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Audition Requirements

Types of Music Auditions

Major Auditions in Music: required for admission as major in music at BJU. This audition is part of the Application for Admission to the Division of Music. 

Scholarship Auditions: required to be considered for a BJU Music Scholarship, open to music majors only. Division of Music Merit Awards for non-music majors are occasionally offered by the Division of Music based on the Scholarship Audition results. 

Minor Auditions: for students who wish to study music while majoring in a different field. Students should be able to sight-read mid-intermediate repertoire and perform upper-intermediate repertoire with fluency and musicality and successfully audition into a large ensemble corresponding to their principal instrument or voice (choir, band, or orchestra). Students wishing to minor in music will audition on campus during Welcome Week in August; minors do not need to complete the online music admission application. See Repertoire Requirements for Music Minor and Non-Major Lessons below. 

Non-Major Auditions: for students who wish to take music lessons as a BJU student. Auditions take place on campus during Welcome Week in August. No formal application process is required. In certain instances, highly skilled non-major performers may qualify for Merit Scholarship consideration. See Repertoire Requirements for Music Minor and Non-Major Lessons below. 

Ensemble Auditions: for all students who wish to join band, orchestra, or choir, these are held on campus during Welcome Week in August. See Ensembles for more information.

Who Must Audition?

  • New students who plan to major in music at Bob Jones University must submit a video audition.
  • New students who plan to double major in music and another field must submit a video audition.
  • Transfer students who plan to major in music at BJU must submit a video audition.
  • Current BJU students desiring to change majors to a music degree must audition on campus.
  • New or current students who plan to minor in music must audition during Welcome Week in August.
  • All students, regardless of major, who desire to participate in a large ensemble (band, orchestra, choir) must audition during Welcome Week in August.
  • All students desiring non-major private lessons must audition during Welcome Week in August.

Audition Checklist

I understand that in order to audition for admission to the Division of Music as a music major and/or for music merit scholarship consideration, I must

  • apply for general admission to BJU.
  • complete the Division of Music section of the BJU application, and submit audition videos and all required materials by the posted deadlines.

Preparing a Successful Audition

Download Audition and Video Recording Advice for help with preparing your audition.

Repertoire Requirements for Music Admission and Scholarship Consideration

VOICE Major or Principal:

Bachelor of Music Education VOICE 

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science VOICE

Bachelor of Music in Composition VOICE 

Bachelor of Music in Performance (Voice) 

PIANO Major or Principal: 

Bachelor of Music in Performance (Piano)

Bachelor of Music in Composition KEYBOARD

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science KEYBOARD

Bachelor of Music Education KEYBOARD 

ORGAN Major or Principal: 

Bachelor of Music in Performance (Organ)

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science KEYBOARD

Bachelor of Music in Composition KEYBOARD

Bachelor of Music Education KEYBOARD

ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENT Major or Principal in Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp, Guitar 

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science STRINGS

Bachelor of Music Education STRINGS

Bachelor of Music in Composition STRINGS

Bachelor of Music in Performance (Strings) 

ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENT Major or Principal in Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion: (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Percussion) 

Bachelor of Music Education WOODWIND BRASS PERCUSSION

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science WOODWIND BRASS PERCUSSION

Bachelor of Music in Composition WOODWIND BRASS PERCUSSION

Bachelor of Music in Performance (Woodwind, Brass, Percussion)

SECONDARY AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Students applying for admission to the BA Music, the BS Music, or the BMus in Performance (Keyboard Track) programs are not required to declare a specialization in a secondary instrument. All other applicants must declare and audition in a secondary area as follows.

  • Secondary piano is required for students in the following programs:

    BME – Choral track, voice principal
    BME – Instrumental track, orchestral instrument principal
    BMus Composition, orchestral instrument principal or voice principal
    BMus in Performance with a Voice track, Guitar track, or Instrumental track

  • Secondary piano auditions are held during Welcome Week and Pre-Registration. Secondary piano audition information is available here: Secondary Piano Info. Students who test out of secondary piano must replace those credits with music electives.

  • Secondary lessons in voice or another instrument are required for students in the following programs:

    BME – Choral track, piano principal
    BME – Instrumental track, piano principal (secondary must be an orchestral instrument)
    BMus Composition, piano principal

    These students may audition with one work, sacred or classical. Memorization is not required. Auditions are held during Welcome Week and Pre-Registration – stop by the Division of Music Office (GFAC 130).

Repertoire Requirements for Music Minor and Non-Major Lessons:

These auditions will be held during Welcome Week in August. Students wishing to audition to be a music minor should be able to sight-read mid-intermediate repertoire and perform upper-intermediate repertoire with fluency and musicality and successfully audition into a large ensemble corresponding to their principal instrument or voice (choir, band, or orchestra).

VOICE: Music Minor and Non-Major: Students who wish to take non-major lessons or minor in music with an emphasis in voice may perform either one traditional gospel/sacred song or art song. Memory is not required. An accompanist will be provided. If you need assistance or have questions, feel free to contact ljbrunda@bju.edu. 

PIANO: Students who wish to take non-major lessons or minor in music with an emphasis in piano should perform two contrasting works from the Baroque, Classic, Romantic, Impressionist, or Modern eras, preferably from memory. If you need assistance or have questions, feel free to contact nmacavoy@bju.edu. 

ORGAN: Students who wish to take non-major lessons or minor in music with an emphasis in organ should prepare one piece (either on the piano or organ) from the standard repertoire. If you need assistance or have questions, feel free to contact nmacavoy@bju.edu.

STRING INSTRUMENTS: (Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp, Guitar) Students who wish to take non-major lessons or minor in music with an emphasis in a string instrument should perform one work, sacred or classical. If you need assistance or have questions, feel free to contact bironsid@bju.edu. 

WOODWIND, BRASS, PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS: (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Percussion) Students who wish to take non-major lessons or minor in music with an emphasis in one of these instruments should perform one work, sacred or classical. If you need assistance or have questions, feel free to contact brucecox@bju.edu.