Music Scholarships

Application Form & Information

• In Person Auditions (Returning and Incoming students)
  • Fill out the MTAD Scholarship Audition/Interview Request Form by Sunday, February 5, 2024 (Midnight, PST):
  • Returning students must fill out the University Wildcat Scholarship application
  • Incoming students are encouraged to fill out this form as well.
  • See audition/interview requirements below as to what will be required at your audition.
• Video Audition (Incoming students only)
  • Videos must be received by the Music and Theatre Department by midnight on February 12 for full scholarship consideration and you must have completed the MTAD Scholarship Audition/Interview Request Form.
  • Videos must be of high video and audio quality. Videos should be recorded with a devise designed for high quality recording. Please use a tripod or similar device for the duration of recording so the camera remains stationary.
  • Record the video in an appropriate room or space with the best lighting and sound quality.
  • Set the camera to show hand and body positions, using the closest camera distance to also include as much of the entire body as possible. Piano auditions should include a view of the entire body, to show hands on the keys and feet on the pedals.
  • Pre-recorded accompaniment (i.e. piano, “Accompanist,” “Smart Music,” “Jamey Aebersold”) is acceptable.
  • Video must be current (no more than 6 months old) and no more than 10-15 minutes.
  • Performance selection should showcase musical and technical abilities. See the Audition/Interview Requirements for suggested audition material.
  • Dress for the video audition as if it were a live audition.
  • Announce each selection or scale clearly, facing the camera. Give title and composer of material before playing/singing.
  • Upload video to YouTube and email the link to: mtad@csuchico.edu
  • Make sure to include your full name, student ID number (if you have one) and your chosen instrument (or voice) (e.g. piano, trumpet, clarinet, voice, guitar, etc.)
  • Remember to back up the video for archival purposes.
• Interview for Music Industry and Recording Arts

  Procedure

  If you would like to interview for a Music Industry and/or Recording Arts scholarship, you have a few options:

  Returning students:

  1. In Person (returning students must interview in person)

  Incoming students:

  1. Zoom (preferred) or Skype 
  2. Phone 

  You will need to...

  • Complete the MTAD Scholarship Audition/Interview Request Form in order to make arrangements for an interview time.
  • Students should be prepared to answer a variety of questions relating to their experiences, both academic and work-related, and discuss future goals.
  •  Interview times will be assigned via email. Please check your email.

Requirements & Procedures

• Vocal

  1) Vocalization - to determine range, vocal timbre, consistency of vibrato, intonation, etc. Please choose a variety of exercises with which you warm up in order to demonstrate your abilities as a vocalist.

  2) Total memory - sing back a short melody, reproduce notes in a chord, etc.

  3) Sightreading 

  4) Literature – Sing two contrasting songs that you have prepared. Vocalists should choose selections that are folk songs, art songs, or arias from either opera or oratorio literature. 

• Instrumental

  Please prepare 3-5 mins of a solo, etude, or excerpt of your choice. The audition piece should include lyrical and technical passages, as well as musical phrases that showcase range and dynamic control.

  If you do not have a prepared solo, you may select an excerpt provided below.

  Flute  VI No. 5 Sonate by J. Ch. Naudot 
  Oboe Menuetto and Presto by F. J. Haydn  
  Clarinet  Scene and Air by M. Bergson, Op. 82 Ed. by H. Voxman
  Bassoon  Allegro Appassionata by C. Saint-Sanes Op. 43 Arr. by Henry T. Paine
  Bass Clarinet  Mosaic by R. H. Walthew
  Alto Sax  Adagio and Allegro by G. F. Handel 
  Tenor Sax  Adagio and Allegro by G. F. Handel
  Bari Sax  Happy Valley by B. Leonard
  Trumpet  #2 Etude
  Horn  Sonata by A. Corelli  
  Trombone  Apres un Reve by G. Faure Op. 7 No. 
  Euphonium  Concertino by L. Stransky
  Tuba  70 Studies: Etude Study #1 by V. Blazhevich 

  
  *Perform within the brackets notated on each piece. Tempos are flexible and there will be no repeats. Please contact Prof Christopher Navarrete if you have any questions. 

  If you cannot access the PDF, email Judy Hamamoto to request a copy of the audition piece for your instrument.

• Percussion

  Percussion (PDF) Snare Drum Etude No 7

  Contact Prof Chris Navarrete for audition requirements.

• Piano

  Lower Division

  Baroque: ONE memorized Two-part or Three-part Invention by J.S. Bach or ONE memorized Sonata by D. Scarlatti
  Classical: ONE memorized movement from Sonatas/Sonatinas by Clementi, Kuhlau, Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven
  Romantic or Twentieth-Century/Contemporary: ONE memorized selection drawn from the standard piano repertoire, such as Nocturne by Chopin or "Visions Fugitives" by Prokofiev

  
  Upper Division & Transfer Students

  Baroque: ONE memorized Prelude and Fugue from the WTC, Book I, or TWO memorized contrasting movements from French Suites, English Suites or Partitas by J.S. Bach
  Classical: ONE memorized fast movement from Sonatas by Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven
  Romantic or Twentieth-Century/Contemporary: ONE memorized selection drawn from the standard piano repertoire, such as Intermezzo by Brahms or Malaguena by Lecuona

• Guitar

  Contact David Scholz for audition requirements.

• Music Industry & Recording Arts

  Career Vision – as a Pitch.  Students will need to succinctly articulate their future career goal(s).  Simplicity, honesty, efficiency, clarity, feasibility are primary considerations.  More than one answer is ok as long as they befit the below, and the reasons are well articulated as a part of this pitch. 

  a) Note: A “pitch” is not a “speech.”  A succinct, compelling, conversational style is advisable.   

  Diligence, in present view –  Students should be prepared to explain what they are doing currently to invest in themselves, actively, in order to achieve their career goals.

  Evidence/demo of student’s vision– Prepare to show a link (cued) in 20-30 seconds maximum (using the student’s own laptop or mobile device), as a visualization of with what that now or will look like, conceptually, befitting the student’s stated vision.

  Overall interview skills, in follow up – students will demonstrate the ability to field unanticipated (but relevant) questions, in context, in an honest, professionally convincing, practical and humble manner.

  Current resume – Honest, simple, relevant, printed.  Students are strongly advised to visit university career services for assistance with preparation.

  Current transcripts – Stapled or clipped to resume.  Sophomore and above- college grades to date; freshmen- use high school transcript instead.  “Unofficial” (electronic-fast delivery) copies are welcome (official, embossed versions via postal mail are not necessary).   Note: These transcripts will be returned to you following the interview.