School of Music changes audition day

Through a new initiative designed to streamline their audition process, the USM School of Music will hold its first publicized Audition Day today.

This was brought about by the Director of the School of Music, Michael Miles, who felt that the organization really needed audition dates that were set and published, to lessen the burden of responsibility on prospective auditioners.

Ryan Rome, a freshman from Mandeville, La. recalls his audition day.

“I was nervous, but not to the point that I let it get in the way of my audition,” said Rome. “I knew I had to play well.”

Rome, a bassoonist, is a music performance major, so the audition was very important.

Music majors must participate in the university Bands, and this audition helped determine not only his placement in the bands, but his scholarship award from the department.

Rome says that when he finished his audition, he knew he had played his best and was not concerned.

“The wait for the results seemed like forever, though,” laughed Rome.

In past years, students hoping to be a part of the School of Music had to schedule their own appointments for auditions which led to a “trickling effect,” according to James Standland, the Assistant Director of Bands for USM.

Standland listens to many of the auditions.

In his opinion, a strong audition comes from a student who has truly taken time to prepare for it.

Standland said, “The student who knows all of the scales and has worked hard practicing their prepared piece will be very successful.  It really is no secret what we want the students who audition to do.”

The only thing students are not able to prepare for is the sight reading portion of the audition. Sight reading is a music selection that is given to the participant at the audition which they have a small amount of time to look over and must play on-the-spot.

After students finish their auditions, they must wait until their results are processed and the staff meets to ensure the offers to each student are appropriate. 

“Usually, by mid-April we have results in the students’ hands,” said Standland, “Our Associate Director of Bands, Mr. Mohamad Schuman will send out all the offers.

An offer can be anything from being accepted into the Pride of Mississippi to scholarship offers.”

Rome’s audition earned him membership into the Pride of Mississippi along with a scholarship.

“The scholarship is really helpful, of course, but the friends and connections I am making are even more valuable to me,” said Rome.

Standland says that the music department encourages even students already enrolled at USM to considering auditioning, either today or by appointment.

“If you were once in a music program at your high school, I’m sure that we have a place for you here in one of the outstanding programs in the School of Music.”