Always
- Introduce yourself and your pieces—use eye contact
- Bring a picture and resume
- Bring sheet music in the proper key and have other material you can perform if asked
- Dress appropriately
- Set a tempo for the accompanist
Never
- Look directly at the adjudicators—put your focus above or directly beside them
- Ask to use a chair if one is in plain view—just use it
- Make excuses for sickness—either reschedule, cancel or push through it
- Look at the accompanist if the tempo is off—see #5 above
- Ask to start over more than one time
- Summarize your material or give a copy to the adjudicators
- Apologize for any reason
Remember, a piece that shows personality and that you are comfortable presenting is the strongest audition choice.
If you follow the above advice the adjudicators will remember you for the right reasons.
Ken Gargaro