School of Music

The Vocal Division provides high quality studio and classroom instruction for a variety of degree programs in music. Some of these are Vocal Performance, Music Education (primary and secondary), Bachelor of Arts in Music, Media Music, and Composition with the goal to prepare students in these majors for the rigors of their disciplines. The division also provides vocal instruction (group and private) to over three hundred students study on an elective basis, particularly those students who participate in the outstanding choral organizations on campus.

The Division boasts a high placement rate among its graduates in their chosen fields, whether in the classroom, continuing graduate study, or in the music industry. For example, Lindsey Killian, a School of Music alumna (MM '99), was a recent Metropolitan Opera National Winner. Many graduates hold position in elementary, secondary, and university institutions around the country while others continue their educations at the best graduate programs in the nation.

A successful series of pedagogical classes prepare students to become successful studio voice teachers. Graduate students in voice receive teaching assistantships which provide training and experience in studio and group voice teaching. Students of voice receive rigorous instruction in vocal technique, styles applications, and performance techniques which they apply in solo recitals, participation in the Opera Workshop (the oldest continuous opera workshop in the intermountain West, with over 50 years of productions), and in any one of a number of choral ensembles which make up the internationally renown choral program at BYU.

In accordance with the Mission Statement of the University, the vocal division seeks to train well-rounded individuals who combine excellence in their chosen fields of study with the lofty spiritual values of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

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The five choral organizations at BYU give interested students a challenging and rewarding opportunity to participate in a choir that exposes them to all facets of choral literature. Both music majors and non-music majors are encouraged to audition. Each year approximately 75% of the membership in our select choirs is made up of non-music major students who love to sing.

Brigham Young University Singers
The BYU Singers, a highly select ensemble of 40 advanced, flexible singer-musicians, is known for their polished and moving performances of the best of music written for choir. From Moscow to Jerusalem, London to Sydney, and New York to Vienna, the reports are the same: this spellbinding, versatile ensemble is precise and unified, with an impressive flair for stylish and expressive performance.

Concert Choir
A highly select ensemble of approximately 90 advanced singers, the Concert Choir is dedicated to the performance of the great choral literature. Its repertoire encompasses a wide range of styles, from works of the Renaissance to contemporary periods.

Men's Chorus
The Brigham Young University Men's Chorus is possibly the largest collegiate male choral organization in the country. Founded in 1958, it has steadily grown to its present membership of 200 voices. As a result of its versatile literature and engaging performance style, the BYU Men's Chorus has captured the admiration of audiences throughout the Western United States and beyond.

Women's Chorus
This high caliber ensemble of up to 180 singers is winning a vast new audience with their performances as featured guests on the last three Homecoming Spectacular programs broadcast on KBYU and BYU TV. The Women's Chorus has build a well-deserved reputation for highly musical performances that encompass moving pieces of extraordinary beauty as well as fun-filled show-stoppers. Their first CD, an exciting mix of choral classics, beloved hymns, and finger-snappin' folk and jazz, was released fall 2008.

Audition Process

Dates: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday before the Fall Semester starts (during Freshman and New Student Orientation Week)

How to Sign-up: Sign-up sheets will be posted on the third floor, E-wing, bulletin board in the Harris Fine Arts Center approximately one week before school starts. Sign-ups are at any time.

What to sing: You should arrive at your audition prepared to sing a song with which you are familiar and comfortable. A hymn will do nicely. No arias, please.

Please go here for complete audition information.

This is the screening audition for all choirs.

Additional Vocal Ensembles

University Chorale
This large open-enrollment choir allows all interested students the opportunity to be involved in a choral organization. The chorale performs a variety of music from many different styles.
No audition required.

Jazz Voices
Jazz Voices is a group of 16 jazz singers with four musicians as an added rhythm section. The ensemble features typical jazz close harmony. Individual members learn to improvise in the style of idioms of mainstream jazz. Syncopation has been featured at the International Convention of International Association of Jazz Ensembles and the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. For more information contact Katie Williams at katiewilliams.music@gmail.com.

Vocal Jazz Ensemble
The Vocal Jazz Ensemble is a group of 24 singers with a rhythm section. It is a great ensemble for talented students who are interested in exploring the vocal jazz idiom. This ensemble performs each semester on campus. For more information contact Katie Williams at katiewilliams.music@gmail.com.

