Audition requirements by instrument
After reviewing your music audition requirements, please return to the Undergraduate Admissions or Graduate Admissions page to complete all steps required for admission.
Students interested in auditioning for the Marching Band do not need to audition for the general music department, instead please visit how to join the Wolf Pack Marching Band.
Brass
Undergraduate
- Two Major Scales (two octaves when possible)
- A Chromatic Scale (encompassing your full range, slurred or tongued)
- Two contrasting musical selections to be chosen from a movement of a concerto, sonata, etude, or ensemble excerpt. These selections should highlight your technical proficiency and melodic lyricism
( Example Repertoire: Arutiunian: Trumpet Concerto in Ab Major, Arutiunian: Elegy, Arban: Characteristic Studies, Balay: Petite Piece Concertante, Geodecke: Concert Etude, Haydn: Trumpet Concerto in Eb Major, Hummel: Trumpet, Concerto in Eb Major, Kennan: Sonata for Piano and Trumpet, Ropartz: Andante et Allegro, Turrin: Caprice, Voxman: Etude from the Selected Studies for Cornet or Trumpet, All-State Etudes)
Contact Jonathan Bhatia for any questions prior to your audition.
Graduate
- An exposition from a classical concerto: Haydn, Hummel, or Neruda
- A selection from a trumpet sonata, cornet solo, unaccompanied solo, or advanced etude
- A selection of three standard orchestral excerpts from the list below:
- Mahler: Symphony No. 5 (Mvt. 1 m. 1 – m. 25)
- Mussorgsky/Ravel: Pictures at an Exhibition (Promenade)
- Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 2 or No. 3 (off-stage solo)
- Respighi: Pines of Rome (Mvt. 2 off-stage solo)
- Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra (Mvt V. No. 201- No. 256; Trumpet 2)
- Stravinsky: Petrouchka (Ballerina’s Dance)
( Example Repertoire: Bitsch: Vingt Etudes, Bozza: Rustiques, Brandt: Concert Piece, Charlier: 36 Transcendent Etudes for Trumpet, Clarke: Maid of the Mist, Hindemith: Sonata for Trumpet and Piano, Hohne: Slavische Fantasie, Kennan: Sonata for Trumpet and Piano, Peaslee: Night Songs, Persichetti: Hollow Men, Plog: Postcards, Tomasi: Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra, Vizzutti: Cascades)
Contact Jonathan Bhatia prior to submitting an application.
Undergraduate
- Two major scales (two octaves where feasible)
- A Chromatic scale (encompassing your full range, slurred or tongued)
- Two musical selections from a sonata, concerto, etude, or orchestral work that highlight your technical proficiency and melodic lyricism
- Sight reading may be requested for live auditions
( Example Repertoire: Mozart: Horn Concertos 1-4, or Concert Rondo, Strauss: Horn Concerto 1 , Gliere: Concerto op. 91, Saint-Saens: Morceau de Concert, F. Strauss: Nocturno or Concerto op. 8, Krohl: Laudatio, Standard Orchestral Horn Excerpts, Honor Band or All-State Audition Repertoire)
Contact Natalie Higgins for any questions prior to your audition.
Graduate
- An exposition from a standard horn concerto
- A horn sonata or an unaccompanied solo
- Three Standard Orchestral Excerpts that showcase your range, technical proficiency, and melodic lyricism
( Example Repertoire: Mozart: Horn Concertos 2 or 4, Strauss: Horn Concerto 1 or 2, Jacobs: Horn Concerto, Ewazen: Sonata, Bozza: En Foret, Messiaen: Des Canyons aux étoiles, Martin: Lament)
Contact Natalie Higgins prior to submitting an application.
Undergraduate
- Two major scales (two octaves where feasible)
- A Chromatic scale (encompassing your full range, slurred or tongued)
- Two contrasting musical selections from a sonata, concerto, or etude that highlight your technical proficiency and melodic lyricism
( Example Repertoire: Guilmant: Morceau Symphonique, Barat: Andante and Allegro, Rimsky-Korsakov: Concerto, David: Concertino, Grondahl: Concerto, an etude from Tyrell 40 progressive studies for trombone, an etude from Borgdoni (Rochut) Melodious Etudes for Trombone, an etude from Voxman Selected Studies)
Contact Jim Albrecht for any questions prior to your audition.
Graduate
- A standard trombone concerto
- A trombone sonata or an unaccompanied solo
- Five Standard Orchestral Excerpts
Contact Jim Albrecht prior to submitting an application.
