Samford School of the Arts offers three in-person audition weekend options for undergraduate students. Each weekend includes an optional Friday experience, where students and families can tour the campus and arts facilities, enjoy a meal with current students and faculty and attend a performance.

Saturday Auditions

Audition check-in runs from 7:30–8 a.m. on Saturday. Students will receive their individual audition appointment times at check-in. The audition day will conclude no later than 3:30 p.m.

In addition to the audition itself, there is a robust schedule for students and families including panels on financial aid, faculty insight and student life. Our goal is for you to leave the weekend with a full picture of what it’s like to study in the School of the Arts at Samford. A light continental breakfast and lunch in the Samford Caf is provided.

Students are required to submit a headshot, resume, video and/or portfolio and PDF sheet music (if applicable) ten days prior to their audition. This material is NOT a “pre-screen” with a cut. All students who request an in-person audition and have been academically admitted to the university and completed their Theatre & Dance application will be granted one.

Audition Dates

• Audition Weekend I: Nov. 20-21, 2026
• Audition Weekend II: Feb. 5-6, 2027
• Audition Weekend III: Feb. 19-20, 2027

It is dramatically preferred that you audition in-person on one of the three scheduled audition weekends, but we understand that is not possible for all families. If none of these dates work for you, you may request a non-traditional audition. From there, we will work with you to schedule an alternate in-person or virtual audition date.

Graduate Auditions

Graduate-level music auditions are held on the Friday of each audition weekend. For details about specific graduate programs, please visit the relevant program webpages.

It is dramatically preferred that you audition in-person on one of the three scheduled audition weekends, but we understand that is not possible for all families. If none of these dates work for you, you may request a non-traditional audition. From there, we will work with you to schedule an alternate in-person or virtual audition date.

Apply to the University

Apply for admission to the university and declare a major housed within the Division of Music on your application. Your university application will give you access to a Samford-specific “Application Status Page.” Only when you submit the university application will you gain access to the Music Application.

Apply to Music

Submit the music application through your Samford-specific “Application Status Page.” From there, you will select an audition date or request a non-traditional audition. You may submit your application and reserve your audition slot prior to uploading your supporting materials, but all materials are due no later than ten days prior to your audition.

All music applicants are required to provide an artistic resume and headshot as part of the Music Application.

Complete an Audition and Interview

Attend your audition and interview date. Live, in-person auditions are dramatically preferable. Virtual auditions and alternate audition dates will be accepted in a limited capacity.

Samford Theatre will be attending the College Audition Project in St. Louis, MO and may be at additional unified auditions. Please email us to see if we will be at the unified audition you are planning to attend.

Composition

• Two original compositions and an audition on your primary instrument. Upload two audio files of original compositions.
• Upload two PDFs of the sheet music to your two original compositions.
• All uploads will be to your Samford-specific “Application Status Page” portal.

Be prepared for an interview with composition faculty to discuss your career goals and musical experiences that have shaped your goals and compositions.

Music & Worship

Interview and audition on your primary instrument.

• Upload a reference letter from a pastor, elder, deacon, church leader or one who can attest to your current service in the church.

Be prepared for an interview with worship faculty to discuss your calling to arts in worship.

Music Education

Interview & an audition on your primary instrument.

You will interview with music education faculty to discuss your calling to music education.

Composition, Music (BA, BS), Music Education, Music & Worship, Performance, Performance & Pedagogy

Brass (euphonium, horn, trombone, trumpet, tuba) - Two pieces

• Pieces should be solo music such as an etude, sonata, or movement from a concerto.
• Two contrasting style periods or tempi must be represented.
• ring 3 copies of your sheet music for faculty.
• Perform your audition pieces.Be prepared to discuss your musical background and your goals for growing as a musician in college.

