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Hello!

Interested undergraduate students should check out our future students page or click here to find out more about auditioning for the School of Music. Those interested in Graduate work should see our graduate information page for more information or email Dr. David MacDonald, our Graduate Coordinator, to get started.

Piano and Organ at WSU

Wichita State University's School of Music has developed programs in music education, music performance, pedagogy, history/literature, theory/composition, and conducting which are significant in size and quality and are highly acclaimed throughout the nation. In part, this is due to Wichita State's urban setting, affording cultural diversity with excellent opportunities for faculty and students.

Faculty members in the School of Music are artist-teachers who have significant teaching and professional playing experience. Each full time faculty member is a nationally recognized musician in their own right and frequently appear as guest artists, guest conductors and clinicians throughout Kansas and the United States. Their successful careers span all facets of the professional world.

Many members of the faculty are principals or members of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, as well as members of faculty ensembles and other ensembles of national repute. Faculty ensembles present a concert on campus each year. In addition, these ensembles frequently present concerts and clinics at other universities and communities throughout the nation. The music faculty at Wichita State are committed to each individual student and are interested in personal music development.

Both individual performance skills and ensemble experience are central to the music program at Wichita State University. The School of Music offers an excellent variety of performance opportunities through a wide range of large ensembles, including four choirs, two concert bands, a symphony orchestra, a jazz ensemble, and athletic bands, and small ensembles.

Because of the close relationship between the University and the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, music students are not only able to hear world-class artists perform throughout the year, but are often given the opportunity to meet and play for them in masterclass situations.

Undergraduate Audition Information

To schedule an audition, please complete this form. Pianists are asked to prepare the following to audition:

  • Perform at least two solo compositions in contrasting styles.  Students may choose from Baroque, Classic, Romantic, and Modern repertoire.  It is recommended that at least one of the pieces be memorized.
  • Students may be asked to sight read a short selection chosen from intermediate repertoire.

If you have any further questions, please get in touch. We are very pleased that you are considering Wichita State for your music studies.

Graduate Organ Auditions

Auditions for the MM in Organ Performance may either be live or a recording sent via CD, DVD or online sound/video source such as You Tube, an audio hyperlink, etc. Auditions require at least 15-20 minutes of music, including:

  • A major work of J. S. Bach (e.g., a prelude and fugue, trio sonata, large chorale prelude, or equivalent)
  • A composition of the Romantic period
  • A contemporary composition

If you have any further questions, please get in touch. We are very pleased that you are considering Wichita State for your graduate studies.

an image of our organ

Graduate Piano Auditions

  • Piano Accompanying

    Applicants must perform two to three solo or collaborative compositions in contrasting styles. Performers may choose from Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, Modern, and Contemporary styles. At least one of the selections must be memorized and candidates will sight-read a collaborative selection. Candidates may submit a recording via CD, DVD or online sound /video sources such as Youtube, audio hyperlink etc. in lieu of a live audition.

    Along with the application candidates are asked to submit a list of repertoire they have either rehearsed and/or performed with vocalists, instrumentalists and chamber ensembles.

  • Piano Pedagogy

    Applicants must submit:

    • A Letter of Recommendation from a professor or teacher familiar with the applicants’ teaching, or if the applicant has no prior teaching experience a general letter of recommendation will be accepted
    • A Personal Statement outlining the applicants’ goals and objectives for study and/or teaching philosophy
    • In addition, the applicant must perform a live campus audition, presenting three compositions in contrasting styles from the Baroque, Classic, Romantic, Impressionistic, Modern and Contemporary styles. All works should be memorized; applicants will also be expected to sight read a short selection from the standard repertoire. Should circumstances necessitate it, applicants may submit a recording via CD, DVD, or online source as a substitution for the live audition.

  • Piano Performance

    Applicants will be asked to perform three to four solo compositions in contrasting styles. Performers may choose from Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, Modern, and Contemporary styles. All works should be memorized and candidates will be expected to sight-read a short selection from the standard repertoire. Candidates may submit a recording via CD, DVD or online sound/video sources such as Youtube, audio hyperlink etc.

Contact Us

(316) 978-3103 • schoolofmusic@wichita.edu

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