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Auditions

Complete Audition List

Symphony Orchestra | Wind Ensemble | Jazz Ensembles | Concert Choir | Chamber Chorus | RAMBAX | Gamelan Galak Tika | Chamber Music Society | Vocal Jazz Ensemble | Laptop Ensemble | Emerson/Harris Program for Private Study

 

MIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Adam Boyles, Director (akboyles@mit.edu)

The MIT Symphony Orchestra is holding open auditions for Fall 2025. Auditions are open to all with preference given to MIT and Wellesley students. MIT and Wellesley students may take MITSO for 6 units of credit, but one need not take MITSO for credit to fully participate. 
 
For Fall 2025, all auditions are to be submitted by video. Carefully note the following guidelines:
  1. The entire video is to be done in one unedited take.
  2. At the beginning, please state your name, date, instrument, school or community affiliation, and the solo work to be performed.
    • Example: “Hi, I’m John Smith. Today is August 31. I play the viola and am a first-year MIT student. I will be performing an excerpt from the Walton concerto."
  3. Perform a short solo work/excerpt of your choosing, no longer than three minutes. This may be performed with music in front you, but please situate the camera so you can be fully seen the whole time.
  4. When your solo piece is done, please do four scales: one major, one harmonic minor, one melodic minor, and one natural minor. Announce each key and scale before you do it. Each scale must be in a different key. Number of octaves, tempo, and articulation are up to you. Strings, please do not do an arpeggio at the end, and at least two scales must not be the keys of the open strings. Memorization is preferred but not mandatory. Solid intonation and steady tempo are preferred over speed and number of octaves.
    • Example: Db major, F# harmonic minor, E melodic minor, Bb natural minor
  5. Please email the video or video link directly to Dr. Boyles, akboyles@mit.edu.
  6. Videos are due August 31 before 11:59pm. 
  7. During the first week of classes in September, you will be contacted directly regarding audition results. You may be contacted about an in-person callback audition to be scheduled either September 2nd or 3rd.
Switch to plain text editorPercussionists: For use of the percussion studio and equipment, please email MITSO manager, Riley Vogel (vogel503@mit.edu), to request access.
 
The first MITSO rehearsal of the season is tentatively scheduled for Thursday September 4th, 7:30pm, Kresge Auditorium.
 
Please email Dr. Boyles if you have any questions or concerns.
 
 

MIT WIND ENSEMBLE

Dr. Frederick Harris, Music Director (fharris@mit.edu)

Please see the MITWE Page for complete audition information.

 

MIT FESTIVAL JAZZ ENSEMBLE & CMS JAZZ COMBOS

Dr. Frederick Harris, Music Director, MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble, MIT Jazz Performance Coordinator, and Emerson/Harris Jazz Advisor, (fharris@mit.edu)

Please see the MIT FJE Page or MIT CMS Jazz Combos Page for complete audition information.

 

MIT CONCERT CHOIR

Concert Choir, 21M.401

Interested singers should attend the open rehearsals on Wednesday, September 3 and Monday, September 8, 7:05p-9:30p pm in Tull Concert Hall (W18). During the first 45 minutes of this meeting, we will all learn an excerpt from the choral music we’ll be performing. This excerpt will be used as the music for a low-key placement evaluation in which you will be asked to sing it in a small group. Please register by using the link below. (ALL SINGERS should attend).  Repertoire for the Fall 25 Semester is:

Register for Open Rehearsal Here

 

MIT CHAMBER CHORUS

Auditions by appointment. Please email Ryan Turner, Director (rlturner@mit.edu) to schedule:

Tues, 09/02 11:00a-2:00p

Wed, 09/03  4:30p-6:15p

Thur, 09/04   9:30a-11:00a

 

Audition Requirements: One solo art song, folk song, or musical theater piece with piano accompaniment. (Pianist is provided). You will also be asked to vocalize and sight read.

 

RAMBAX MIT, SENEGALESE DRUM ENSEMBLE

Directed by Lamine Touré (lamine@mit.edu) with faculty advisor, Patricia Tang(pjtang@mit.edu). Drums provided; no previous drumming experience necessary. 