Guitar (acoustic) – Two pieces

• Two solo pieces from contrasting style periods.
• Both pieces should demonstrate strumming and picking techniques.
• The applicant may choose to offer major Segovia scales, but they are not required.
• Audition should be played on a classical or acoustic guitar.
• Bring 3 copies of your sheet music for faculty.

Be prepared to discuss your musical background and your goals for growing as a musician in college.

Organ – Four pieces

• One free work (e.g., Prelude & Fugue, Fantasia & Fugue, Toccata & Fugue, etc.) or Trio Sonata by J. S. Bach.
• Two other works in contrasting style from between the nineteenth through twenty-first centuries.
• One traditional hymn with introduction and no less than three verses.
• The hymn must be performed with music. All other works may be performed by memory or with music.

Be prepared to discuss your musical goals with faculty.

Percussion – Two pieces

• One selection for snare drum
• One selection for mallets
• If you have four-mallet experience, we recommend a selection demonstrating your ability. Four-mallet technique is not required.
• An optional third selection for timpani or drum set is encouraged but not required.
• Bring three copies of your sheet music for faculty.

Be prepared to discuss your musical background and your goals for growing as a musician in college.

Piano – Three pieces

• At least two contrasting style periods must be represented.
• Two pieces must be from standard classical repertoire.
• All pieces must be performed from memory.

Be prepared to discuss your musical goals with faculty.

Strings (cello, string bass, violin, viola)

• One piece of solo music such as an etude, sonata, or movement from a concerto.
• One contrasting piece of solos music such an etude, sonata, or movement from a concerto.
• Bring 3 copies of your sheet music for faculty.
• We prefer no accompaniment with your audition.

Be prepared to discuss your musical background and your goals for growing as a musician in college.

Voice – Two pieces

• One English art song
• One art song in a foreign language, preferably Italian
• Audition pieces must be performed from memory and with piano accompaniment. We will provide you an accompanist as well as give you a rehearsal period prior to your audition.

Be prepared for a vocal and musical assessment with tonal memory exercises, sight-reading, and vocal range check. Be prepared to discuss your musical background and future goals.

Woodwinds (bassoon, clarinet, flute, oboe) – Two pieces

• Pieces should be solo music such as an etude, sonata, or movement from a concerto.
• Two contrasting style periods or tempi must be represented.
• Bring three copies of your sheet music for faculty.
• We prefer no accompaniment with your audition.

Be prepared to discuss your musical background and your goals for growing as a musician in college.

Commercial Music

Performance concentration

Two pieces on your primary instrument & interview

Before the audition:

• Upload two videos of you performing pieces from any commercial music genre (pop, country/folk, funk/jazz, r&b/urban, etc.) that highlight your creative and musical abilities. The two pieces should be contrasting in style.
• If voice is your primary instrument, the audition pieces should be self-accompanied, accompanied by other musicians or accompanied by a recording. Please no a cappella singing.

At Auditions:

• You will perform live the same pieces you submitted via video prior to your audition.
• If voice is your primary instrument live accompaniment will be provided. You may also self-accompany. Tracks will not be accepted.
• If you are an instrumentalist and wish to audition with a track, please upload your track as a MP3 or WAV file ten days prior to your audition. We will not accommodate requests to be accompanied by YouTube links the day of the audition.

Be prepared for an interview with applied music faculty which may include musicianship tests on your primary instrument such as scales, tonal memory, and sight-reading. This is purely for placement. Be prepared for an interview with commercial music faculty where you will discuss your experience and goals as an artist.

Music Production concentration

Two produced songs, interview & optional primary instrument audition

Before the audition:

• Upload two WAV files of finished pieces on which the applicant has played a role in 50% or more of production. The two pieces should be contrasting in style and in the commercial music genre. The two pieces may be original or of other artists.
• You may choose to submit two video recordings of yourself auditioning on your primary instrument.
  • Upload two pieces from any commercial music genre (pop, country/folk, funk/jazz, r&b/urban, etc.) that highlight your creative and musical abilities. The two pieces should be contrasting in style.
  • If voice is your primary instrument, the audition pieces should be self-accompanied, accompanied by other musicians or track. No a cappella singing. If voice is your primary instrument, please limit your two audition selections to be 32 bars each or a verse and a chorus.
  • If you are an instrumentalist, please prepare two full songs.

