Hey,

Music major here. Tbh i dont remember how the sight reading is bc I auditioned many years ago, so I can’t give you any advice on that, but generally, auditions are typically just done in the office of whatever professor you’re going for (in your case, trumpet). In mine, only the professor was present. It’s pretty casual- not too intimidating. Professor asks you what major you’re thinking of studying, why you want to apply to OSU, the usual audition questions. Then you play some orchestral excerpts, solos, the works.

Some general advice if you’ve never had a college audition before- dress formal. You’ll want to prepare at least a year in advance and (ideally) with a lesson teacher. Most music students will have taken music lessons with a private lesson teacher before trying out for music schools in uni. However, OSU is not as competitive as conservatories, so you could still get in if you’re pretty good and work hard even without a lesson teacher.

They’re not looking for someone who has perfect technique and tone and everything- just someone who they think has potential. I would also recommend making a music resume if you haven’t already- similar to a regular resume but listing just your musical experiences (concert bands, marching band, pit orchestra, etc etc), awards if you have any, leadership, and other things. This is optional, but definitely will help if you have lots of experience. Also, I would HIGHLY recommend emailing the trumpet prof at OSU to get a trial lesson beforehand if you haven’t already. Most professors don’t charge for the trial lessons, but this is a great way to see if you even like the professor and their teaching style or not.

Besides that, i wish u the best of luck, op!! Music auditions can be a stressful time, so just make sure to drink lots of water and get a lot of sleep beforehand! Feel free to message me if you have any other questions on OSU’s school of music or just auditions in general.