional goals that you believe could be accomplished in that school’s dance program
• Video of  dance technique (to musical accompaniment):

               - Grand Adagio with développés in each position, promenades, and pirouettes;
               - Petit Allegro, including jumps on two feet, jetés, temps levés, assemblés, and beats;
               - Grand Allegro including grand jetés and tour jetés, and either balancés or waltzes.
               - Men, please include simple tour en l’air

• Video of improvisational or choreographed dance 1-3 minutes long (solo - must be in modern, contemporary or ballet style)

Note: some programs require a black leotard and pink tights

Remember that the above-listed elements may not be the exact components required at each of the schools on your list. You must check the requirements school-by-school to be sure you submit everything that is requested.

Many colleges ask you to submit your pre-screen materials through Acceptd. There will be a link to the college’s Acceptd portal from the college website. It is important to understand that each school has customized the Acceptd requirements, so you will have to upload your audition materials multiple times.

Many people don’t realize that the odds of getting into an audition-based program may be extremely low. I often see shocked faces when I tell a family that the student’s chance of being admitted to the program in Musical Theatre at the University of Cincinnati is less than a student’s chance of being admitted to Harvard. If you are applying to an audition-based performing arts program, use your resources to prepare your audition materials. This is the time to call upon your acting, music or dance teachers/coaches/directors for advice and support.