Audition process begins, in virtual format, at Fredonia’s School of Music
The audition season at the Fredonia’s School of Music – known for a rich and diverse environment that offers opportunities to perform, create, innovate, teach and lead – is underway for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Fredonia’s Music Education program boasts a 100 percent job placement rating among graduates, while its programs in Music Performance, Music Composition, Music Therapy and Sound Recording Technology provide a diverse range of professional career paths.
A B.A. degree in Music – with tracks in Performance, Jazz, Entrepreneurship, Technology and History and Literature – provides flexibility so students can truly customize their degree to personal career goals.
Due to safety restrictions put into place during the COVID-19 pandemic, auditions for the upcoming school year will consist of a video audition and an interactive (Zoom) follow-up. Prospective students are to submit their application and video link online, and select a follow-up date when a faculty member of the School of Music will connect over Zoom for an individual session.
“A silver lining in the darkness and turmoil that is COVID-19 is that we have learned to lean upon current technologies to continue our work,” noted School of Music Interim Director Daniel Ihasz. “In the same way, auditions for the School of Music will continue with the same interactive format, but we will be able to reach an even wider population by including those who may not have been able to travel to complete an in-person audition,” he explained.
“While we are hopeful to return to 100 percent complete in-person, face-to-face instruction and audition process in the future, this process seems to be a very good alternative,” Professor Ihasz said.
Prospective students who wish to enroll in the Fall 2021 semester are to select a follow-up date in January, February or March. Complete details are online: www.fredonia.edu/music
A follow-up date of Nov. 7 has been set aside solely for transfer applicants and current Fredonia students who want to become music majors in the Spring 2021 semester.
While this looks different than in past years, the foundation of the audition process remains the same. The School of Music is looking for young musicians who are passionate about music and are looking for a conservatory-quality experience paired with comprehensive liberal arts education, at a price that is well within reach.
“Visitors often comment on Fredonia's friendly and welcoming atmosphere,” said School of Music Assistant Director and Professor Barry Kilpatrick. “Although auditions can't take place on our campus this year, we look forward to projecting that same spirit in our follow-up contacts with auditioning students.”
Scholarships and financial aid are always available. Fredonia's new Good Neighbor scholarship offers significantly reduced tuition rates to residents of Pennsylvania and Ohio that can make it less expensive for them to attend Fredonia than some state universities in those two states.
