McGill.CA / Music / Ensembles / Ensemble Auditions

Piano Auditions

All new/first-year undergraduate piano students are required to successfully complete MUEN 581 Introduction to Ensemble Playing for Pianists prior to taking any of the other auditions for piano ensemble work.

MUEN 581 and MUEN 582 are only open to piano performance majors.

There is no audition for either course: all incoming BMus/LMus piano performance majors must register for two terms of MUEN 581 prior to taking an audition for any other piano ensemble work. Please note that BMus/LMus piano performance students also need to fulfill large ensemble requirements, usually by registering for a choral ensemble (MUEN 593). See https://www.mcgill.ca/music/ensembles/auditions/voice-choir-auditions

Once they have completed two terms of MUEN 581, they can can also audition for other large ensembles (such as Orchestra, CME, Wind Orchestra), audition for other small ensembles, or register for MUEN 582.

Non-performance students who want to inquire about the possibility of taking MUEN 581 or 582 should contact the instructor directly, but expect that they will likely not receive an answer until after the beginning of term, when enrolment in the course is fairly final.

Mixed Ensemble Auditions

The Mixed Ensemble Audition covers the following ensembles:

  • McGill Symphony Orchestra

    MUEN 597. McGill Symphony Orchestra.

    Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

    Credits: 2
    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
    This course is not offered this catalogue year.

    Description

    Ensemble for orchestral instruments.
    • 6 - 7 hours
    • Prerequisite: Audition.

    Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

    Launch Visual Schedule Builder
  • CME (Contemporary Music Ensemble)

    MUEN 594. Contemporary Music Ensemble.

    Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

    Credits: 2
    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
    This course is not offered this catalogue year.

    Description

    Ensemble for contemporary music - instruments and voice.
    • 4 hours
    • Prerequisite: Audition.

    Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

    Launch Visual Schedule Builder
  • McGill Wind Orchestra

    MUEN 590. McGill Wind Orchestra.

    Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

    Credits: 2
    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
    This course is not offered this catalogue year.

    Description

    Large ensemble for wind instruments.
    • 4-6 hours
    • Prerequisite: Audition

    Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

    Launch Visual Schedule Builder
  • Beethoven Orchestra

    MUEN 567. Beethoven Orchestra.

    Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

    Credits: 1
    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
    This course is not offered this catalogue year.

    Description

    A reading orchestra that also functions as a conductor's workshop orchestra. Repertoire includes the complete Beethoven Symphonies.
    • Prerequisite: Audition.
    • Note: Open to all students registered at McGill.

    Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

    Launch Visual Schedule Builder
  • Schoenberg Ensemble

    MUEN 568. Multiple Ensemble 1.

    Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

    Credits: 1
    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
    This course is not offered this catalogue year.

    Description

    Special arrangement ensemble. Topic varies by year.

    Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

    Launch Visual Schedule Builder
  • Sonata Masterclass

    MUEN 585. Sonata Masterclass.

    Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

    Credits: 1
    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
    This course is not offered this catalogue year.

    Description

    Exploration of the vast literature for sonatas with piano and instrument, including multiple issues of ensemble preparation and performing.
    • Prerequisite: Audition or permission of the instructor.
    • Restriction: Limited to 4 advanced pianists and 4 instrumentalists.

    Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

    Launch Visual Schedule Builder
  • Studio Accompanying

    MUEN 584. Studio Accompanying.

    Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

    Credits: 1
    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
    This course is not offered this catalogue year.

    Description

    Highly qualified collaborative partners will be assigned to work independently with studio teachers and their students.
    • 4 hours
    • Prerequisite: Audition.

    Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

    Launch Visual Schedule Builder

    MUEN 684. Studio Accompanying.

    Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

    Credits: 2
    Offered by: Performance (Graduate Studies)
    This course is not offered this catalogue year.

    Description

    Students will be assigned to work as accompanists with performance teachers and their students.
    • Prerequisite: Audition; 2 hours

    Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

    Launch Visual Schedule Builder

Collaborative Piano major students are exempt from auditioning for Studio Accompanying MUEN 684

  • Chamber Music (Small ensembles i.e.: piano trio, piano quartet) (

    MUEN 560. Chamber Music Ensemble.

    Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

    Credits: 1
    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
    This course is not offered this catalogue year.

    Description

    Ensemble for chamber music - various instruments.
    • Prerequisite(s): Audition.
    • Restriction(s): For Music students; open to others by permission of the Department.

    Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

    Launch Visual Schedule Builder

Audition Instructions:

  • Learn the quick study piece (see below) and prepare your choice of solo piece(s) of minimum 4 minutes
  • If you are an undergraduate student, the prerequisite for this audition is completion of MUEN 581- Introduction to Ensemble Playing for Pianists. All graduate students are eligible to take this audition without taking MUEN 581 first.

