Vocal Studies | College of Music

Only vocal performance majors are required to perform a recital. Music education majors may choose to do a non-degree recital with consultation of the voice faculty and their teacher. Junior, Senior, and Master’s voice majors must perform degree recitals as a requirement for graduation.

Junior Recitals

• No hearing is required. It is expected that the Junior Recital will be performed on Tuesday afternoon after a regularly scheduled Voice Departmental. It is common practice that two juniors share the same program.
• Each singer should present 20-25 minutes of music
• All music is to be performed by memory unless common practice allows use of the score: as in the case of chamber music or oratorio.
• There should be no more than one aria on the program: oratorio or operatic.
• The junior recital should include a variety of languages, musical styles, and historical periods.

Senior recitals

• A hearing before the voice faculty is required. The hearing will generally occur immediately following Departmental Recital on Tuesday afternoon and must be passed in order for the recital to be presented. Should a student not pass the hearing, the recital will be postponed until after the hearing is re-scheduled and passed. The recital hearing is graded “pass/fail” by the faculty in attendance. Only the student’s voice teacher grades the recital performance.
• No more than 50 minutes of music is allowed.
• All music is to be performed by memory unless common practice allows use of the score: as in the case of chamber music or oratorio.
• There should be no more than two arias on the program: oratorio or operatic.
• The typical recital will include at least four languages representing different musical styles and periods.
• Any program that veers from this typical design should be approved by the voice faculty at least one month prior to the hearing.

Masters recitals

• No hearing required. A panel of three faculty members, usually the members of their graduate committee, will adjudicate all MM recitals.
• No more than 50 minutes of music is allowed.
• All music is to be performed by memory unless common practice allows use of the score: as in the case of chamber music or oratorio.
• There should be no more than two arias on the program: oratorio or operatic.
• The typical recital will include at least four languages representing different musical styles and periods.
• The voice faculty should approve any program that veers from this typical design at least one month prior to the recital.

Protocols for Recitals:

Protocols for Masters, Senior, and Junior recitals are as follows:

1. Students wishing to schedule a junior recital should first speak with the Division Coordinator (currently Prof. Joyner) to secure a recital date, then confirm that date through Roomview & the Scheduling Office (Ms. Laura Ford).  Students wishing to schedule a hearing for a senior recital must speak to the Division Coordinator in order to secure a hearing date, which will be assigned by the Coordinator on a first-come/first-served basis.
2. Those doing a senior recital will be expected to sing their hearing 14-21 days prior to their recital, with 14 days being the absolute minimum amount of time allowed between the hearing and the recital, unless granted a time waiver by written petition to the division.
3. Students singing a recital hearings shall perform one selection of their choice at Departmental on the day of their hearing.  During their hearing, the Voice Faculty will choose a minimum of three other pieces for the student to perform.  Hearings will last approximately 15 minutes.  In all cases, students singing hearings should be present and ready to sing immediately after the end of the Departmental program.
4. Students offering chamber music (ensemble) pieces are strongly encouraged to perform one of those pieces at Departmental. If a student has included a chamber music piece on their recital program but does not perform that piece at Departmental, the chamber ensemble must be present at the recital hearing, and the Voice Faculty will choose something from that piece at the hearing.

While degree recitals may be given during the summer, the recital hearing must be completed no later than the last week of classes in the spring semester. All repertory on BM and MM degree recitals will be performed from memory. Requests for exceptions to this policy must be made in writing at least one week prior to the recital hearing.