Athletic Band
Auditions
Athletic Band Auditions
Whether you're returning for your senior season with us or are just starting your college career, we strive to make Tiger Band auditions a simple and straightforward process across all disciplines.
Read on to explore the process or reach out to us at bands@lsu.edu with any questions you may have. For directions to our facilities, please visit the LSU Campus Map.
Learn More
Want to learn more about the Sudler Trophy-winning Tiger Marching Band? Click the button below to return to an overview of the program.
Round One // Registration & New Member Videos
Timeframe: Spring 2023
The first round of auditions consists of all wind players, new and returning, filling out the preseason registration form.
Additionally, new members will also submit a YouTube audition video of themselves playing repertoire outlined below. If you are an incoming music major and already auditioned for the LSU School of Music, you will still need to submit a video for Tiger Band.
Returning members do not need to submit a video audition.
Both new and returning members will need to complete the 2023 Tiger Band Musician Audition Registration, available at the link below.
2023 Tiger Band Musician Audition Registration
If you are a new member, the form has a space for you to include your video audition link. (See the next section for instructions on recording your audition.)
Audition video links must be submitted along with the registration form. While the deadline is typically in late June, you are strongly encouraged to submit your materials as soon as possible for priority selection.
Step 1: Record
Video record yourself playing the following. This must be done in one take, with no edits in between performances.
- Chromatic scale showcasing your full range (tongued ascending & slurred descending)
- An etude showcasing your musical technique, facility, and talent. This could be a solo from Solo & Ensemble or an etude you used to audition for an honor band or all-state band. Minimum 30 seconds in length.
- Your chosen etude should NOT be music from your concert band literature or pop music performed in marching band.
Step 2: Upload
Upload video to YouTube and make sure the file is marked 'Unlisted". Marking your video as unlisted is extremely important to preserve the privacy of your audition.
- If you encounter issues uploading to YouTube, please contact us at bands@lsu.edu.
Step 3: Submit
Copy the URL of your unlisted video and include the link in the appropriate field when you fill out the Tiger Band Musician Audition Registration.
Round Two // Tiger Band Camp
Timeframe: Early August 2023
Once you have filled out the wind player membership form and submitted your video audition (if applicable), you will be contacted directly with your results. Passing the first round means you are automatically invited to the second round, the Tiger Band Camp, an immersive training camp held just prior to the start of classes in August.
During this camp, we will teach you our two marching styles for pregame and halftime shows, learn and practice drill, and rehearse school songs. We will evaluate marching and playing throughout the camp, and determine the final 325-member roster of the Tiger Band through several rounds of cuts at the end of the camp.
Further information about the camp will be provided to you directly once the first round of auditions have completed.
Clinic Information
Prior to the final audition date, several clinics will be offered where instructional staff will review our style, exercises, and audition materials. We strongly encourage candidates to prepare an audition on multiple sub-sections. This will increase your chance of placement even if you aren’t selected for your first choice (snare, tenor, bass, etc).
Additionally, the drumline captains maintain a private Facebook audition group to answer questions and share further aspects of our drumline technique, warm-ups, cadences, and the audition process. You will receive the Facebook group link after you complete the Tiger Band Musician Audition Registration.
Unless otherwise noted, all clinics are held at the Tiger Band Hall on the LSU campus.
- 2023 dates to be announced soon.
Audition Process
If you are auditioning for drumline, your entire audition process occurs prior to the start of the Tiger Band Camp. All members, new and returning, must fill out the Tiger Band Musician Audition Registration.
Both new and returning members will need to complete the 2023 Tiger Band Musician Audition Registration, available at the link below. If you do not complete this form, you will not be allowed to audition for drumline.
Drumline audition information will be released at a later date.
Audition Process
Golden Girl auditions are divided into a three-round process which usually begins in late March / early April each year.
- The first round consists of a solo dance routine video submission.
- The second round consists of a technique-oriented video submission.
- The final round is an in-person audition day in Baton Rouge. The final LSU Golden Girls squad is selected and announced at the conclusion of this round.
Additionally, we offer several clinics prior to the start of the audition process each year. These clinics, open to all dancers from 8th grade through college levels, are dedicated to preparing current and future auditionees in the techniques and styles of the LSU Golden Girls. Clinic attendance is encouraged, but NOT required, for those auditioning.
For a full breakdown of 2023 audition information, download the PDF at the link below.
2023 Golden Girl Audition Information Packet
2023 Clinic Information
Dates: February 12, March 11, March 25
Time & Location: 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Tiger Band Hall
Three clinics will be offered prior to the start of the audition process. To attend a clinic, you must register through the 2023 Golden Girl Clinic Registration Form at the link below.
2023 GOLDEN GIRL CLINIC REGISTRATION
2023 Audition Deadlines
March 1 – Online audition registration opens at 8:00 a.m. CST.
April 2 – Online audition registration closes at 11:59 p.m. CST.
April 6 - Round 1 video submission deadline, 8:00 p.m. CST. (Solo video)
April 13 – Round 1 finalist announcement.