New members should register for 21M.460 and attend the first beginner class meeting on Monday, September 8, 2025, from 8:30-10:00pm in W18-1202.

Questions please email - pjtang@mit.edu.

 

GAMELAN GALAK TIKA

There is no formal audition or music experience required for the Balinese Gamelan class; only an interest in learning to play any of these instruments. MIT students wanting to take the class should register for 21M.450 and attend the first class meeting on Wednesday evening, September 3, 2025, from 7 to 10 PM. Classes are held in W18-1202 Music and Culture Space.

Anyone wishing to participate in Gamelan Galak Tika should reach out to Gusti Komin (komin@mit.edu) directly.

Instruments provided; no previous experience necessary.

 

MIT CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY

Mi-Eun Kim (mieunkim@mit.edu), Natalie Lin Douglas (lindoug@mit.edu), Jean Rife (jeanrife@mit.edu), Marcus Thompson, (bratsche@mit.edu)

  • A required meeting for new and returning students will take place on Tuesday, September  2, 2025 at 5:00pm in Killian Hall. 
  • The deadline to sign up is Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 11:59pm. Please note that audition slots for new members are on a first come, first serve basis.
  • New Members: Auditions for new members will begin immediately after the meeting (5:30pm), also in Killian Hall. Please use the New Members sign-up below to reserve a time slot.

Audition Requirements: Two solo pieces of contrasting styles and a prepared excerpt that will be provided a day before the audition. Each audition will last approximately 6 minutes.

New Members Sign-Up Here

Returning Members: Students who participated in previous semesters need not audition, but are still required to attend the 5:00 pm meeting with the CMS faculty to discuss group assignments, repertoire preferences, etc. All returning members must each fill out the form below. 

Returning Members Sign-Up Here

Note: if you are a returning member but have not participated in CMS for three or more semesters, we recommend that you re-audition as a new member.

  • The CMS audition will also count for all new pianists, instrumentalists and non-E/HP singers interested in joining Collaborative Piano (21M.451). For inquires, email Mi-Eun Kim (mieunkim@mit.edu) 
  • Interested applicants who miss the deadline may be added to a waitlist. To inquire, email Riley Vogel (vogel503@mit.edu).

For new members who are unable to audition in person, it is possible to submit a recorded audition, prior to the live audition date. The above audition requirements still apply, and a prepared excerpt will be sent to you a day before you submit your recordings. To arrange a date to send your recorded audition, please email Riley Vogel (vogel503@mit.edu). Please also make sure you still submit the New Member Sign-Up form (after your name, write “RECORDED AUDITION”), and select the latest available audition time.

 

MIT VOCAL JAZZ ENSEMBLE

Laura Grill Jaye, Director (lauragrilljaye@gmail.com)

Students are expected to prepare two songs of contrasting styles.  One song must be "Smile" by Chaplin/Parsons/Turner to be sung a cappella. Many people have recorded this song, but Nat King Cole's version is easy to find online if you're learning by ear.  The second song can be from any genre and should showcase your voice. It is fine to use accompaniment for the second song.

**Returning VJE members should re-audition with one jazz standard of their choice. They do not need to sing "Smile".

Auditions will be held on Tuesday 9/2 from 12pm-8pm, Wednesday 9/3 from 4:40pm-8pm, and Thursday 9/4 from 4:30pm-8:00pm  in room W18-4309. Please sign up for an audition slot here. 

 

MIT LAPTOP ENSEMBLE

Ian Hattwick, Director (hattwick@mit.edu)

Admission to the ensemble is by approval of the director following the first day of class, no audition required. The first day of class is Wednesday, September 3rd from 7-10pm in Killian Hall (14W-111).

 

 

EMERSON/HARRIS PROGRAM FOR PRIVATE STUDY

Please see the Emerson/Harris Program page for complete audition information. 

*Please note that auditions for Emerson/Harris are only available in the fall. 

Note: If the form says there are no available dates, try clicking on "Choose Appointment" at the top of the page.