Undergraduate
- Two major scales (two octaves where feasible)
- A Chromatic scale (encompassing your full range, slurred or tongued)
- Two contrasting musical selections from a sonata, concerto or etude that highlight your technical proficiency and melodic lyricism
( Example Repertoire: Guilmant: Morceau Symphonique, Barat: Andante and Allegro, an etude from Tyrell 40 progressive studies for Trombone (Euphonium), an etude from Borgdoni (Rochut) Melodious Etudes, an etude from Voxman Selected Studies)
Contact Jim Albrecht for any questions prior to your audition.
Graduate
- A standard euphonium concerto
- A euphonium sonata or an unaccompanied solo
- Five Standard Orchestral/Band excerpts, one of which must be from the orchestral repertoire. Examples: Pictures at an Exhibition, The Planets, Don Quixote, Ein Heldenleben, Wagner, etc)
Contact Jim Albrecht prior to submitting an application.
Undergraduate
- Two Major Scales (two octaves)
- A technical solo or etude
- A lyrical solo or etude
( Example Repertoire: Grigoriev: Studies for Tuba, Bordogni: Legato Etudes Vol. 1, Blazhevich: 70 Studies for Tuba, Tyrell: 40 Advanced Studies for Tuba, Hofmeister: 60 Studies for Tuba, Woodruff: 24 Artistic Studies for Tuba, Haddad: Suite for Tuba, Hindemith: Sonata for Bass Tuba, Vaughn Williams: Concerto for Bass Tuba, Mvmt. 1, Holmes: Lento, Wilder: Suite No. 1 for Tuba, Marcello: Sonata in F–Major, Bach: Air and Bourree, Dowling: His Majesty the Tuba)
Contact Russ Dickman for any questions prior to your audition.
Graduate
- Five orchestral or band excerpts of your choice
- One movement from a standard solo in the repertoire (from, or comparable to, those on the example list below)
( Example Repertoire: Vaughn Williams: Concerto for Bass Tuba, Penderecki: Capriccio, Plog: Three Miniatures, Gregson: Concerto for Tuba, Szentpali: Concerto for Tuba)
Contact Russ Dickman prior to submitting an application.
Composition
Undergraduate students wishing to focus a Bachelor of Arts in Music towards composition should submit at least one sample composition. All compositions, unless totally electronic in medium, must be submitted in score form. Recordings or computer-generated representations of scores are appreciated, but not required.
Portfolios and recordings can be sent to:
Jean-Paul Perrotte
Assistant Professor of Electro-Acoustic Composition
Director of Electro-Acoustic Lab
In addition to submitting a sample composition, students wishing to focus on composition must also complete an audition on their primary instrument or voice type.
Students seeking a Masters in Music degree in composition are required to submit a short portfolio of compositions (three-to-four pieces). Recordings or computer-generated representations of scores are appreciated, but not required.
Portfolios and recordings can be sent to:
Jean-Paul Perrotte
Assistant Professor of Electro-Acoustic Composition
Director of Electro-Acoustic Lab
Conducting
Graduate: Wind Band
Pre-screening materials:
- Video links from a performance and rehearsal
- Links to a recording (audio or video) of a short performance on the applicant’s principal instrument
- A sample of scholarly writing
- An updated CV and contact information for three professional references
Pre-screening materials should be e-mailed to:
Reed Chamberlin
Director of Bands
Successful pre-screen candidates will be invited to campus for an interview, aural skills assessment and live conducting audition.
Graduate: Orchestral
Pre-screening materials:
- Video links from a performance and/or conducting workshop
- Links to a recording (audio or video) of a short performance on the applicant’s principal instrument
- A sample of scholarly writing
- An updated CV and contact information for three professional references
Pre-screening materials should be e-mailed to:
Jason Altieri
Director of Orchestras
Successful pre-screen candidates will be invited to campus for an interview, aural skills assessment and live conducting audition.
Graduate: Choral
Pre-screening materials:
- Video links from a performance with the applicant’s choral group
- Links to a recording (audio or video) of a short performance of the applicant singing (if possible)
- A sample of scholarly writing
- An updated CV and contact information for three professional references
Pre-screening materials should be e-mailed to:
Paul Torkelson
Director of Choral Studies
Successful pre-screen candidates will be invited to campus for an interview, aural skills assessment and live conducting audition.
Jazz
- Live Option: Perform two jazz standards with rhythm section (provided); play the melody and take a solo on each selection.
- Optional: One original composition or one non-jazz piece of your choice.
- Video Option: Perform two jazz standards with rhythm section accompaniment or with recorded play-along; play the melody and take a solo on each selection.