At auditions:

• Be prepared for an interview with commercial music faculty where you will discuss your experience and goals as an artist as well as the two WAV files that you submitted.
• If you have elected to give an audition on a primary instrument audition:
  • You will perform live the same pieces you submitted via video prior to your audition.
  • If voice is your primary instrument live accompaniment will be provided. You may also self-accompany. Tracks will not be accepted.
  • If you are an instrumentalist and wish to audition with a track, please upload your track as a MP3 or WAV file ten days prior to your audition. We will not accommodate requests to be accompanied by YouTube links the day of the audition.

Be prepared for an interview with applied music faculty which may include musicianship tests on your primary instrument such as scales, tonal memory, and sight-reading. This is for placement.

Songwriting concentration

One original song + one cover or original song & interview

Before the audition:

• Upload recordings of your two audition pieces. One of the two audition pieces should be an original song. At least 50% of the original song should be authored by the applicant. You may audition with two original songs.
• Upload one PDF file of the original or co-written song(s) to your Samford-specific “Application Status Page” portal.

At auditions:

• Be prepared for an interview with commercial music faculty where you will discuss your experience and goals as an artist as well as the original music you submitted.
• Be prepared to perform both selections of music live. You may accompany yourself or utilize one of our provided pianists. Tracks will not be accepted. If you will need Samford to provide you an accompanist you must provide us with fully annotated sheet music, no lead sheets.
• Be prepared for an interview with applied music faculty which may include musicianship tests on your primary instrument such as scales, tonal memory, and sight-reading. This is purely for placement.

Music Industry concentration

Required interview & optional two pieces on your primary instrument

Before the audition:

• You are NOT required to complete a musical audition for this degree concentration. However, to be considered for a talent scholarship from the school of the arts you will need to audition with two pieces on a primary instrument.

Scholarship Audition Requirements

• Upload two videos of you performing from any commercial music genre (pop, country/folk, funk/jazz, r&b/urban, etc.) that highlight your creative and musical abilities. The two pieces should be contrasting in style.
• If voice is your primary instrument, the audition pieces should be self-accompanied, accompanied by other musicians or track. No a cappella singing.
• If voice is your primary instrument, please limit your two audition selections to be 32 bars each OR a verse and a chorus.
• If you are an instrumentalist, please prepare two full songs.

At Auditions:

• Be prepared for an interview with commercial music faculty where you will discuss your experience and goals as an artist.
• If you have elected to give an audition on a primary instrument audition:
  • You will perform live the same pieces you submitted via video prior to your audition.
  • If voice is your primary instrument live accompaniment will be provided. You may also self-accompany. Tracks will not be accepted.
  • If you are an instrumentalist and wish to audition with a track, please upload your track as a MP3 or WAV file ten days prior to your audition. We will not accommodate requests to be accompanied by YouTube links the day of the audition.

Be prepared for an interview with applied music faculty which may include musicianship tests on your primary instrument such as scales, tonal memory, and sight-reading. This is for placement.

Worship Leadership

Ministry concentration

• Perform two pieces in contrasting style that showcase the best of the applicant’s abilities.
• Students have the option of choosing two of the following selections:
  • A contemporary worship song
  • A standard hymn arrangement
  • An art song
• Perform exercises in sight-reading, ear-training and major scales as requested.
• Upload a reference letter from a pastor, elder, deacon or church leader who can attest to the student’s current service in the local church.
• Participate in an interview discussing interests in worship leadership and specific career goals.

Songwriting concentrations

• Perform two pieces in contrasting style that showcase the best of the applicant’s abilities. One of these two pieces should be an original song. At least 50% of the original song should be authored by the applicant.
• Students have the option of choosing two of the following selections:
  • A contemporary worship song
  • A standard hymn arrangement
  • An art song
• Upload a PDF file of the student’s original song.
• Perform exercises in sight-reading, ear-training and major scales as requested.
• Upload a reference letter from a pastor, elder, deacon or church leader who can attest to the student’s current service in the local church.
• Participate in an interview discussing interests in worship leadership and specific career goals

Worship Production concentrations

• Perform two pieces in contrasting style that showcase the best of the applicant’s abilities.
• Students have the option of choosing two of the following selections:
  • A contemporary worship song
  • A standard hymn arrangement
  • An art song
• Perform exercises in sight-reading, ear-training, and major scales as requested.
• Upload two, one to three -minute samples of music you’ve recorded, composed, and/or produced. Include a description of the examples of technology you’ve developed (e.g., programming, electronics—the software projects or hardware/schematics of your past projects), or anything else that highlights your skills in music technology, production or STEM. If you are submitting a website link, upload it as a separate PDF file containing a clickable link.
• Upload a reference letter from a pastor, elder, deacon or church leader who can attest to the student’s current service in the local church.
• Participate in an interview discussing interests in worship leadership and specific career goals.

Music & Worship

Interview & an audition on your primary instrument

• Upload a reference letter from a pastor, elder, deacon, church leader or one who can attest to your current service in the church.

At Auditions:

You will be asked to give an audition on your primary instrument. To find audition requirements for your primary instrument please look under the “Music, Music Performance, Music Education, and Composition” tab to see the breakdown of what is expected for each audition.

Schedule a Campus Visit

The Office of Admission offers on campus visit options most weekdays and some Saturdays. If you would like to schedule an appointment with faculty, staff, current students or sit in on a class within the Division of Music while visiting campus, we recommend scheduling a visit between Tuesday and Friday. You may request personalized academic appointments when scheduling your campus visit.

Attend a Concert

Visit our events page to plan your trip to a Samford Arts performance.

When will I find out if I am admitted to the Department of Music?

Music admission decisions are sent in early December, early March and on a rolling basis after that. Students will receive their music admissions decision via email. Note that admission to Samford’s Division of Music is contingent upon successful academic admission to Samford University, and you will not be admitted or receive scholarship to the Division of Music until you have been officially admitted to Samford University academically. Students are encouraged to submit their university application prior to November if you are wishing to attend our earliest audition date.

To view the general admissions timeline please visit the admission webpage.

What kind of scholarships are available?

When you apply to music and complete an audition and/or interview, you will be simultaneously evaluated for admission and scholarship. Arts scholarships will appear in addition to merit scholarships you receive from the Office of Admission and other scholarship programs on campus.

Honor Band Scholarship: This scholarship may be applied to a student’s first year of study as a music major at Samford University. If a student chooses to audition for admission to the Division of Music while attending Honor Band, they will automatically be considered for the Honor Band Scholarship.

Athletic Band Scholarship: Students who successfully audition for the athletic band will receive a $4,000 scholarship that can stack on top of any other awards a student received.

What instrument should I select as my primary or secondary instrument?

Your primary instrument will be the instrument (including voice) on which you have the highest proficiency entering college and wish to be most competent on upon graduating from college. Your secondary instrument will be the instrument (including voice) on which you have less proficiency entering college.

Can I audition on two instruments?

Yes, you may audition on your primary and secondary instruments. You may designate in the music application if you wish to be considered for admission and scholarship on more than one instrument.

What if I do not know what major to select on my application?

If you are thinking about double majoring, select the major within the Division of Music on your application to progress through the admission and scholarship process. Should you declare a double on the university application, you may miss valuable information about audition dates, deadlines and more.

For more answers to questions about the admission process, theatre programs and scholarships, email us or call 205-726-4111.