Performance Audition – Simone-Marie Arbuckle

The auditions for the Bachelor of Music were held at the Music Department at the University of Otago. There were no other students when I was auditioning, as we have individual time slots and they audition by sections - woodwind, brass, strings etc. I was also informed prior to my audition that I may be the only student studying cornet next year, as well as being their first cornet/trumpet player to enter the university in the last four or five years, which the department was quite excited about. I auditioned with the cornet along with my accompanist. I would tend to concentrate on the cornet and trumpet while at university, but I will be practising my flute every once in a blue moon, as I hope to have the flute as my second instrument during my studies at the University of Otago (trumpet and cornet are too similar to have separate courses).

The audition was  a great experience. I was quite nervous waiting for the judging panel as anyone would be, but they were all very friendly, which made the audition much more tolerable, and easier to cope with. My trusty accompanist, Sinclair McClaren and I have been rehearsing the three pieces that I had chosen with the guidance of my brass tutor, Paul Claman. We probably spent around half the school year in preparation for this audition, with rehearsals being held at least one to four times a week.  Three weeks on, I received my letter of offer via email from the department.

With Classical Music Performance being my Major for my Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Otago, this was great news as it has given me a reasonably clear pathway for the next three to four years. This also has been a massive milestone in terms of my musical career, as I’ve already received interest from musical groups within the Dunedin community. This has shown me more possibilities for the years to come. This course will help me to achieve my professional licence as a musician, which is definitely something I wish to attain. Alongside this course, I will be taking first year papers in Music Theory, Music in Western Culture, Music in World Cultures, Maori Performing Arts, along with a second year German paper, for which I’ve received special permission, rather than taking the first year German papers. I also hope to take a paper in conducting during my second year at University, to further my knowledge as a musician, and as a performer.