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Audition Songs

Audition songs for sopranos

These eight songs suit a legit or mixed soprano voice. Each one is named in at least one published guide to audition songs, linked below the list. Where a guide says panels hear a song too often, we say so and name the guide.

  1. 1. I Could Have Danced All Night

    My Fair Lady. Music by Frederick Loewe, lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. Broadway, 1956. Uptempo.

    Eliza sings it with Mrs. Pearce and the servants on the night she succeeds. As a solo cut it shows a bright, sustained ingénue sound.

    Heard often: Playbill (2025) calls it the original overdone musical theatre song.

  2. 2. Vanilla Ice Cream

    She Loves Me. Music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. Broadway, 1963. Uptempo.

    Amalia works out that she has changed her mind about a man, and the song ends high. It shows comic acting as much as range.

    Heard often: Playbill (2025) lists it among songs singers avoid, because it is very common and has tempo changes.

  3. 3. What's the Use of Wond'rin'?

    Carousel. Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Broadway, 1945. Ballad.

    Julie Jordan sings it in Act 2. It suits a steady, reflective character and a warm lyric soprano.

  4. 4. Goodnight, My Someone

    The Music Man. Music and lyrics by Meredith Willson. Broadway, 1957. Ballad.

    Marian the librarian sings this gentle waltz. It is short and shows a guarded, romantic leading lady.

  5. 5. Green Finch and Linnet Bird

    Sweeney Todd. Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Broadway, 1979. Ballad.

    Johanna, a young woman kept indoors by her guardian, sings it. It shows a light, agile upper voice.

    Heard often: Theatre Trip recommends it and also lists it as overused (2021).

  6. 6. Think of Me

    The Phantom of the Opera. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart, additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. West End, 1986. Ballad.

    Christine Daaé sings it at her debut. It shows classical technique, and the optional cadenza lets you show your top.

    Heard often: Listed as overused by Theatre Trip (2021) and Ensemble Schools.

  7. 7. How Could I Ever Know?

    The Secret Garden. Music by Lucy Simon, lyrics by Marsha Norman. Broadway, 1991. Ballad.

    In the show Lily's ghost sings it as a duet with Archibald, so a solo cut uses her lines. It suits a tender, mature soprano.

  8. 8. Pulled

    The Addams Family. Music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. Broadway, 2010. Uptempo.

    Wednesday sings it, with Pugsley joining in the show. This contemporary comic piece finishes in a high belt-mix.

    Heard often: Named as overdone by NewMusicalTheatre.com (2015) and Theatre Trip (2021).

Need a short version? Read how to make a 16-bar cut. More lists: Audition songs for mezzo-sopranos, Audition songs for altos and belters, Audition songs for tenors, Audition songs for baritones.

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Sources

We checked each show's writers and opening year against its Wikipedia page in October 2026. The songs and the "heard often" notes come from these guides: