Chicago College of Performing Arts | Roosevelt University

Voice & Opera Audition  Information

Classical Voice Audition Requirements (MM)

All Classical Voice auditions must be accompanied by a pianist. The CCPA Enrollment Office will provide an accompanist for all auditions in Chicago, although applicants may bring their own (except Opera Diploma auditions). Accompanists will NOT be provided at regional auditions in the US or Asia. All voice applicants auditioning regionally must provide and pay for their own accompanist. 

All repertoire is to be performed from memory. No pre-screening recordings are required for undergraduate or masters level auditions.

Freshman (BM): The applicant should sing three (3) appropriate pieces from the classical Italian, English or American repertoire; French or German songs are acceptable if the student has proficiency. Applicants should not attempt songs or arias of a difficulty beyond his/her years of vocal ability. Repertoire that will demonstrate the quality and potential of the voice should be presented.

Sophomore (BM): Three pieces: a song in English; an old Italian art song; and a German lied, French chanson, or aria.

Junior/Senior (BM) or Graduate (MM): Four Pieces: Two chansons or two lieder, or one of each; a song by an English or American composer; and an opera, concert or oratorio aria.

Opera Diploma: Please visit the Opera Diploma program page for pre-screening, application, and audition information

Opera Audition Requirements

• All applicants must have an undergraduate degree.
• All applicants must be available to come to Chicago for a live audition on the specified date. 
  Live auditions are granted just to those who pass our pre-screening round of recorded auditions. All final voice auditions will take place on February 1, 2019. All invited applicants must attend this day to be considered for admission. Piano applicants will be contacted to arrange a date for final audition, if invited. Do not make any travel arrangements to Chicago until you have received notification of your pre-screening decision.

Pre-screening  audition requirements

All applicants must apply to CCPA and submit pre-screening requirements via Acceptd: November 26, 2018.

All materials must be uploaded via Acceptd. DO NOT mail recordings or documents to CCPA.

Singers

• A recording of three operatic arias (no art song or oratorio)
• a minimum of two languages represented, one of which MUST be English
• one aria must be contemporary
• all recordings must have been made within the last 6 months, one of which must be a video
• A recent headshot
• An academic and professional résumé
• You will upload your personal statement to your Roosevelt University Performing Arts application. Follow the prompt on the application site.
• Three letters of recommendation will be required within your Roosevelt University Performing Arts application. One should be from your current voice teacher assessing your current level of development and career potential. The other two should be from professionals or faculty with whom you have recently worked and that address your musical and dramatic abilities.

Pianists

• One complete work for solo piano
• Two operatic selections of contrasting periods and styles (arias and/or scenes/ensembles) to be performed with singers. Of the recordings, at least one must be a video. All recordings must have been made within the last 6 months.
• A recent headshot
• An academic and professional résumé
• You will upload your personal statement to your Roosevelt University Performing Arts application. Follow the prompt on the application site.
• Three letters of recommendation will be required with your Roosevelt University Performing Arts application. One will be from your current teacher assessing your current level of development and career potential. The other two will be from professionals or faculty with whom you have recently worked and that address your musical abilities.

Live Audition requirements

Singers

Do not make any travel arrangements to Chicago unless you receive indication that you have made it through the pre-screening round of recorded auditions. All repertoire must be performed from memory. CCPA will provide you an accompanist for your live audition. You may NOT bring your own accompanist.

Four contrasting operatic arias in the original language (no oratorio), to be performed from memory. These may include selections from the pre-screening audition if you wish.

• A minimum of three languages represented, one of which MUST be English
• At least three stylistic periods must be represented, including Contemporary which is mandatory: Baroque (through Handel), Classical (through Rossini), Romantic/Post-Romantic (through Barber)

Pianists

Do not make travel arrangements to Chicago unless you receive indication that you have made it through the pre-screening round of auditions. All excerpts below must be played and sung in the original language.

• One complete work for solo piano
• Mozart, Don Giovanni - Opening of Act I (through Don Ottavio and Donna Anna's duet)
• Strauss, Ariadne auf Naxos - Composer's aria "sein wir wieder gut" (ending after "die heilige Musik")
• Adams, The Death of Klinghoffer - Act I scene I ("it was just after one fifteen" through "slightly slower" after "makes intellect an animal")

Live audition procedures and expectations

All applicants must be at an advanced level of technical ability. Singers should have a working knowledge of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and a firm grasp on at least one of the basic singing languages (in addition to English). They should also have experience working with directors and be comfortable onstage. Singers and pianists must provide 3 copies of their repertoire list and 3 copies of their résumé to their live audition.

Singers

Singers invited to a live audition MUST be available the entire day on February 1, 2019. No exceptions shall be made.

All singers will present an aria of their choice, and will be prepared to sing additional selections from their list as requested by the audition panel. In addition to performing their presented arias, singers may be asked for a working session with our program head. Those selected to join the program will be notified by CCPA within a week after the final auditions.

Proper audition attire is expected for the audition.

Updated on 09/11/2018