Voice

The spring audition dates for undergraduate voice are shown on the Admissions & Auditions page. Let us know which dates you would like to audition for admission using the online School of Music Audition/Exam Request Form. If you are not able to audition on any of these dates, contact us to arrange another time.  For information on parking and where to stay during your audition, check the resources from the UK Visitors Center.

Undergraduate General information:

• All students must make an application to the University of Kentucky as well as the UK School of Music via audition.
• The University requires that every undergraduate student take either the ACT or the SAT as part of the entrance requirement.
• We cannot accept you officially into the program or recommend you for scholarships until your applications are complete. Information about undergraduate admissions at UK can be found online. Information about music scholarships can be found on the Scholarships & Financial Aid page.

Audition Information:

Once we receive your audition registration, you will be assigned an audition date in time to make flight arrangements. If for some reason you will need to arrive at UK on the same day as you plan to audition, particularly if flying, please let us know. You will be sent the exact time of day and audition location approximately one week before your scheduled visit.

1. Auditions will be in the Singletary Center for the Arts Recital Hall.
2. Please plan to arrive 30 minutes ahead of your scheduled time.
3. Please prepare your printed music in a binder for the pianist (the pianist will be provided for you).

Audition Requirements:

1. Please prepare (at least) two vocal selections which are varied in style/language and display a range of technical facility.
2. You will start with one piece and the Vocal/Choral faculty may choose from one of your other selections to be heard.
3. For Performance and Music Education majors you will also be asked to sight sing and show rhythm and tonal memory skills.
4. The purpose of the voice audition is for admission into the program and for Choral Grant-in-aid consideration, including the nomination to Alltech Opera Scholarship Competition.

For any questions concerning the audition itself or about scheduling, contact Cynthia Lawrence.

Due to the number of auditionees on audition weekends, we are not able to schedule individual lessons, however, if you are interested in a certain teacher, contact that teacher to schedule a time that you can meet later in the semester.

Cynthia Lawrence
Coordinator of Vocal Auditions
859-257-8597

Dr. Jefferson Johnson
Director of Choral Activities
859-257-5897

Pre-Audition Screening

A set of pre-screening materials is required for both MM and DMA Choral Conducting applicants. Submission Deadline: December 1. Materials may be mailed to Jefferson Johnson or included as links to online hosted materials in you audition application.

1. A short video of the candidate rehearsing (not conducting) a choir or choirs (10-15 min).
2. A resume or vita
3. For DMAs only: a brief writing sample of an academic nature, e.g. an excerpt from a master's level research paper.

After reviewing these materials, successful applicants will be invited to campus for a live audition.

MM in Performance – Choral Conducting

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
An on-campus audition with one of the Choral Department's major ensembles is required.  The audition consists of a demonstration of choral rehearsal techniques, approximately 25 minutes in duration, using 2 pieces of contrasting styles selected by the applicant in consultation with the Director of Choral Activities

TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS 
Assistantships in choral music are sometimes available and carry a stipend plus a partial tuition waiver.  They are awarded based on the applicant's qualifications, experience, and on-campus audition described above.  The successful applicant is assigned to be Assistant Conductor of a major UK choral ensemble in addition to other duties as determined by the Director of Choral Activities. Please note: Two consecutive summers of study are required. Assistantships are for Fall and Spring semesters only.

DMA Performance – Choral Conducting

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
An on-campus audition with one of the Choral Department’s major ensembles is required. The audition consists of a demonstration of choral rehearsal techniques, approximately 25 minutes in duration, using 2 pieces of contrasting styles selected by the applicant in consultation with the Director of Choral Activities. 

TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS  
Assistantships in choral music are sometimes available and carry a stipend plus a partial tuition waiver.  They are awarded based on the applicant's qualifications, experience, and on-campus audition described above.  The successful applicant is assigned to be Assistant Conductor of a major UK choral ensemble in addition to other duties as determined by the Director of Choral Activities. Please note: Two consecutive summers, a fall and a spring of study are required. Assistantships are for Fall and Spring semesters only.

All applicants must complete the Audition Request Form first. Submission Deadline: December 1. Materials may be mailed to Cynthia Lawrence or included as links to online hosted materials in your audition application. ONLY the videos may be included as links in the applicable field in the online application, such as YouTube, Vimeo or a Google Drive.  Please make sure that your links are viewable to all.  We will NOT ask for you to resend them if we cannot access them.

If you choose to mail the pre-audition screening materials, they must be postmarked by December 1. Please write your name, phone number, voice type and the degree program you are applying to on the DVD.

If you choose to submit links to online hosted materials, a field to provide link(s) will appear on the Audition Request Form as you fill it out. Additional requirements must be sent separately.

The required pre-screening materials are as follows for all graduate voice programs:

1. A recording no older than one (1) year that contains at least three (3) contrasting pieces.
2. Recent Headshot (publicity photo) – Please send separately to Professor Lawrence
3. Statement of Purpose. Describe your career goals and why you think UK can help you achieve them. – Please send separately to Professor Lawrence
   1. Master's Program word length: 250 - 500 words
   2. DMA Program word length: 500 - 750 words

Links submitted with the Audition Request Form will automatically be sent to Professor Cynthia Lawrence. If you pass the pre-screening and are granted an on-site audition this is the repertoire you should prepare for your audition:

1. One (1) aria from an oratorio or opera
2. Three (3) Foreign Language art songs
3. One (1) piece in English (may be an aria)
4. Any additional pieces required to present thirty (30) minutes of repertoire are left to the auditioner's discretion, but should be largely pieces from classical repertoire.

Those choosing to mail materials can send them to:

Cynthia Lawrence
Coordinator of Voice Auditions
University of Kentucky
212 Schmidt Vocal Arts Building
412 Rose Street
Lexington, KY  40506-0022
Cynthia.lawrence@uky.edu

If your pre-audition recording and other materials pass screening by our faculty, you will then be notified by email by December 30 that you are invited to a live audition at UK.

Your application for an audition is separate from your Graduate School application for admission. Both require you to send your personal statement.

When you come to audition at UK:

• Arrive at least 15 minutes early.
• Once you have passed your audition, you will be required to take entrance exams in Music History, Theory, and Vocal Studies