Vocal Performance & Vocal Pedagogy Audition Requirements
Live auditions at NEC are required for all Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy applicants living in North America, as well as all Voice applicants to the Artist Diploma or DMA programs regardless of their country of residence.
A prescreening CD must be submitted by December 1 in order to be considered for a live audition.* After review, qualified applicants will be asked to present a live audition at NEC. Applicants who are not selected for a live audition will be notified that they have not been accepted for study. For additional information about CD recording guidelines, please refer to Tape Guidelines.
All live auditions must be performed with a piano accompanist. Applicants indicate in the admission application whether they will bring their own accompanist or if they would like NEC to provide one. There is a fee of $25, payable with the admission application, for an NEC accompanist. Applicants who are not invited to a live audition will have their $25 fee refunded. NEC accompanists will warm up with applicants for ten minutes immediately before the audition.
REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS
The repertoire requirements below apply to both the prescreening CD and the in-person auditions. (The in-person repertoire may include different pieces than the prescreening CD, but all categories should still be included.)
All works should be performed from memory.
First-year undergraduate applicants should prepare three selections:
1. One song in English,
2. One song in Italian (pre-1800 from any early Italian anthology)
3. One song in a language of the applicant's choice.
No operatic arias, please.
Transfer applicants should prepare four songs, at least one in each of the following languages: Italian, English and either French or German. The Italian language requirement may be filled by singing an aria from the Early Italian Anthology. Transfer applicants at the Junior level may include an operatic or oratorio aria as a fifth selection.
M.M./G.D.: All voice applicants should prepare six selections:
1. Art song in Italian
2. Art song in French
3. Art song in German
4. Art song in English
5. One opera aria
6. One oratorio aria.
For the D.M.A.: A full recital, including approximately 45 minutes of singing, which should incorporate songs and/or concert arias in three stylistic periods and four languages. Italian, French, German, and English languages must be represented. In addition to the recital program, your program must include an opera aria and an oratorio aria. Unusual repertoire is of special interest. An interview with the voice faculty is part of the audition.
*Voice applicants residing outside the United States, Canada, and Mexico who are not applying to the Artist Diploma or DMA programs may be considered for admission based on the submission of an audition DVD or videotape. Taped auditions should include the in-person repertoire above. Please visit the Tape Guidelines for additional information.