The Department of Music offers a wide-ranging array of instrumental lessons and ensembles with outstanding faculty. Auditions are required for admission.
All applied lessons at Duke are offered by permission of the instructors after competitive auditions at the beginning of the semester.
To audition for lessons or ensembles not included in the table, please contact the faculty member directly using the Contact tab below.
Auditions are for current Duke University enrolled students only. Make sure to sign up for your audition using your Duke email address.
Fall 2026 Auditions
| 2026 Dates | Time of Audition | Ensemble/Instrument Study Area | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, Aug. 19 | 6:30 - 8 pm | Singers who attend the open rehearsals are invited to sing with the Chapel Choir in worship on Aug 23 from 11:00 am to 12:15 pm. | Duke Chapel (West campus) |
| Thursday, Aug. 20 - Wednesday, Sept. 9 | Chapel Choir auditions for new singers only. | 036 Westbrook Building (West campus) | |
| Sunday, Aug 23 | 9:15 - 10:30 am | Singers who attend the open rehearsals are invited to sing with the Chapel Choir in worship on Aug 23 from 11:00 am to 12:15 pm. | Duke Chapel (West campus) |
| 3 pm | MUS 261 Theory I Placement Exam | 069 Biddle | |
| Monday, Aug. 24 - Thursday, Sept. 3 | Chorale auditions for new singers only. | 02 Biddle | |
| Monday, Aug. 24 | 3 - 5 pm | Classical Guitar | 024 Biddle |
| 4 - 6 pm | Classical Piano | Nelson Music Room, East Duke Building | |
| 5 - 8 pm | Chamber Music STRINGS (Auditions are for new students only. Students who have previously participated in Chamber Music, please contact Prof. Caroline Stinson directly.) | 041 Biddle | |
| 6 - 9 pm | Jazz Ensemble and Combos: Trumpets and Trombones, Drums, and Vibes | 019 Biddle | |
| 6 - 7:30 pm | Saxophone for Wind Symphony/lessons/quartet, and Piano for Wind Symphony | Baldwin Auditorium | |
| 6:30 - 10:30 pm | Viola, Cello & Bass for Symphony Orchestra and/or lessons | 084 Biddle | |
| 7:30 - 8:30 pm | Percussion (Orchestra and Wind Symphony) | Baldwin Auditorium | |
| Tuesday, Aug. 25 | 2 - 5:30 pm | Voice lessons | 058 Biddle (Bone Hall) |
| 5 - 7 pm | Chamber Music PIANO (Auditions are for new students only. Students who have previously participated in Chamber Music, please contact Prof. Caroline Stinson directly.) | 085 Biddle | |
| 5:30 - 10 pm | Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon for Orchestra/Wind Symphony/lessons | 019 Biddle (Bone Hall) | |
| 6 - 9 pm | Jazz Ensemble & Combos: Saxophones and doubles (Clarinet, Flute, etc.), Piano, Vocalists, Bass, and Guitar | 041 Biddle | |
| 7:00 - 8:30 pm | Chorale Open Rehearsal | Baldwin Auditorium | |
| Wednesday, Aug. 26 | 6 - 9 pm | Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, and Euphonium for Orchestra/Wind Symphony/lessons | Baldwin Auditorium |
| Thursday, Aug. 27 | 6 - 9 pm | Violin for Symphony Orchestra and/or lessons | 084 Biddle |
| 7 - 8:15 pm | Chorale Open Rehearsal | 019 Biddle (Bone Hall) |
For all other ensembles and lessons, please contact the ensemble director or instructor directly using the Audition Contacts section on this webpage.
*Chamber Music auditions are for new students only. Students who have previously participated in Chamber Music, please contact Prof. Caroline Stinson directly.
Spring 2026 Auditions
| 2026 Dates | Time | Ensemble/Instrument Study Area | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, Jan. 5 | 3 - 5 pm | Classical Guitar lessons | 024 Biddle |
| Wednesday, Jan. 7 | 4 - 5:30 pm | Classical Piano lessons | Nelson Music Room |
| Wednesday, Jan. 7 | 5 - 6:30 pm | Jazz Ensemble and combos | 019 Biddle |
| Wednesday, Jan. 7 | 5:30 - 6:30 pm | Chamber Music* | 080 Biddle |
| Thursday, Jan. 8 | 3 - 5:30 pm | Voice lessons | 104 Biddle |
| by appointment only | Chorale auditions | 02 Biddle | |
| by appointment only | Chapel Choir auditions | 036 Westbrook (West campus) |
For all other ensembles and lessons, please contact the ensemble director or instructor directly using the Audition Contacts section on this webpage.
