Auditions & Interviews

Horn

Two contrasting pieces representative of the applicant's current technical and musical playing level.

For more information, contact Dr. Kristen Sienkiewicz.

Trumpet

I. Two contrasting pieces: one piece demonstrating technique (something fast) and one piece demonstrating musicality (something slow). Suggested repertoire includes:

• The Arban's Conservatory Method
• Solos from your private lessons or ensembles

II. Scales and/or lip slurs

For more information, contact Dr. Robert Waugh.

Trombone

Two contrasting pieces representative of the applicant's current technical and musical playing level.

For more information, contact Susan K. Smith.

Tuba and Euphonium

Two contrasting pieces representative of the applicant's current technical and musical playing level.

For more information, contact John Paul Powers.

1. An etude or solo for concert snare drum.

1. Possible etudes/solos include, but are not limited to, works by Aleo, Cirone, Delécluse, Dior, Kopetzki, Peters, Whaley, or others.

2. A two- or four-mallet solo/etude for marimba. (Xylophone or vibraphone are acceptable if your program does not have a marimba.)

1. Possible options include, but are not limited to, selections from Abe, Bach, Burritt, Davila, Goldenberg, Floyd, Ford, Glennie, Gottry, Islas, Moyer, Peters, Quartier, or others. 

3. Sightreading — students will be asked to sightread one short excerpt each for snare drum and two-mallet keyboard.

4. Optional: Students may perform a third selection on another instrument if desired. Optional etudes could be performed on timpani, drum set, or rudimental snare drum. 

If you have questions about your audition repertoire, would like help selecting repertoire, or would like clarification about the above expectations, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Andrew Richardson.

Two contrasting pieces from categories below representative of the applicant's current technical and musical playing level:

1. Baroque period: a work from the Baroque period including anything by J. S. Bach including any short piano pieces from the Notebook for Anna Magdalena, the Well-Tempered Clavier, Inventions, Sinfonias, etc.; other composers from the Baroque period
2. Classical period: a movement from a Classical sonata or sonatina; Fantasies, Rondos, Theme and Variations, etc. (Beethoven Mozart, Haydn, Clementi, etc.)
3. Romantic period: a work from the Romantic period by composers such as Chopin (Préludes, Nocturnes, other short piano pieces), Schumann (Album for the Young, Scenes from Childhood, other short piano pieces), Brahms (Intermezzos, other short piano pieces), etc.
4. Modern period: a work from the modern period by composers such as Debussy (Préludes, Children’s Corner, Arabesques, other short piano pieces), Bartók (Mikrokosmos, For Children, other short piano pieces),  Shostakovich (Three Fantastic Dances, Preludes, op. 34, other short piano pieces), Kabalevsky (Variations, Sonatinas, other short piano pieces), Copland (short piano pieces), etc.

For more information, contact Dr. Patricia Halbeck.

Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass

I. Two contrasting pieces representative of the applicant's current technical and musical playing level. Suggested repertoire includes:

• One movement from a standard concerto, showpiece, or solo work demonstrating technical proficiency and/or lyrical expression
• One movement from an unaccompanied Suite, Sonata, or Partita by J. S. Bach or one standard etude (i.e. Wohlfahrt, Sitt, Mazas, Kreutzer, Dont, Paganini, Rode, Gavinies, Campagnoli, Dotzauer, Duport, Popper, Simandl, etc.); or a contrasting work to the first piece

II. Two- or three- octave scales 
*Students may be asked to demonstrate basic sight-reading skills.

For more information, contact Dr. Emily Hanna Crane (violin/viola) or Dr. Meghan Berindean (cello/bass).

Two contrasting pieces representative of the applicant's current technical and musical playing level.

For more information, contact the music office.

Two contrasting pieces representative of the applicant's current technical and musical playing level.

For more information, contact Dr. Stanley Yates.

Two contrasting pieces representative of the applicant's current technical and musical level. The pieces should be contrasting in either language or style. One piece in a foreign language is preferred, but not required. Most importantly, sing what you sing best.

At the audition, bring the sheet music from which you have practiced - in your most comfortable and preferred range.

For more information, contact Dr. Jeffrey Williams or Dr. Penelope Shumate.