The Tertiary Singing Audition: Perceptual and Acoustic Differences between Successful and Unsuccessful Candidates

Abstract

Background in music practice. The audition process is used extensively in the arts to identify talent and to determine entry into music conservatoria. Judges must make rapid decisions regarding the quality and training potential of singing voices, however, there is limited understanding of these decisional processes and the criteria on which they are based. Background in music perception and acoustics. Few scientific studies link perceptual judgments with acoustic parameters. The audition process provided an opportunity to investigate these in an authentic singing assessment setting. Aims. This is the first study to evaluate the singing audition process by assessing judges’ reliability in adjudication and the relationship between audition outcomes (voice major, minor and not accepted), descriptions of voices by adjudicators and acoustic indicators of successful performances of singers who auditioned for entry into a Bachelor of Music degree. Main contribution. We observed and recorded a singing audition. The panel of judges was required to achieve consensus in their allocation of students into three groups- major or minor streams of the vocal program or non-acceptance into the degree. However, their comments on singers ’ vocal quality did not identify specific features that were used to make these allocations.

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