Young Ambassadors
Young Ambassadors is a singing, dancing, musical theatre company that conducts worldwide tours. The 20 singer/dancers (10 women, and 10 men), four musicians, and 10 technical personnel perform both Fall and Winter semesters. A four-week tour follows Winter Semester. Auditions for Young Ambassadors take place every year in April. Posters announce location and times, and information can be obtained from the RB Music Office, 801-422-2563.

Auditions for Young Ambassador Show Band begin in April. Occasionally positions remain open into the second week of September. The band is essentially a rhythm section, with piano, guitar, bass, and drums. The show requires experience in all styles of popular music and jazz.

Music Theatre/Opera
Each semester the School of Music, the Department of Theatre and Media Arts, and the Department of Dance cooperate in the production of a fully staged Broadway musical in one of the five theatres in the Harris Fine Arts Center. Performance opportunities are also available in the form of music theatre sketches and Mask Club performances. Each semester music theatre performance classes are offered to qualified students by the School of Music (Opera) and the Department of Theatre and Media Arts (musicals and Mask Club). University credit is available for students performing in major productions. Contact Lawrence Vincent at 801-422-3165 or Lawrence_Vincent@byu.edu for audition information.

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If you are interested in degree programs which require classical vocal training (Performance, Bachelor of Arts, Composition) you must audition for the Classical Voice Division. Those interested in Music Education (Choral Education, Elementary Music Education) do not need to send a DVD; you will audition after completing the gateway course for Music Education (Music 176: Introduction to careers in Music Education). (See music.byu.edu for more information). Other degree programs (Music/Dance/Theater, Media Music, Sound Recording Technology) require a separate audition. Please contact those areas DIRECTLY for that information. (rbmusic@byu.edu)

ALL vocal students auditioning for the BM in Vocal Performance, BM in Composition, or the BA in Music degree programs (NOT the Music Education, MDT, Media Music, Jazz, or Sound Recording Technology programs) MUST submit an AUDITION RECORDING (DVD or VHS ONLY) along with a COMPLETED School of Music Application and letter(s) of recommendation as part of the Vocal Area's pre-screening process. These materials must be postmarked by DECEMBER 1ST. Prospective students who pass the pre-screening process will be invited to perform a live audition on audition day (the last Saturday in January). ONLY the students who have completed their application process – including recorded materials and letters of recommendations – by DECEMBER 1ST will be considered in the pre-screening process for the live auditions in January.

Please prepare three contrasting selections (mood, tempos, languages, styles) for your audition. At least one of these selections must be in English. For recorded auditions, begin with your preferred selection. If you wish, you may also include any vocalises that demonstrate skills not shown in the selected songs. At the live audition, you will select your first song, and the jury will choose from among the other songs you have prepared to complete your audition. An accompanist will be provided; or you may bring your own.

DVD's should be mailed or delivered to:

BYU School of Music
C-550 HFAC
Provo UT 84602-6410

Admission Application & Audition Dates, Fall Semester 2012

Click here to apply.

Questions? E-mail us at music@byu.edu or call the School of Music at 801-422-8903.

Graduate applicants: Please contact Diane Reich at 801-422-8949 or diane_reich@byu.edu.

Applicants intending to major in Bachelor of Arts, Composition, Media Music, Sound Recording Technology, Jazz Studies, or Music Education: Elementary Music Specialist should contact faculty overseeing those degrees prior to their audition who may request additional performance repertoire, faculty interviews, portfolios or other materials. Note that pianists are not allowed to major in Secondary Music Education. See below for faculty contact information.

Audition Requirements

Repertoire

1. Prepare three pieces of contrasting nature (styles, tempo, mood, language) that explore your most successful classical vocal repertoire. Include literature that demonstrates any language proficiency in addition to English. Sing your best pieces first.
2. If your three selections do not fully demonstrate the integration and limits of your full-voiced pitch range, you may wish to conclude with a series of vocalises that do. The voice faculty may, additionally, ask you to sing a brief portion of a well-known hymn that shows ability to sing with sense of centered pitch.

Vocal Audition DVD Tips can be found here.

Please feel free to contact Dr. Lawrence Vincent at 801-422-3165 or lawrence_vincent@byu.edu regarding questions you may have about the classical voice area.