Organists study with Joseph Galema, who has been with Lamont since 2008. He also serves as principal organist at First United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs, one of the largest and most active congregations in the city. At Lamont, he teaches private lessons to organ majors in addition to classes on organ repertoire, organ improvisation and organ accompanying.
Lamont is home to a freestanding 56-rank, 3,000-pipe Schuke Orgelbau Berlin organ. This instrument was built in Germany and now sits as the centerpiece of Hamilton Recital Hall, the space for which it was specifically constructed.
Applicants may choose to either audition in person in Denver OR submit a recorded video audition and complete a Zoom interview.
Applications received after January 15 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. You may indicate your preference for a live or virtual audition on the Lamont application.
Click here to view the current year’s audition/interview dates and the full steps for how to apply.
All auditions are approximately 15 minutes in length. The applicant will choose one of their prepared works to perform. The faculty will choose the second of the prepared works and possibly an additional work as well.
Undergraduate (BM and BA)
Twenty (20) minutes of repertoire to include three (3) pieces, each from a different period:
Baroque (e.g., prelude/fugue or chorale prelude by Bach, Buxtehude, Bruhns, etc.)
20th or 21st Century (e.g., Alain, Langlais, Hindemith, Rorem, Paulus, etc.)
Memorization is not required
Undergraduate (Minor)
Ten (10) minutes of repertoire consisting of two (2) or more classical-genre pieces or movements including one work by Bach (prelude/fugue or chorale prelude).
In certain cases, a student may be admitted who has had no organ study but does have a strong background in piano. In such individual cases, a piano audition is permitted instead of an organ audition.
Memorization is not required
Graduate (MM and certificate in performance)
Thirty (30) minutes of repertoire to include a work or representative movement from each of the following (for the Romantic and 20th/21st century work, one must be primarily lyric, and one must be primarily virtuosic):
Before 1750—not Bach (e.g., Buxtehude, Sweelinck, French Classic, etc.)
J. S. Bach (e.g. Prelude, Toccata, or Fantasy and/or Fugue; Trio Sonata movement; Passacaglia; Leipzig chorale prelude; Clavierübung chorale prelude)
Romantic period (e.g., Mendelssohn, Reger, Franck, Guilmant, Widor, Vierne, etc.)
20th or 21st Century (e.g., Alain, Messiaen, Langlais, Dupré, Duruflé, Hindemith, Distler, Hakim, Guillou, Paulus, etc.)
Applicants unable to travel to Denver for a live audition may submit a video audition via the Lamont application AND will complete a live Zoom interview. Repertoire may be recorded separately in multiple takes; editing within each take is prohibited.
The 20-minute interview will consist of a Q&A only. You will not be asked to perform.
Undergraduate (BM and BA)
Twenty (20) minutes of repertoire to include three (3) pieces, each from a different period:
Baroque (e.g., prelude/fugue or chorale prelude by Bach, Buxtehude, Bruhns, etc.)
20th or 21st Century (e.g., Alain, Langlais, Hindemith, Rorem, Paulus, etc.)
Memorization is not required
Undergraduate (Minor)
Ten (10) minutes of repertoire consisting of two (2) or more classical-genre pieces or movements including one work by Bach (prelude/fugue or chorale prelude).
In certain cases, a student may be admitted who has had no organ study but does have a strong background in piano. In such individual cases, a piano audition is permitted instead of an organ audition.
Memorization is not required
Graduate (MM and certificate in performance)
Thirty (30) minutes of repertoire to include a work or representative movement from each of the following (for the Romantic and 20th/21st century work, one must be primarily lyric, and one must be primarily virtuosic):
Before 1750—not Bach (e.g., Buxtehude, Sweelinck, French Classic, etc.)
J. S. Bach (e.g. Prelude, Toccata, or Fantasy and/or Fugue; Trio Sonata movement; Passacaglia; Leipzig chorale prelude; Clavierübung chorale prelude)
Romantic period (e.g., Mendelssohn, Reger, Franck, Guilmant, Widor, Vierne, etc.)
20th or 21st Century (e.g., Alain, Messiaen, Langlais, Dupré, Duruflé, Hindemith, Distler, Hakim, Guillou, Paulus, etc.)
Go to the graduate admission application to submit your information. For information on admission requirements, visit the graduate academic programs page and locate your program of interest.