- Optional: One original composition or one non-jazz piece of your choice. This can be a solo recording, or a recording with other musicians.
Contact Joshua Reed for any questions prior to your audition
- Live Option: Perform three jazz standards with rhythm section (provided); play the melody and take a solo on each selection.
- Optional: One original composition or one non-jazz piece of your choice.
- Video Option: Perform three jazz standards with rhythm section accompaniment or with recorded play-along; play the melody and take a solo on each selection.
- Optional: One original composition or one non-jazz piece of your choice. This can be a solo recording, or a recording with other musicians.
Contact Peter Epstein prior to submitting an application.
Musicology
Students seeking a Master of Arts in Music History/Musicology/Ethnomusicology degree should contact program director Louis Niebur for specific entrance and audition requirements.
Louis Niebur
Director of Graduate Studies
Associate Professor of Musicology
Percussion
- Two mallet solo or etude (marimba or xylophone) without accompaniment. Additionally, a four mallet marimba solo is not required, but encouraged.
- Snare drum solo or etude. (Concert style is required, but an additional marching/rudimental style solo is encouraged).
- Timpani solo or etude (2, 3, or 4 drum).
Examples of two mallet solos for marimba/xylophone and four mallet marimba solos:
- Etudes from Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba, Vibraphone by Morris Goldenberg (two mallet)
- Etudes from Fundamental Method for Mallets by Mitchell Peters (two mallet)
- Masterpieces for Marimba arranged by Thomas McMillan (two mallet)
- Mitchell Peters 4 mallet marimba solos like Yellow After the Rain and Sea Refractions (four mallet)
- Solos from Image by Bart Quartier (4 mallet)
- Solos from Marimba: Technique Through Music by Mark Ford (4 mallet)
Examples of concert snare drum and rudimental solos:
- Portraits in Rhythm by Anthony Cirone
- Intermediate Snare Drum Studies by Mitchell Peters
- 14 Modern Contest Solos by john S. Pratt
- The All-American Drummer by Charley Wilcoxon
Examples of timpani etudes/solos found in the following method books:
- Fundamental Method for Timpani by Mitchell Peters
- Timpani Method by Alfred Friese and Alexander Lepak
- Modern Method for Timpani by Saul Goodman
- The Solo Timpanist by Vic firth
Applicants who don’t have access to a marimba, xylophone, or a set of timpani during the pandemic should contact Andrew Heglund to make alternative audition arrangements.
- Four mallet marimba work (something suitable for an undergraduate senior recital)
- Snare drum solo from the Delecluse Twelve Studies
- Timpani Solo (Carter, Bergamo, Beck, Cahn or comparable)
Contact Andrew Heglund prior to submitting an application.
Piano
Students auditioning for the Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance degree should prepare a program of at least 20 minutes of stylistically diverse, musically and pianistically challenging music comparable to the following:
- A J.S. Bach Prelude and Fugue (or similarly complex baroque work by Handel or Scarlatti)
- A sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Clementi, Beethoven, Hummel, or Schubert
- Works by Romantic, Impressionist and/or 20th/21st century composers
All pieces must be performed from memory. Exceptions may be permitted only in the case of some 20th/21st century pieces.
Students auditioning for Bachelor of Music-Music Education as piano principals, Bachelor of Arts in Music as piano principals and Music Minor in piano should present two pieces of contrasting styles that best show their level of technical and musical skill.
Contact James Winn for any questions prior to your audition.
Entrance to the Master of Music in Piano Performance or the Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance degrees requires a strong background of musical accomplishment.
Auditioning candidates for the degree should prepare a program of at least 40 minutes of stylistically diverse, musically and pianistically challenging music comparable to following:
- A major work containing a fugue by J.S. Bach, Shostakovich, Hindemith, etc.
- A sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Clementi, Beethoven, Hummel, or Schubert
- A complete major work of the Romantic, Impressionist, or early 20th/21st Century periods
- A virtuoso etude from among those of Chopin, Liszt, Skryabin, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Ligeti, or Bolcom
A program must represent at least three contrasting style periods. All pieces must be performed from memory. Exceptions may be permitted only in the case of some 20th and 21st-century pieces.
Contact James Winn prior to submitting an application.
Strings
Undergraduate
- Any three-octave scale with two of the related three-octave arpeggios (see Carl Flesch Scale System, No. 5)
- One movement from a J.S. Bach Violin Sonata or Partita for solo violin or from a J.S. Bach Cello Suite for viola
- A contrasting short piece or a movement from a sonata or concerto
Contact Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio for any questions prior to your audition.
