Admission to Dana

This page contains important information about Undergraduate Admission to the Dana School of Music, including YSU and Dana Admissions Procedures, Audition Requirements, and Scholarships, and Financial Aid.

It is expected that students be proficient in one or more areas of applied music. Proficiency levels are determined by auditions and interviews. Students not qualifying for the standard course of study in a major area of applied music may take preparatory work until sufficiently prepared.

PROCEDURES

  1. Prospective students must apply to Youngstown State University in addition to auditioning for the Dana School of Music. Apply online or call our Admissions Office toll free at (877) 468-6978 (877-GO-TO-YSU) or local (330) 941-2000 to request an application.
  2. Send an official high school transcript to the YSU Admissions Office.

Spring 2025 Audition Dates

  • Saturday, January 25, 2025 |  8:30 AM (No tuba or euphonium)
  • Saturday, February 15, 2025 |  8:30 AM (No guitar)
  • Saturday, February 22, 2025 |  8:30 AM

Once you complete your YSU Application and are admitted to the University, follow the directions below to schedule your audition.

To schedule an audition, click the link below. To be eligible for music scholarship consideration, all forms and information must be completed prior to acceptance into the Dana School of Music.
 

schedule an audition date

If you are unable to audition on one of the days listed above, or to schedule a virtual audition, contact the Cliffe College Program Coordinator of Admissions and Recruitment at sawaltman@ysu.edu or 330-941-2346 to schedule an alternative date or receive information about the virtual audition process.

Auditions will be accepted after February 22, 2025, but applications received prior to February 22 will receive full consideration for a Music program scholarship.
 

UNDERGRADUATE AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

The audition should include a performance of material that illustrates your ability. An accompanist is desirable but not required. Within two weeks of the audition date, students will be notified of the results of their audition. Audition materials vary according to the performance area, but the following has been prepared as a guide to candidates planning to audition.

  • Digital Audio Workstation

    Please submit links to 2-3 samples of your musical productions or recordings to Dr. Joseph Carucci at jwcarucci@ysu.edu. Include a short description of each musical work as well as a summary of your professional goals. During the Audition Day, candidates will have the opportunity to meet with the audio engineering faculty.

  • Piano

    Approximately 10 minutes of solo piano literature that demonstrates your best technical and lyrical playing.

  • Organ

    A work by Bach, a movement from a classic sonata, a 19th or 20th century work. An organ selection may be performed, but the piano audition is required including scales and arpeggios.

  • Voice

    All songs must be performed from memory with the live accompaniment (no pre-recorded music will be allowed). Candidates should provide their own accompanist if possible.

    • Vocal Performance and Vocal Music Education
      Two contrasting classical songs (folk song arrangements are also acceptable); one in English and the other in Italian, German, Spanish or French.
    • Music Minor
      One classical song in English, Italian, German, Spanish or French.
  • Woodwind and Brass

    Approximately 10 minutes of solo and/or etude literature that demonstrates your best technical and lyrical playing (piano accompaniment is not required)

  • Strings

    Applicants should prepare major and minor scales and arpeggios using a standard method of the applicant's choice and two works of contrasting styles.

  • Percussion

    See audition requirements posted on the Percussion Page.

  • Guitar

    View guitar audition requirements.

  • Composition

    Please submit written examples of compositions to Dr. Morgan, dsmorgan@ysu.edu. Recordings of performances of original works may be submitted. Composition students must also audition on an instrument or as a vocalist. Candidates should consult suggested audition material in their performance medium.

  • Jazz

    View audition requirements.  Students auditioning for any jazz programs will still need to schedule an audition for their primary instrument.

GRADUATE AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

The audition should include a performance of material that illustrates your ability. An accompanist is desirable but not required. Within two weeks of the audition date, students will be notified of the results of their audition. Audition materials vary according to the performance area, but the following has been prepared as a guide to candidates planning to audition.

  • Bassoon and Oboe
    1. Major, minor, and chromatic scales (two or more octaves)
    2. Two selections or movements from standard repertoire in contrasting styles – one that demonstrates technical facility and another that demonstrates quality in tone and phrasing. Selections may be drawn from solo literature or etudes (for example, Mozart’s “Concerto,” Telemann’s “Sonata,” Jacob’s “Concerto,” Saint-Saens’ “Sonata,” or other works of equal substance)
  • Clarinet

    Selections or movements from standard repertoire that demonstrate technical facility, quality in tone, and phrasing. Examples of appropriate literature include but are not limited to:

    1. Mozart: Clarinet Concerto, K. 622, 1st Movement Exposition (beginning to m. 154)
    2. A contrasting work or movement of the applicant’s choice
    3. Orchestral excerpts: Mendelssohn’s Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream (measures 1 – 48), Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, 1st movement (measures 474-492) and 2nd movement (measures 68-78)
  • Double Bass

    Major scales and arpeggios in all keys

    Examples of appropriate audition literature include but are not limited to:

