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Graduate Vocal Arts Program

Audition Requirements

Prescreening Auditions

  • Audio vs. Video
    As part of your online application, you will be asked to submit a recording with the following repertoire. No preference is given to audio or video recordings, however the audio quality must be high in either file type.
  • Three Selections
    Genre requirements: Include at least one art song and one operatic aria.

    Language requirements: Three languages; one must be English.

    Style requirements: One selection must be written in a more modern idiom. (Many works written after 1950 would fall into this category, although works by Stravinsky or Schoenberg, for example, would also be suitable.)
  • File Sizes and Types
    Although Slate does support media files as large as 2 GB, please be advised that larger files will take longer to upload from your Internet connection and may stall if you are on a wireless connection or one that cannot sustain a connection for the necessary period of time. Uploaded documents may contain no more than 75 pages.

Final Auditions

  • Live Auditions
    Auditions are by invitation only, and shortlisted applicants will receive an invitation to audition in mid-December. 

    March 6: Live auditions at Bard College
    March 7: Live auditions at Opera America in New York City 

    International applicants are strongly encouraged to audition in person if at all possible. However, if they are unable to travel to the United States for final auditions, they may send a video audition. Applicants should use the live audition repertoire requirements for their video. Special arrangements for submission of this video should be made with the director of admissions at conservatoryadmission@bard.edu.
  • Repertoire Requirements
    Five selections: 
    • Genre requirements: Include three art songs and two arias (one may be from an oratorio).
    • Language requirements: Three languages; one must be English, and one should be in the singer’s native language (if the singer is not a native English speaker).
    • Style requirements: The repertoire presented should be in a variety of time periods and styles, tempos, mood, and character. One piece must be written in a contemporary idiom (see prescreening guidelines for clarification).
  • Sample Audition Repertoire
    Example audition offering by singer whose native language is English.

    Arias:
    • Stravinsky: Ann Trulove’s Aria, from The Rake’s Progress
    • Mozart: “Deh vieni, non tardar,” from Le nozze di Figaro
    Art Songs:
    • Schubert: “Du liebst mich nicht”
    • Faure: “Puisque l’aube grandit,” from La bonne chanson
    • Prokofiev: “The Grey-Eyed King,” from Five Poems of Anna Akhmatova, Op. 27