MUEN 581. Introduction to Ensemble Playing for Pianists.

Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

Credits: 1
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.

Description

Concentration on interpretation and performance of piano duet and two piano repertoire.
  • 1 hour
  • Restrictions: Open to students in the B. Mus.; Major in Performance Piano and the L. Mus.; Major in Performance Piano.

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder
could be substituted by

MUEN 556. Introduction to Collaborative Piano 1.

Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

Credits: 1
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.

Description

Aspects and techniques of performing in ensembles, including vocal accompanying, piano duos, instrumental duos and chamber ensemble work. Ensemble score-reading, preparation and performance analysis.
  • 2 hours
  • Prerequisite: Audition
  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken MUEN 583
  • Open to singers and pianists.

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder

Additional Information:

  • If a student is unable to attend a live audition, they must contact Prof. Hashimoto as soon as possible.
  • Any student that already has an established agreement with an instructor of a studio that they will accompany for Studio Accompanying  (MUEN 584/586) must have the instructor confirm this with Prof. Hashimoto directly. Upon receiving the confirmation, the student may be exempt from auditioning for Studio Accompanying MUEN 584, 684.
  • Piano Mixed Ensemble Auditions are restricted to students enrolled in performance programs unless special permission has been granted by the coordinator.
  • There will be no auditions in January; students wanting to participate in the Winter semester must take the audition this term.

Audition Materials:

Audition Time/Date: Sunday, August 25, 2024

Questions? kyoko.hashimoto [at] mcgill.ca (Contact Prof. Hashimoto by email)

Song Interpretation Auditions

This audition is for participation in:

SONG INTERPRETATION 1 & 2

MUEN 578. Song Interpretation 1.

Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

Credits: 1
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.

Description

Normally open only to Voice and Piano Performance students. Study of the standard song repertoire with emphasis on the singer and pianist as partners. A public recital will be given at the end of each term.
  • 2 hours
  • Prerequisite: Audition.

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder
&

MUEN 579. Song Interpretation 2.

Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

Credits: 1
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.

Description

Study of song repertoire for singers and pianists.

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder
with Michael McMahon on Fridays.
These ensembles are not open to Non-Music students.

Audition Instructions:

Audition Material:

  • Pianists: 1 Romantic work, up to 7 minutes in length.

Audition Time/Date: 

  • Monday, August 26 from 10am-5pm in Redpath Hall
  • Tuesday, August 27 from 10am-5pm in Redpath Hallbvc 

Vocal Chamber Ensemble Auditions

This audition is for participation in:

Vocal Chamber Ensemble 

MUEN 553. Vocal Chamber Ensemble.

Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

Credits: 1
Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.

Description

Vocal ensemble repertoire written after 1800.
  • Prerequisite: Audition
  • Restriction: Open by audition to pianists and singers.

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

Launch Visual Schedule Builder
(Coordinators: Annamaria Popescu and Sara Laimon)

This ensemble is open to Voice Majors and Pianists.
Vocal duets are welcome

Audition Instructions:

  • Arrive 5 minutes prior to your audition time.

  • Sign up for an audition time HERE.

  • Singers must provide their own pianist.

Audition Material:

  • Pianists: 1 Romantic work, up to 7 minutes in length.
  • Vocalists: 2 songs, 1 German and 1 of your choosing.

Audition Time/Date:

  • Wednesday, August 28 from 5pm-8:30pm in room C-204

Opera McGill Auditions

This audition is for pianists who wish to participate in:
Opera McGill

  • This ensemble is not open to non-music students.
  • If accepted, pianists will be eligible to register for

    MUEN 596. Opera Repetiteur.

    Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

    Credits: 2
    Offered by: Performance (Schulich School of Music)
    This course is not offered this catalogue year.

    Description

    Supervised coaching of singers, and playing of scenes and productions; rehearsal pianists and backstage conducting responsibilities.
    • 6 hours
    • Restriction: Open by audition to advanced pianists, and to students in conducting, who are interested in training as operatic coaches. Students enrolled for piano instruction at McGill must also have their practical teacher's approval

    Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

    Launch Visual Schedule Builder
     

Each pianist will have assignments within Opera McGill based on experience and the audition which can include but are not limited to: playing for production rehearsals, workshops, masterclasses, or coachings. Pianists will be invited to participate in Opera McGill classes.

Audition Instructions:

Audition Requirements: 

Audition Time/Date:

  • Thursday, August 29 from 10am-2pm in Wirth Opera Studio
Back to top