Music Performance Scholarship Award and Audition

Scholarship and Audition Overview

Music scholarship auditions are held every year in February, across multiple dates. Students are required to register for auditions via the online form that is made available on this page every Fall; once the registration is completed, we will contact you via email in early February to share your audition date and time. Your audition can take place on campus on the designated days. Each person will be contacted, once an application has been received, to confirm the date/time of the audition. Those auditioning may also choose to video record the audition, but the recording should be received by February 16, 2026. Please use the video submission form below for each audition area, appropriately labeled/identified. Scholarship auditions can be scheduled after February 16, but the availability of scholarships may be limited.

It is preferred that students audition in person on the Northwest campus (if possible), and take advantage of the opportunity to tour campus, rehearse with our ensembles, and meet current students and faculty. All on-campus auditions will be held in the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building on the Northwest campus.

To organize a campus tour, please call our Admissions Office at 660.562.1562 or visit our campus tour site.

Eligibility

Any student, regardless of major, is eligible to audition. Admittance to the university is required before we can offer music scholarship funds. If you have not applied for admission, call 660.562.1148 to request admission information and an application, or apply online at nwmissouri.edu/admissions/apply

Audition Requirements

Northwest currently does not support a string program

Keyboard

• Two solo compositions of contrasting styles which demonstrate expressiveness and facility
• Major scales (four octaves)
• Sight reading

Vocal

Two contrasting selections with accompaniment that demonstrate range, tone quality, and flexibility. Songs may be classical contest type songs, musical theatre repertoire, or selections from other styles; we want to hear what you do best. There will also be an exercise to evaluate music reading skills.

*A pianist will not be provided for on-campus auditions, though you are welcome to bring your own if you are able. Otherwise, you are welcome to perform with a recorded accompaniment by connecting via Bluetooth or aux cable to our sound system, or you may bring your own sound solution.

Instrumental

• Contest-type solo or standard etude which demonstrates both melodic playing and technical facility (All State audition materials or a State-level solo are appropriate)
• *An accompanist will not be provided for on-campus auditions. You may bring your own accompanist (please organize the scheduling) or media (device and connecting cords, etc.) that can be connected to speakers.
• Chromatic and major scales
• Sight reading

Percussion

• Percussionists should prepare a minimum of two solo works or etudes for at least two different percussion instruments. All State audition etudes are welcome, or applicants are encouraged to perform one work for the following instruments:
  • Snare Drum
    Suggested Repertoire*
    • Garwood Whaley — Musical Studies for the Intermediate Snare Drummer
    • Anthony Cirone — Portraits in Rhythm
    • John Pratt — 14 Modern Contest Solos
    • Mitchell Peters — Intermediate Snare Drum Studies, or Advanced Snare Drum Studies
  • Timpani
    Suggested Repertoire*
    • Vic Firth — The Solo Timpanist: 26 Etudes for Timpani
    • Saul Goodman — Modern Method for Tympani
    • John Beck — Sonata for Timpani (movement III)
    • Mitchell Peters — Fundamental Method for Timpani (etudes)
  • Keyboard Percussion (Two or four-mallets; applicants may use marimba, xylophone, or vibraphone)
    Suggested Repertoire*
    • Julia Gaines — Sequential Studies for Four-Mallet Marimba
    • Alice Gomez — Rain Dance
    • Garwood Whaley — Musical Studies for the Intermediate Mallet Player
  • Drum Set (optional)
    • Jazz swing (medium tempo)
    • Jazz waltz
    • Funk
    • Bossa Nova
• Students with notable abilities on percussion instruments that are not listed above are encouraged to include these in their audition.
• *For questions about percussion auditions and repertoire selection; please email fparts@nwmissouri.edu

Jazz

Scholarship money is also available for jazz piano, drums and bass players. Please call Dr. William Richardson 660.562.1316 or email at BILLR@nwmissouri.edu

Scholarship Requirements

When awarded a music scholarship, the recipient is required to participate in applied lessons and ensembles, maintaining a grade of “B” in all at the end of each semester. Students are also required to maintain a 2.0 Northwest GPA to retain their scholarship. Once awarded, students need not re-audition every year. Pending budgets and the fulfillment of requirements, awards will continue without a re-audition.

For more information about scholarships or to sit in on ensemble rehearsals and meet Music faculty/students, contact the School of Fine and Performing Arts at fparts@nwmissouri.edu or 660.562.1326.