Graduate Auditions

Master's Audition Requirements

Applicants in Performance and Composition should provide the audition committee with a list of major applied teachers, samples of programs performed, and a summary of literature studied. One of the letters of recommendation should be from the most recent applied instructor. All applicants must submit a Graduate Audition Application to secure a date for a live audition.

Voice

Applicants will be required to sing four songs from memory, one in each of the following languages: French, German, Italian, and English. Applicants are encouraged to provide their own accompanists, but an accompanist will be provided if needed.

Piano

Applicants must have performed at least one piano recital of an hour's length composed of representative piano literature. Such a program should be at the level of a senior piano recital in a Bachelor of Music Performance degree. A repertoire list and programs from past recitals should be submitted in advance of the audition. Audition repertoire should be thirty minutes in length, memorized, and should consist of Baroque and/or Classic, Romantic and Twentieth Century piano literature. One large work should be included.

Piano - Pedagogy Emphasis

The audition requires performance of three memorized pieces (fifteen minutes minimum) from three contrasting stylistic periods. Auditionees will also be asked to sight read at the piano. Prior to the audition, the applicant should submit a repertoire list for the audition committee's review.

Piano - Chamber Music / Accompanying Emphasis

The audition requires performance of three memorized pieces (fifteen minutes minimum) from three contrasting stylistic periods. Auditionees will also be asked to sight read at the piano. Prior to the audition, the applicant should submit a repertoire list for the audition committee's review.

Organ

Applicants are expected to perform a major work of J. S. Bach, such as any composition in the Peters Edition, Vol.11 (a trio sonata or one of the toccatas) and a modern composition of the student's choice.

Strings

Applicants must present an advanced etude, a movement of a concerto, and an additional composition selected from the standard literature, contrasting in style and period. Repertoire should be submitted in advance to the applied professor of the applicant's instrument for approval.

Solo Woodwinds

Applicants must present at least two compositions of contrasting styles drawn from the standard solo repertoire of their instruments. The audition may also include sight-reading, scales and arpeggios.

Multiple Woodwinds

Applicants must present one composition on their major instrument and one composition on a minor woodwind instrument (flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, or saxophone).

Brass

Applicants must present at least two compositions selected from the standard brass literature and contrasting in style and period. The audition may also include sight-reading, scales and arpeggios.

Euphonium

• Be prepared to play any major or minor scale two octaves
• Choose one solo from each group
  1. Any sonata by Marcello; Any sonata by Galliard; Any one of the Telemann Flute Fantasies
  2. Casterede - Fantasia Concertante; David - Concertino for Trombone; Saint-Saens - Morceau du Concert
  3. Saint-Saens - The Swan; Puccini - Nessun Dorma; Paganini - Andate Cantabile
  4. Butterworth - Partita; Jacob - Fantasia; White - Lyric Suite
  5. Horovitz - Concerto; Sparke - Concerto; Wilhelm - Concerto
• Be prepared to play the following excerpts:
  • Berlioz - Roman Carnival Overture (slow section only)
  • Holst - First Suite (movement 1)
  • Holst - Second Suite (movement 1)
  • Holst - Planets (Mars and Jupiter)
  • Schoenberg - Theme and Variations (variation)
  • Schuman - When Jesus Wept
  • Shostakovich - Festive Overture

Tuba

• Be prepared to play any major or minor scale two octaves
• Choose one solo from each group:
  1. Bach - Sonata in E-flat; Handel - Sonata No. 6 in F Major; any one of the Telemann Flute Fantasies
  2. Mozart- Horn Concerto #4; Schumann -Adagio and Allegro; Strauss - Horn Concerto No. 1, Opus 11
  3. Hindemith - Sonata; Koetsier - Sonatina; Stevens - Sonatina
  4. Gregson - Alarum; Penderecki - Capriccio; Persichetti - Serenade No. 12
  5. Ellerby - Concerto; Vaughan Williams - Concerto; Wilhelm - Concertino
• Be prepared to perform the following orchestral excerpts:
  • Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique (movement 4)
  • Berlioz - Hungarian March
  • Bruckner - Symphony 7 (movement 4)
  • Mahler - Symphony 1 (movement 3)
  • Prokofiev - Symphony 5 (movement 1)
  • Wagner - Prelude to Die Meistersinger
  • Wagner - Ride of the Valkyries

Percussion

Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in keyboard percussion, timpani, and batterie percussion. Students shall also perform a work from the percussion repertoire in the timpani and keyboard areas. The audition will include sight-reading, especially in the keyboard disciplines.

Applicants must submit concert programs and a VHS videotape (facial view preferred) of at least thirty minutes of music that provides examples of the applicant's conducting ability. Additionally, a good quality standard-cassette audio tape of a performance conducted by the applicant and a taped or live audition of the applicant performing on a principal instrument may be requested. On the basis of a review of these materials, a limited number of applicants will be invited to campus for an audition/interview. At this time the applicant will be asked to rehearse and conduct a university ensemble. Repertoire will be selected by the conducting faculty and may include one work to be dealt with at sight. Following the conducting audition, applicants will be interviewed by the admissions committee. The interview will include questions concerning the literature rehearsed, rehearsal techniques, repertoire, and personal goals.

Applicants must submit scores and tapes (if available) of a recital for the bachelor's degree in composition to the Coordinator of Graduate Music Studies as a part of the application materials. Admission requires the recommendation of the Music Composition Committee.