Audition and Scholarship Information

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Choral Ensembles Audition Information

• • [MUS 45] Chamber Singers

    Schedule

    The Chamber Singers audition once per year towards the end of the Spring semester for incoming and current students.

    2025-2026 CHAMBER SINGERS AUDITIONS
    Chamber Singers auditions for current Mt. SAC students will take place Wednesday, May 7th and Friday, May 9th from 2:00pm – 6:00pm by appointment only.
    
    Chamber Singers auditions for incoming Mt. SAC freshman will take place on Saturday, May 10, 2025 from 8:00am – 4:00pm.
    
    Interested students should immediately contact Dr. Matthew Lyon Hazzard at mhazzard@mtsac.edu to schedule a 15 minute audition time-slot.

    Details

    1. Dr. Hazzard will vocalize students to hear their range (both low and high) and to hear the quality of their voice.
    2. Pitch Memory – Dr. Hazzard will play five examples of 4 to 7 notes on the piano and have students sing them back to him.  This will be used to test their ear.
    3. Sight Singing – Dr. Hazzard will give the students one or two simple sight reading examples to sing.
    4. Prepared Song – Dr. Hazzard will have the student sing a verse or two of any song they think best represents their voice.  This song should be sung a cappella, and could be an art song, a folk song, a pop song, a Broadway show tune, an Operatic aria, etc.
    5. We will have a short interview about their future goals and why they would like to be in the Mt. SAC Chamber Singers.  I might also ask some additional questions.

    If a student makes call-backs, they would then be given a 4-part song to go home and learn.  They will return one week later (Saturday, May 17th) to meet with other students who made call-backs and perform the song in a quartet situation.

  • [MUS 31] Concert Choir

    Schedule

    Concert Choir meets Mondays & Wednesdays 1:15PM-2:40PM in the Bruce Rogers Choral Room, M108.
    
    Concert Choir auditions take place the first two weeks of the Fall and Spring semester during class. Simply attend class, fill an entry form, and complete a quick audition with Dr. Hazzard.

    Details

    Auditions consist of a simple vocalise to test range and an ability to match pitch. Students who do not make it into Concert Choir are encouraged to take MUS 20A Elementary Voice to work on pitch-matching and vocal coordination.
    
    Registration is open to all students-auditions during first week of class. For more information, please contact Dr. Matthew Lyon Hazzard at mhazzard@mtsac.edu.

     

     

  • [MUS 44] & [MUS 50] Vocal Jazz Ensembles

    Schedule

    First Monday and Wednesday of the Fall Semester

    Details

    For more information about Vocal Jazz auditions for Singcopation (our advanced ensemble) and Frontline, contact Dr. Jeremy Fox at jfox30@mtsac.edu and/or visit this page:
    https://docs.google.com/document/d/17YGPy37nf8n0Xu1CGvUYCXfNhyzbzK54uIkYkh2Y8-E/edit

General Information

•  The preliminary auditions for the Chamber Singers (where students demonstrate vocal range, sight singing skills, and pitch memory) generally take place in May for the following year. 
• Call-back auditions for students to perform one or two songs in a quartet situation will be held a week later. 
• All of the other choral groups are auditioned during the first week of classes in August. 
• All students interested in Chamber Singer auditions must contact Dr. Matthew Lyon Hazzard at (910) 528-2086 or at mhazzard@mtsac.edu at the beginning of May to set up a 15 minute audition time for the preliminary auditions.
  
  
  

Instrumental Ensembles

Auditions for instrumental ensembles are held during the first week of classes each semester. Please attend the first rehearsal of the ensemble of choice and you will receive audition information at that time. Generally, the audition includes the following:

• A prepared piece (student's choice, which could be an excerpt from a large band or orchestral work, a solo, or an etude)
• Major scales (as many as possible)
• Sight reading

 

Scholarship Information

The instrumental program awards several scholarships to qualified incoming students who commit to performing in instrumental groups. To be considered for a  instrumental music scholarship, contact Prof. Jeff Ellwood at jellwood@mtsac.edu or Dr. Karen Marston at kmarston1@mtsac.edu for an audition time.