Both dreaded and highly prepared for, the auditions for Lamont School of Music have come and gone, concluding last Saturday. Highly competitive, the auditions all but determine the future of these musicians as they hope for a coveted spot at Lamont.
In addition to completing the Common or Pioneer Application, music applicants also complete Lamont’s secondary application, including an audition.
Auditions are held at the Lamont School of Music typically each Saturday in February. Although audition requirements vary from playing 3-4 octaves of major and minor scales to sight reading to solos from Haydn and Mozart concertos, each audition is heard by various faculty from the applicant’s particular department.
“You get to show off your technical and musical skill, but it’s really an informal interview – they ask you basic questions, who you studied with, how your grades were, where I wanted to go with music. The faculty really got to know me to see if I would be a good fit for Lamont,” said Justin Holmes, a current first-year student pursuing a double major in Saxophone Performance and Chemistry.
According to Jerrod Price, director of admission at the Lamont School of Music, every audition provides students with an environment will promote success.
Prospective applicants are shown around the Newman Center, where the Lamont School of Music is located, and participants are given a quiet, “stress-free” zone in which to relax without any distractions before their auditions, Price said.
“We believe the audition process is a true ‘window’ into life at a school of music. As such, we work diligently to provide an experience that will give prospective [students] a taste of life here at DU and Lamont,” said Price. “When students arrive at their audition, they can expect to be treated as a professional. Our faculty are some of the most friendly and compassionate people in the music business.”
The Lamont School of Music is renowned for its close student-faculty relationships, the performing opportunities available, its facilities in the Newman Center for the Performing Arts, a sense of community and the development of one-on-one relations between students and faculty.
“Most instrument performance majors have one studio professor who can focus on just his or her students. A closer relationship with the professor definitely helps,” said Holmes.
Not only are the auditions extremely important, they are also quite competitive. Less than one-fourth of those auditioning are accepted into the school.
“In a given year, we hear between 350 and 400 auditions. Our incoming class is generally 60 undergraduates and 30 graduates,” said Price. “In many instrumental areas, we will only admit as many students as we need to populate our ensembles. This is in order to provide a wealth of performing time to those that are admitted.”
Lamont applicants most often also apply to the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Northern Colorado, but after these two Colorado schools, the most overlap is with The University of Southern California, Oberlin College, Eastman School of Music, Northwestern University and other elite university music programs.
“The number of students applying to both Lamont and these schools has increased rapidly over the last five years, a trend that is expected to continue, making competition for admission even higher,” said Price.
Lamont is growing in popularity and renown as the number of applications grows.
“Lamont might not be the best music school in the country, but they’re building a better program, bringing in better studio professors, and building a better reputation. Lamont is becoming more and more prestigious. I’d rather study music here than anywhere else in Colorado, and for sure, we have the best facilities,” said Holmes.
With their close faculty and student relationships and dedication to talent, as well as focus on a well-rounded education, including liberal arts as well as musical education, Lamont is an excellent school for growing and talented musicians.
“Lamont is looking for that critical combination of musical talent and academic achievement. We welcome curious, talented and ambitious students to begin their careers here,” said Price.
Applicants to the Lamont School of Music will be notified of admission in mid-March.