Graduate
- Any three-octave scale with the seven related three-octave arpeggios (see Carl Flesch Scale System, No. 5)
- Two contrasting movements from a J.S. Bach Violin Sonata or Partita for solo violin or from a J.S. Bach Cello Suite for viola
- One movement of a standard concerto
Contact Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio prior to submitting an application.
Undergraduate
- Any two or three-octave scale.
- One movement from a J. S. Bach Suite for Solo Cello
- A contrasting short piece or a movement from a sonata or concerto
Contact Dmitri Atapine for any questions prior to your audition.
Graduate
- A Prelude and another movement from J.S. Bach Suite for Solo Cello
- A standard etude by Popper or Piatti
- A movement of a standard concerto
Contact Dmitri Atapine prior to submitting an application.
Undergraduate
- Any two or three-octave scale
- A short piece or a movement from a sonata or concerto
Contact Hans Halt for any questions prior to your audition.
Graduate
- A Prelude and another movement from J.S. Bach Cello Suite
- A movement of a standard concerto
Contact Hans Halt prior to submitting an application.
Undergraduate
- A four-octave scale in any key with related four-octave arpeggios
- Two pieces of contrasting styles that best show performer's level of technical and musical skill
- Any standard repertoire orchestral excerpt
Contact Marina Roznitovsky Oster for any questions prior to your audition.
Graduate
- A four-octave scale in any given key with related four-octave arpeggios
- Two pieces of contrasting styles that best show performer's level of technical and musical skill
- Any standard repertoire orchestral excerpt
Contact Marina Roznitovsky Oster prior to submitting an application.
Undergraduate
- Two major or melodic minor scales in key signatures with up to three sharps or two flats. Scales may be either two or three octaves in range.
- Two contrasting compositions/single movements, each no more than approximately five minutes long. One of your selections may be an exercise or etude from a method or other pedagogical source of your choice. Each of these selections should demonstrate mastery of appropriate right-hand technique (rest strokes, free strokes, arpeggiation, harmonics, etc.) and proper left-hand position and fingering technique. You will also be asked to play, using position shifting.
Contact Ed Corey for any questions prior to your audition.
Graduate
Contact Ed Corey for audition requirements prior to submitting an application.
Voice
Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Vocal & Bachelor of Music, Vocal Performance
Prospective students seeking entrance into this program should prepare two to three contrasting selections with at least one in a foreign language.
Prospective students interested in the Bachelor of Music in Music Education or the Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance degrees who do not have the audition requirements for that program are strongly encouraged to audition for a Music Minor or Bachelor of the Arts in Music-Vocal degree.
Consideration for the Bachelor of Music degrees can be made based on vocal progress.
Contact Katherine Parker for any questions prior to your audition.
Music Minor, Vocal & Bachelor of Arts in Music, Vocal
Students wishing to complete a Music minor or a Bachelor of Arts in Music with voice as their principal instrument must do a placement audition prior to declaring their major and beginning their course sequence. One to two selections of your choice is suggested.
Contact Katherine Parker for any questions prior to your audition.
Bachelor of Arts, Musical Theater
Students interested in auditioning for the Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre degree should visit the Musical Theatre degree page for more information and audition requirements.
Prospective students interested in the Bachelor of Arts-Musical Theatre degree who do not have the audition requirements for that program are strongly encouraged to audition for a Music Minor or Bachelor of the Arts in Music-Vocal degree.
Contact CJ Greer for any questions prior to your audition.
Master of Music in Performance, Vocal
- Five contrasting selections including opera arias, oratorio arias and art songs with at least one selection written after 1970 representing a diversity of styles and languages.
- A comprehensive repertoire list.
- A personal statement outlining musical inspiration and career aspirations is required.
Contact Katherine Parker for any questions prior to your audition.
Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance, Vocal
- Five-to-seven contrasting selections including opera arias, oratorio arias and art songs with at least one selection written after 1970
- A comprehensive repertoire list
- A sample recital program
- A personal statement outlining career aspirations/research interests
- CV
Contact Katherine Parker for any questions prior to your audition.
Woodwinds
Undergraduate
- A Chromatic scale encompassing your full range
- Two octave C, F and A major scales
- Two pieces of contrasting character, approximately five minutes in total duration. One should contain lyrical, melodic material primarily in the range just above the bass clef. The other should demonstrate your finger agility and articulation.
( Example Repertoire: Your audition material from Honor Band or All-State, pieces you prepared for Solo and Ensemble competitions, or other pieces you feel best demonstrate your current abilities, material from your current school band or orchestra pieces-if you haven’t yet studied any solo works).
