Seating Placement Auditions

Dewberry School of Music ensembles are open to any George Mason University student based on passing the seating placement auditions.

For questions or concerns regarding auditions, please see area point of contacts below.

Brass - Dr. Caroline Steiger

Choral - Dr. Lisa Billingham

Jazz – Dr. Darden Purcell

George Mason Bands – Dr. William L. Lake, Jr.

Percussion - Prof. Jonathan Bisesi

Strings – Dr. Soo Han

Woodwinds - Dr. Kathy Mulcahy

Please take note of the following points:

  • If you are interested in participating in one of the ensembles, please print the excerpts below, and sign up for an audition time.
  • Non-majors from the university community who wish to audition for the Symphonic Band may prepare the excerpts listed below OR a solo/etude of their choice. 
  • Brass and Woodwind auditions are blind (students audition behind a screen).
  • Students will be expected to arrive outside of the room assigned for their specific instrument at least 10 minutes prior to your audition.
  • You must have your instrument and music out, tuned and ready to perform at this time.
  • A note to winds/brass music majors: Your applied professor may give you different excerpts to prepare for this audition. If that is the case, please bring the excerpts your professor provides. If not, please prepare the excerpts listed below.

Audition Excerpts

Jazz - Fall 2025

  • Instrumental Piece: 
    • Backing track: DOXY
    • Drummer-less backing track: DOXY
  • Instrumentalists:  Play the melody for one chorus and improvise for multiple choruses. In addition, there will be sight-reading on the audition. Please bring your own musical accompaniment/backing track for iPod, Phone or CD player. (Bring adapter if your phone does not have a headphone jack)
  • Vocalists: Sing one song of your choice (jazz preferred), sight-read a solo musical line, and sing a brief tonal melody test. Please bring your own musical accompaniment/backing track for either iPod, Phone or CD player.

Find out more about Jazz auditions.

Strings - Fall 2025

Below are the STRING audition requirements for Mason Symphony Orchestra & Mason Concert Orchestras. Wind & percussionist who wish to be considered to be a part of Mason Symphony Orchestra must audition with the band department. 

Ensemble Description:

Mason Symphony Orchestra is the major symphonic orchestra at the Reva & Sid Dewberry School of Music. Orchestra consists of mainly music majors and rehearses MW 4:30pm – 6:15pm in additional to scheduled strings sectionals on certain Fridays 4:30pm – 5:45pm. ALL members MUST successfully pass an audition to be placed into this ensemble. Non music majors may audition for this ensemble. Students who do not pass the audition will be placed into the Mason Concert Orchestra. 

Mason Concert Orchestra is an “all-campus”, string orchestra, open to any students at GMU. Orchestra is open to students of all ability levels. Orchestra rehearses once a week on Wednesdays, 7:20pm – 10pm. All members must audition to be placed into this ensemble. 

Please read the audition requirements for each ensemble carefully. 

Mason Symphony auditions will take place during the first two days of the semester.

Mason Concert Orchestra auditions will take place the first Wednesday of the semester.

Sign up for an audition time will be made available on the School of Music website approximately 2 weeks prior to the start of the semester. Contact Dr. Soo Han (shan42@gmu.edu) or Sam Keh (skeh@gmu.edu) for any questions you may have. 

Fall 2025 Mason Orchestras Audition Excerpts and Information

Choirs - Spring 2025

  • University Chorale Auditions: Sing 16 measures of a prepared song excerpt. You will also be asked to do pitch matching and musicianship testing. 
  • University Singers Auditions: Sing 16 measures of a prepared song excerpt. You will also be asked to sing your part against another part of a four-part short excerpt, do pitch matching, and musicianship testing.

Wind, Brass, and Percussion - Fall 2025

Fall 2025 Audition Excerpts for Wind, Brass and Percussion (To view excerpts a George Mason log in will be required.)

Sign Up for An Audition

Brass

For priority consideration for the Mason Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, and Symphony Orchestra, students must audition (please see required repertoire above). To register for an audition, please complete the 2025 Brass Large Ensemble Auditions sign-up form. Fill out all information accurately.

Choirs

  • Choir Audition Sign-Up Link Fall 2025 (coming soon)

Jazz (Instrumental & Vocal)

Jazz Ensembles are open to all university students (instrumentalists and vocalists) regardless of major, based on a successful audition the first two days of classes each semester. Questions can be directed to Dr. Darden Purcell.

Percussion

Please contact Prof. Jon Bisesi.

Strings

Woodwinds

For priority consideration for the Mason Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, and Symphony Orchestra, students must audition (please see required repertoire above). To register for an audition, please complete the 2025 Woodwind Large Ensemble Auditions. Fill out all information accurately.

Opera

Questions can be directed to Prof. Patricia Miller and Prof. Richard Leech.