Application and Audition Process

Whether you want to major in music, minor in music or simply audition for a music scholarship, there is one process to follow. All prospective students, both new and transfer, must complete the steps listed below.

Prospective graduate students should fill out the Music Department Application (step 2 below),but also contact the applied faculty member directly via e-mail.

Master of Music in performance students are the only students who apply and audition before University acceptance.

All Applicants Should Complete these Steps

Step 1: Complete your application to Lamar University and be accepted. Start here!

Step 2: Once admitted to LU, submit the Music Department Application.

Step 3: Once admitted to LU, go to the LU scholarship page and fill out these two scholarship applications:

  1. Lamar University General Scholarship Application 2023-24
  2. Music Department Scholarship Application 2023-24

Step 4: Attend Your Audition Day.

Audition Coordinator

Dr. Eric Shannon coordinates the auditions. Please contact him if you have questions.

Dr. Eric Shannon
409-880-7188
eshannon@lamar.edu 

Percussion

Choral Studies

Audition Days

Audition Days take place on the LU Campus in the James M. "Jimmy" and Susan Simmons Music Building. They begin in the lobby with check-in at 9 a.m. Audition Days usually conclude by 12:30 p.m.

Note: We do not assign audition times. The reason is because we administer the music theory and piano assessments first (non-major scholarship applicants do not take these assessments). Because different students finish their assessments at different times, it creates a natural flow of who is ready to audition next. This flexibility allows us to be maximally efficient with applicants' time.

Fall 2024 Audition Dates

  • February 17, 2024
  • March 9, 2024
  • April 13, 2024

Wind Ensemble

What to Play or Sing For Your Audition

Take time to choose what you will play or sing for your audition. Please review the additional requirements for each category and the explanation and general information handout.

Audition Day Explanation and General Information Sheet (PDF).

Requirements for Auditioning and Applying

  • Students must be accepted to Lamar University before they can apply to the LU music department. 
    • Master of Music in performance is the only exception. M.M. performance students apply to music and audition before university acceptance. Enter L0000000 as your L# in the Music Department Application.
  • Students must be accepted to Lamar University before they can perform an audition.
    • Master of Music in performance is the only exception. M.M. performance students audition before university acceptance.
  • Students cannot be admitted to a music program or receive a music scholarship offer until they have auditioned.

Piano Studies

Admission Results

Results of Your Application/Audition

After your application has been received and you have submitted your audition video(s), you will receive an email from musicauditions@lamar.edu. This email will let you know whether you were admitted to the Music Department or not. There will be one of three outcomes:

  1. Accepted with scholarship offer (the offer amount will be displayed)
  2. Accepted but with no scholarship offer
  3. Not accepted

Each email will have instructions for what to do next. Depending on the outcome, emails will also contain options for other ways to participate in our music ensembles if admission to the department is not granted.

Scholarship Offers

If you receive a department acceptance email stating that you are accepted with scholarship offer, you will receive a second email with the official scholarship offer from the MyScholarship portal.

It will be sent to your @lamar.edu email address. This is why it is so important for you to set up your LU email and complete the Music Department Scholarship Application in the MyScholarship portal (along with the General Scholarship Application). 

Acceptance emails will be sent within 10-14 days of your audition. However, scholarship offer emails may require a few more weeks to be sent to you. 

No admission results or scholarship offers will be made in-person or on the day you audition.

Music Theory and Piano Placement Exam Study Guides:

In addition to the audition, all prospective majors and minors will be given a theory placement exam and a piano placement exam (music minors and students whose principal instrument is piano are exempt from the piano placement exam).

This is to determine the student's appropriate class level in music theory and class piano. Neither of these exams influences scholarships or admission to the music department. These tests merely determine which class section the student will be placed in during the first semester.

Music Theory Placement Exam Study Guides

Theory Placement Information Sheet

Theory Placement Practice Exam

Answer Key

Piano Placement Exam Study Guide

Piano Placement Exam/Proficiency Requirements Information Sheet