If you are unsure of what to choose, please contact Eric Fassbender and he will help you find the right pieces for your audition.
Graduate
- Exposition of the Mozart or Weber concerto
- Piece for bassoon and piano, composed after 1900, of level comparable to the Paris Conservatoire contest pieces such as: Saint-Saens Sonata, Tansman Sonatina, Bozza Recit, Sicilienne et Rondo or Concertino,Duclos Faggotino
- The following Orchestral Excerpts:
- Marriage of Figaro
- Tchaikovsky 6
- Scheherazade mvmt 2 opening and cadenzas
- Two others of your choice
- A short piece or movement that best demonstrates your musical voice and interests. Please be prepared to share your reasons for choosing the work.
Contact Eric Fassbender prior to submitting an application.
Undergraduate
- All major scales (three octaves when possible, articulated up and slurred down)
- For recorded auditions, please select three scales that best demonstrate your ability
- A Chromatic scale (encompassing your full range, slurred)
- The first movement of a major Classical or Romantic-era concerto or sonata
- Examples: Mozart Concerto, Weber Concerti, Brahms Sonata, Saint-Saëns Sonata, etc.
- May be submitted without piano accompaniment, if applicable
- A movement of a work from the following list:
- Larsen: Dancing Solo
- Stravinsky: Three Pieces
- Osborne: Rhapsody (complete)
- D'Rivera: The Cape Cod Files
- Two contrasting orchestral excerpts
Contact Joshua Anderson for any questions prior to your audition.
Graduate
- Be prepared to demonstrate all major/melodic minor scales and arpeggios
- For recorded auditions, please select five scales and arpeggios that best demonstrate your ability.
- Prepare the first movement of one of the following concerti:
- Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major
- Weber: Clarinet Concerto in F minor
- Weber: Clarinet Concerto in Eb major
- Copland: Clarinet Concerto (beginning to the end of the cadenza)
- Prepare the first movement of one of the following sonatas:
- Brahms: Sonata in F minor
- Brahms: Sonata in Eb major
- Saint-Saëns: Sonata for Clarinet
- Hindemith: Sonata for Clarinet
- Prepare a selection from one of the following works:
- Stravinsky: Three Pieces (No. 2 or 3)
- Larsen: Dancing Solo
- Chen Yi: Monologues
- D'Rivera: The Cape Cod Files
- Prepare three contrasting orchestral excerpts
Contact Joshua Anderson prior to submitting an application.
Undergraduate
- Three major scales (two octaves, tongued up and slurred down)
- Chromatic scale, three octaves if possible, tongued
- Two musical selections from a sonata, concerto, etude, or orchestral work that highlight your technical proficiency and melodic lyricism
( Example Repertoire: Mozart: Concerto in G, Faure: Fantasie, any sonata by Bach, Telemann, or Handel, an etude from Melodious and Progressive Studies ed. Robert Cavally, Book 1, 2, or 3 (Southern Music company), Standard Orchestral Flute Excerpts).
Contact Mary Miller for any questions prior to your audition.
Graduate
- An exposition from a standard flute concerto
- A flute sonata or unaccompanied solo
- One etude selected from the following:
- Casterade: 12 Etudes
- Jean Jean: Modern Etudes
- Hugues: 40 New Studies
- Four Standard Orchestral Excerpts that showcase your range, technical proficiency and melodic lyricism
( Example Repertoire: Mozart: Concerto in D or G, Nielsen: Concerto, Ibert: Concerto, Liebermann: Sonata, Prokofiev: Sonata, Fukushima: Mei, Messian: Le Merle Noir, Coleman: Danza de la Mariposa).
Contact Mary Miller prior to submitting an application.
Undergraduate
- Two major scales, preferably slurred
- A single work, or two contrasting short works (one of which could be an etude or ensemble excerpt), totaling no more than eight minutes, which demonstrate technical proficiency, sound production and phrasing
Contact Aaron Hill for any questions prior to your audition.
Graduate
- Three contrasting solo works from three different centuries. Can include selections from an undergraduate senior recital program.
- Two Orchestral Excerpts
- Two Etudes
Contact Aaron Hill prior to submitting an application.
Undergraduate
- Two major scales, preferably slurred
- A single work, or two contrasting short works (one of which could be an etude or ensemble excerpt), totaling no more than eight minutes, which demonstrate technical proficiency, sound production and phrasing
Contact Aaron Hill for any questions prior to your audition.
Graduate
- Three contrasting solo works from three different centuries. Can include selections from an undergraduate senior recital program
- Two Etudes
Contact Aaron Hill prior to submitting an application.