April 16 – Finalist technique video submission deadline, 8:00 p.m. CST. (Technique video)
April 22 – Finalist in-person auditions in Baton Rouge.
Get Started
Ready to register? Access the registration form using the button below.
2023 Clinic Information
Clinic Dates:
- March 19, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
- March 26, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
- April 16, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Tiger Band Hall
Three clinics will be offered prior to the start of the audition process. To attend a clinic, you must register through the 2023 Colorguard Audition Clinic Registration Form which will be available soon. Clinics are open to all high school and college students interested in auditioning.
Clinic attendance is not a requirement for auditioning UNLESS you are a returning member. Returning members must attend at least one clinic.
2023 Audition Process
Attire
- Hip to ankle black leggings or black jazz pants.
- Black jazz shoes, if possible.
- Black (preferably fitted) sleeveless top.
Hair/Makeup
- Gameday makeup (heavier natural)
- No red lipsticks, strictly neutral colors.
- No bright, too dark, or neon color eyeshadows.
- Gameday hair
- Refer to this link for hair tutorial: Golden Girl and Colorguard Hair Tutorial
- If you have short hair, please make sure hair is appropriately groomed for both rounds.
All Phase 1 content is to be submitted directly via email to lsucgofficial@gmail.com and consists of the following items and due dates:
- Proof of enrollment or admissions letter.
- Due April 21 at 11:59 p.m.
- One Fundamentals Routine Video
- Follow the template / example video linked here.
- Due April 21 at 11:59 p.m.
- For new members only, two recommendation letters are to be sent, by the person referring, NOT the student.
- Due April 21 at 11:59 p.m.
You will receive an email informing you if you are accepted to Phase 2 of auditions. If accepted, you must submit your solo routine music for Phase 2 by April 26 at 11:59 p.m. (See below for more information on the solo routine requirements.)
Phase 2 auditions will take place on April 29, 2023 at the Tiger Band Hall, beginning at 8:00 a.m.
Please plan for the process to take the majority of the morning and afternoon, with a lunch break provided.
Phase 2 auditions will consist of two rounds:
Round One (Solos)
- Solos should consist of some dance but majority flag work.
- Routines must be at a minimum of 1 minute but not exceed 1:30 seconds.
- You may use your own equipment for this portion.
- Routines must be your own original choreography.
- Cuts can be made in this round.
Round Two (Fundamentals, Group Routine, etc.)
- This round will consist of some review of the fundamentals from the videos sent in and two routines taught on-the-spot (stand dance and flag routine.)
- You MUST use LSU Colorguard equipment for this portion.
- Cuts will be made after auditionees perform the on-the-spot flag routine in front of the judges to make the preliminary team.
Important Dates
April 19 – Deadline to register for auditions.
April 21 – Deadline to send proof of enrollment or admissions letter.
April 21 – Deadline for recommendation letters to be sent. (New members only!)
April 26 – Deadline to submit solo music if you are accepted to the in-person round.
April 29 – Finalist in-person auditions.
Related Links
Nope!
While we welcome music majors and minors with open arms, the majority of Tiger Band (over 75%) is actually comprised of majors from other colleges and schools across the LSU campus, such as Business, Engineering, Mass Communication, and more.
Yes!
There are several opportunities. If you are selected as a member, you will automatically receive a $1,000 stipend. Additionally, we have further scholarship opportunities available based on director recommendations, instrument needs in department ensembles, and student performance ability.
Yes!
Every member of Tiger Band must have a minimum 2.0 GPA. Additionally, all members must be full-time students at LSU with a minimum of 12 credit hours. However, if you drop below full-time status after you make the band, you will forfeit your membership stipend.
Typically 10 - 14 hours per week, varying based on football game schedules and travel.
Tiger Band rehearses for an hour and a half (3:50 p.m. - 5:20 p.m.) Tuesday through Friday each week. If we have a home football game in Baton Rouge that week, we have an additional rehearsal on Saturday morning.
When you enroll for the course (MUS 4250) you will receive one credit-hour from the university.
We pay you!
The Department of Bands covers all costs such as dry cleaning of your uniform, instrument repairs, and official travel, in addition to your $1,000 stipend.
For returning members, we also offer student staff positions to assist with band operations. These positions include specialized roles such as equipment managers, music librarians, social outreach team members, and more. Student staff positions receive additional payments.
At least once per season, but typically more.
Tiger Band attempts to take one full band trip during the regular season and further full band trip(s) for any postseason game(s).
Additionally, we assemble an approximately 100-member pep band to travel to each away game within reasonable travel distance. The roster for away game travel rotates; every member does not necessarily travel to every away game.
Once again, the Department of Bands covers your costs for all of this travel, including per diem for meals.
Typically 5 to 7, depending on the exact football season schedule.
We do our best to keep show content fresh and exciting for both members and our fans! Students also have opportunities to collaborate with staff and pitch new show ideas at the end of each season.