Juries - General Information
All Undergraduate and Master’s degree students enrolled in voice lessons are required to perform a jury at the end of each semester, except the semester in which the student completes a degree recital (the required Junior, Senior, or MM recital), successfully petitions to use other on-campus performances as a substitute, or uses the recital option for fifth-semester Concentration students described below.
If a doctoral student does not perform one of their required recitals in the course of a year (two consecutive long semesters) they are expected to perform a jury at the end of the second of those semesters. DMA students are encouraged to do their first recital within the first year of study.
The jury will be approximately 6 to 8 minutes in length. Students will sing one selection of their choice and at least one selected by the faculty. Students are allowed to record their juries, provided that doing so is not disruptive. The faculty may also record juries for archival purposes. Juries are closed to the public, including family and friends. Juries will normally be held during the last week of classes (“Pre-finals week”) each semester.
The semester grade will be determined by the following formula: 50% jury grade, 50% studio grade. The studio grade should not be more than 10 points lower or higher than the jury average. Teachers do not grade their own students' juries. If a student is not able to successfully perform both selections during the jury, the highest grade possible for the semester is a C.
A grade of “I” (“Incomplete”) will only be given for verified reasons and with permission of the major professor. Make up juries will be held on the Tuesday afternoon immediately following jury week. If the student is still not capable of completing the exam they should plan to sing the jury at the first departmental date at the beginning of the following semester. However, per universtiy policy, students have one year to complete the necessary work to receive the final grade.
Major Opera Role and/or Opera Role and Concert Solo Substitution Option
A leading role with UNT Opera, or a combination of a supporting role with a significant concert solo (at a UNT-sponsored event), may be substituted for a jury (not a Upper Divisional or Proficiency Exam) one time per academic year. Students wishing to do so must petition the Division of Vocal Studies faculty no later than November 1 in the fall semester and April 1 in the spring semester. To petition: The student must first gain approval from the Studio Teacher. If approved, the student will then send an e-mail to the Chair, cc:ing the Studio Teacher, requesting a release from the jury requirement. The Chair will then take the petition to the DVS faculty for an approval by majority vote. The jury waiver is for scenarios when a role will - through its demands - need to dominate the semester from a vocal standpoint.
Recital Option for Fifth-semester Voice Concentration Students
In their fifth semester of study, Voice Concentration students may substitute a 25-minute half recital for a jury. The student must include a minimum of six pieces on the program, one of which may be a duet. At least 80% of the repertoire must be from the classical vocal genre. Students must e-mail the Division Chair (cc: the student's teacher) to request this substitution and include the recital repertoire. A faculty member must be present at the recital or review a video recording of the recital. The recital must be completed and approved by a faculty member no later than the Friday before jury week. Once the recital is approved, the student's teacher must confirm with the Division Chair before jury week that the recital was successfully completed.
Jury Forms
Each student must obtain a Voice Division Jury Sheet from:
Students also need to pick up a colored form when they sign up for a time. Sign-up sheets will be posted outside RM244 at least one week before juries. Students must use a pencil and confirm the availability of their collaborative pianist before selecting a jury time. Note: both singer and pianist must be ready at the jury location 10 minutes before their posted time.
Each student must complete the top part of the front page of the jury sheet: name, teacher, course number, and total semesters of study. They should also complete the top part of the second page: student name, major, and degree sought. Students should then fill out the repertoire studied in that semester. Titles and composer’s names must be correctly spelled with all diacritical markings found in some foreign languages. Jury repertoire lists must reflect repertoire assigned and prepared that semester. The student’s voice teacher must approve the list and sign on the jury form prior to the jury. Students whose repertoire list is not so certified will not be allowed to do their jury for the semester.
Faculty members will write comments and give a grade based on the jury performance. The jury comment sheets must be distributed to students before the end of the semester. In the case of a “negative result” (such as failure of the UDE or Concentration Proficiency Exam) the teacher must retain the original comment sheets and have them placed in the student’s file in the Advising Office. Copies may be given to students.
Academic Integrity
Any falsification of the jury repertoire list is against the rules of academic integrity and at a minimum is grounds for a failing grade (“F”) in voice for the semester. Any student found guilty of intentionally falsifying repertory could also be subject to disciplinary action from the Dean of Students office of the university.