School of Music
Graduate Audition Requirements

General Guidelines:
- In all performance areas a live audition is highly encouraged; in most areas a recorded audition is acceptable (VHS tape, audio CD, or audio/video DVD).  Please check with the individual professor or the graduate coordinator.
- In most instrument areas accompanists are not required.  Please check with the individual professor or the graduate coordinator.
- On the audition day applicants are encouraged to take the placement tests in history and theory (multiple choice; each test takes about 45 minutes).  There are no set times for these tests; arrangements are made by calling or emailing the secretary of the graduate coordinator.

Instrumental Auditions

Bassoon:
Audition requirements for MM, Artist Diploma, or DA in bassoon performance:
- Mozart: Concerto, K. 191, mvts. I & II (entire movements)
- A contrasting work (entire work if multiple movements)
- One melodic etude (from Milde, Jancourt, Orefici or equivalent)
- Orchestral excerpts: Ravel, Bolero; Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade mvt. 2, solo and cadenzas; Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 4, mvt. 2 solo; Mozart, Marriage of Figaro, mm. 1-24.

Clarinet:
Audition requirements for MM, Artist Diploma, and Doctor of Arts:
- Mozart--Clarinet Concerto, K. 622, Mvt. 1 Exposition
- One movement from a 20th century (or later) work
- Orchestral excerpts (all parts are for 1st clarinet): Beethoven--Symphony 6, Mvt. 1, mm. 474-492; Mvt. 2, mm.68-77; Berlioz--Symphonie fantastique, Mvt. 3, three measures after 43-44; Mendelssohn--"Scherzo" from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Opening through letter B; Rimsky-Korsakov--Capriccio Espagnol--Mvt. 1

Flute:
Graduate auditions may be arranged by contacting Dr. Mattern. Applicants are expected to prepare a program of approximately 25-30 minutes in length, representing diverse styles and genres. University accompanists may be available for a fee; applicants should check with Dr. Mattern well in advance of their audition date. Accompanists are not required for auditions. In addition to the audition, applicants will also have a brief interview the graduate coordinator in the School of Music. Applicants should bring a resume detailing their performing and teaching experience and a current repertoire list (including studies/etudes, solos, orchestral excerpts and chamber music).

Oboe:
Each applicant should be prepared to play:
-Mozart Concerto for Oboe, KV 314, movement I, with cadenza;
-A solo piece of your choice from the Baroque, Romantic, or Contemporary period;
-Two contrasting etudes from Barret, Grand Etudes from A Complete Method for the Oboe, or Ferling, 48 Famous Studies;
-Four orchestral first oboe parts (complete): Beethoven, Symphony No. 3; Brahms, Violin Concerto; Rossini, La scala di seta; and Strauss, Don Juan.
Any questions you have concerning audition repertoire may be directed via e-mail to Timothy Clinch at tclinch@bsu.edu.

Guitar:
- Technique: Scales and arpeggios.  Repertoire (select from the following): Berkeley: Sonatina, Ponce: Sonata, Variations on Folia de Espana, Villa-lobos: complete Etudes, Henze: Drei Tentos, Britten: Nocturnal, Martin: Four Short Pieces, Rodrigo: Concierto.

Organ:
- A program of approximately 30 minutes including a major work by J. S. Bach, a work from the 19th century, and a work from the 20th century.  An assessment will be made of sight-reading skills and skills in improvisation and service-playing.

Piano:
For all degree patterns a live audition is highly encouraged, but a recorded audition will be accepted.

Doctor of Arts in Piano Performance; Artist Diploma in Music Performance; Doctor of Arts in Piano Chamber Music and Accompanying
-A solo program (memorized) of approximately 60 minutes in length with at least 3 contrasting styles represented. For the DA in Chamber Music and Accompanying, a 45 minute program containing any combination of chamber music/accompanying and 20 minutes of solo repertoire.
-In addition to the above program, a score will be given to the applicant approximately 48 hours in advance and will be performed (with music) at the audition.
-A recording of collaborative playing which is at least 15 minutes in length. (This applies only to the applicant in chamber music/accompanying.)

Doctor of Arts Secondary Area in Piano Performance
-A solo program (memorized) of approximately 30 minutes in length with at least 3 contrasting styles represented.
-Sight-reading.

Doctor of Arts Secondary Area in Piano Chamber Music and Accompanying
-A program consisting of solo (memorized) and/or chamber music of approximately 30 minutes in length with at least 3 contrasting styles represented.
-Sight-reading.

Master of Music in Piano Performance
-A solo program of approximately 60 minutes in length with at least 3 contrasting styles represented.
-Sight-reading.

Master of Music in Piano Chamber Music and Accompanying
- A 45 minute program containing any combination of chamber music/accompanying literature and 20 minutes of solo repertoire.
-Sight-reading.
-A recording of collaborative playing which is at least 15 minutes in length. (This applies only to the applicant in chamber music/accompanying.)

Master of Music in Performance and Pedagogy
-A solo program (memorized) of approximately 30 minutes in length with at least 3 contrasting styles represented.
-Sight-reading.
-A one-hour videotape or DVD of a teaching demonstration of private and/or group piano instruction.  The recording may include one class/lesson or it may be multiple teaching experiences.

Violin, Viola, Cello:
- An audition consisting of at least 30 minutes of music should be prepared, with at least two contrasting works from different style periods.  For doctoral candidates, a thirty to forty-five minute recital should be prepared, with three contrasting works from different style periods.

All other instruments:
- For master's applicants, a live audition consisting of 20-30 minutes of music, with at least two contrasting works from different style periods.
- For doctoral applicants, a live audition consisting of 30-45 minutes of music, with at least three contrasting works from different style periods.
- For the Artist Diploma, a live audition consisting of 30-45 minutes of music, with at least three contrasting works from different style periods.

Voice Auditions

Audition repertoire must include selections representing different musical styles and four languages (English, French, German and Italian) and include at least one aria from an opera or oratorio. All audition repertoire must be memorized, with a total length of approximately 20 minutes for the M.M. program and 30 minutes for the D.A program.  All audition repertoire should be listed on the audition evaluation form.

An applicant may bring his/her own pianist. Please set up a rehearsal time with the music graduate office if you need to have a pianist provided. The accompanying fee is $30, payable to the pianist at the time of the audition. 

Conducting Auditions

Band Conducting:
Arrangements for the live audition are made with the assistance of the band conducting faculty and the graduate coordinator in music.  The piece, chosen by the faculty, is usually a work currently being worked on by the ensemble. In preparation for the live audition the following items should be submitted:
- A 15-20 minute video tape of the conductor, filmed from the back or side of the stage, with an unobstructed view and the camera stationary
- Résumé and list of works performed
- Cover letter, letters of reference.

Choral Conducting:
Arrangements for the live audition are made with director of choral activities in consultation with the graduate coordinator in music.
- Conduct a piece with one of our choral ensembles (approximately 20 minutes). The piece, chosen in consultation with the faculty, is usually a work currently being worked on by the choir.
- Choral literature proficiency exam
- Vocal sight-reading and piano sight-reading proficiency exams
- Interview with the choral faculty.

Orchestral Conducting:
Arrangements for the live audition are made with the assistance of the orchestra conducting faculty and the graduate coordinator in music.  The piece, chosen by the faculty, is usually a work currently being worked on by the orchestra. In preparation for the live audition the following items should be submitted:
- A 15-20 minute video tape of the conductor, filmed from the back or side of the stage, with an unobstructed view and the camera stationary
- Résumé and list of works performed
- Cover letter, letters of reference.