    1. A movement from one of Bach’s six cello suites
    2. The first movement from one of the standard concertos (Dragonetti, Koussevitski, Bottesini, Capuzzi, Dittersdorf, or comparable)
  • Euphonium

    All Major and Minor scales in two octaves

    Examples of appropriate literature include but are not limited to:

    1. Two contrasting etudes of applicant's choice
    2. Joseph Horovitz’s Euphonium Concerto (1st and 2nd movements)
    3. Gordon Jacob’s Fantasia for Euphonium and Piano
    4. Five orchestral/band excerpts

    *Students must be fluent in playing both bass and contrabass tubas

  • Flute

    Examples of appropriate literature include but are not limited to:

    1. Mozart’s Concerto in G or D Major, Exposition only
    2. Two contrasting movements of a J. S. Bach flute sonata of your choice
    3. A contrasting solo of your choice
    4. Two contrasting orchestral excerpts
  • Guitar
    1. Perform three contrasting compositions
    2. Scales and fret-board harmony—play the following scales (two octaves in any key): major, harmonic minor, melodic minor, whole-tone, and chromatic. Also present four voicings for each of the following chords in any key: major, minor, or major 7th
  • Horn
    1. Two complete contrasting movements from standard solo literature
    2. Five orchestral excerpts of applicant’s choice
    3. Two contrasting études (one lyrical and one technical)
    4. Possible sight-reading
  • Percussion

    Each graduate candidate is allotted a 60-minute audition/interview.  The following repertoire is recommended:

    1. Snare Drum: two advanced solos or etudes of contrasting styles
    2. Marimba: two-mallet solo and four-mallet solo
    3. Orchestral Excerpts: two excerpts each for snare drum, xylophone, glockenspiel, and timpani
    4. Drumset: various groove styles and soloing capabilities
    5. Additional repertoire options: vibraphone solo, multiple percussion solo (submit pre-recorded file), hand drum solo
  • Piano

    Applicants are required to offer at least three works of contrasting style.

    Repertoire examples include:

    1. One Baroque work (e.g. parts of or an entire suite by J.S. Bach or Handel, or a Prelude and Fugure from the Well-Tempered Clavier, or a group of Scarlatti Sonatas)
    2. One movement of a Classical Sonata or a set of variations by Mozart, Haydn, or Beethoven
    3. One Romantic work of any length
    4. One work written after 1900

    *Memorization is encouraged, with the exception of works written after 1945

  • Saxophone

    Contrasting works or movements that represent both technical and lyrical playing. Appropriate selections include:

    1. Glazounov's Concerto Op. 109
    2. Creston’s Sonata Op. 19
    3. Maslanka’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone
    4. Tomasi’s Concerto
    5. Dressel’s Partita for Alto Saxophone and Piano
    6. Creston’s Concerto Op. 26
  • Trombone

    Examples of appropriate literature include but are not limited to:

    1. Castérède’s Sonatine
    2. David’s Concertino
    3. Gotkovsky’s Concerto
    4. Grøndahl’s Concerto
    5. Jacob’s Concerto
    6. Martin’s Ballade
    7. Tomasi’s Concerto
    8. Wagenseil’s Concerto (alto trombone)
    9. Walker’s Concerto
  • Trumpet

    All major scales

    Examples of appropriate literature include but are not limited to:

    1. An etude from “14 Characteristic Studies,” “Arban's Complete Conservatory Method”
    2. Promenade excerpt from Pictures at an Exhibition
    3. Off stage excerpt from Leonore Overture #3 
    4. 2nd movement (Andante) from Haydn's Concerto in E flat for Trumpet 
  • Tuba

    All Major and Minor scales in two octaves

    Examples of appropriate literature include but are not limited to:

    1. Two contrasting etudes of applicant’s choice
    2. Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Concerto for Bass Tuba (1st and 2nd movements)
    3. Paul Hindemith’s Sonata for Tuba and Piano (1st movement and 3rd movement cadenza) 
    4. Five orchestral/band excerpts

    *Students must be fluent in playing both bass and contrabass tubas

  • Violin, Viola, and Cello

    Examples of appropriate literature include but are not limited to:

    1. One solo Bach movement
    2. One movement of a concerto (any concerto), about 3-5 minutes only
    3. Scale and arpeggios from a scale system such as Carl Flesch
  • Voice
    1. 3-4 arts songs
    2. Opera aria
    3. Oratorio

    Selections should represent a minimum of four languages (English, Italian, German, and French.) All but oratorio must be sung from memory with piano accompaniment.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Performance-based scholarships are granted on a competitive basis. Auditions for entrance into the Dana School of Music and for scholarship purposes occur at the same time (one audition suffices for program admission and scholarship consideration). If you wish to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which may be found on the YSU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships website. In addition to Dana School of Music scholarships, YSU offers awards based on academic achievement and financial need.

FINANCIAL AID

The University participates in a variety of loan programs. Those needing financial aid should seek assistance from the Financial Aid Office.