All applied lessons at Duke are offered by permission of the instructors after competitive auditions at the beginning of the semester. Please contact the appropriate teacher below if you have questions about lessons.
If you have questions about auditioning for the Duke Chorale, contact Allan Friedman. For the Jazz Ensemble, contact John Brown. For the Symphony Orchestra, contact Harry Davidson. For the Wind Symphony, contact Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant.
| Instrument | Audition Contact | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass | Zachary Hobin | zachary.hobin@duke.edu | |
| Bassoon | Jessica Kunttu | jessica.kunttu@duke.edu | |
| Cello | Caroline Stinson | caroline.stinson@duke.edu | |
| Stephanie Vial | stephanie.aspinwall@duke.edu | ||
| Clarinet | Jimmy Gilmore | 919-781-3853 | jimmyclarinet@gmail.com |
| Flute | Carla Copeland-Burns | 336-327-5019 | Flutists, click here for more information: https://duke.is/duke-music-flute-DSO |
| Classical Guitar | Colin Fullerton | colin.fullerton@duke.edu | |
| Jazz Guitar | Kevin Van Sant | kvansantguitar@gmail.com | |
| Harp | Laura Byrne | 919-741-0934 | l.byrneharpist@gmail.com |
| Harpsichord | Clara Gerdes | clara.gerdes@duke.edu | |
| Horn | Rachel Niketopoulos | rachelnhorn@gmail.com | |
| Oboe | Bo Newsome | 919-452-9293 | bo.newsome@duke.edu |
| Organ | Clara Gerdes | clara.gerdes@duke.edu | |
| Percussion | Julia Thompson | jt255@duke.edu | |
| Piano | Ieva Jokubaviciute* | ieva.jokubaviciute@duke.edu | |
| David Heid | dheid@duke.edu | ||
| Pei-fen Liu | 919-683-3066 | peifen.liu@duke.edu | |
| Jean Park | jean.park@duke.edu | ||
| Daniel Seyfried | daniel.seyfried@duke.edu | ||
| Susan Greenberg | susie@duke.edu | ||
| Jazz Piano | Ed Paolantonio | 919-596-4410 | ejp3@duke.edu |
| Saxophone | Susan Fancher | 336-340-5284 | susan.fancher@duke.edu |
| Jazz Saxophone | Dexter Moses | dexter.moses@duke.edu | |
| Trombone and Tuba | Michael Kris | 919-554-1562 | mkris@email.unc.edu |
| Trumpet | Lisa Burn | lisa.burn@duke.edu | |
| Viola | Jonathan Bagg | jbagg@duke.edu | |
Violin
| Hsiao-mei Ku | hmku@duke.edu | |
| Eric Pritchard | epritch@duke.edu | ||
| Mary Kay Robinson | marykayrobinson47@gmail.com | ||
| Jennifer Curtis | jennifercurtisviolin@gmail.com | ||
| Voice | Clara Rottsolk* | clara.rottsolk@duke.edu | |
| Ted Federle | ted.federle@duke.edu | ||
| Elizabeth Linnartz | elizabeth.linnartz@duke.edu | ||
| Andrea Moore | andrea.e.moore@duke.edu |
* = Coordinator for their area
| Ensemble | Director | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber Music | Caroline Stinson | caroline.stinson@duke.edu | |
| Chapel Choir | Zebulon Highben | 919-684-6360 | zebulon.highben@duke.edu |
| Chinese Music | Jennifer Chang | jennifer.chang946@duke.edu | |
| Chorale | Allan Friedman | allan@duke.edu | |
| Jazz | John Brown | jbrown@duke.edu | |
| Opera Theater | David Heid | dheid@duke.edu | |
| Symphony Orchestra | Harry Davidson | hdavid@duke.edu | |
| Wind Symphony | Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant | verena.m@duke.edu |