Audition

Violin: Three contrasting movements should be selected that demonstrate the applicant’s range of capabilities, both technical and stylistic. These three works should include one movement of a standard concerto, one movement of an unaccompanied work (such as a Bach solo sonata or partita) and one work of the applicant’s choice. Works by at least two different composers should be represented on the audition. Applicants are encouraged to consult with Julian Ross (jross@bw.edu) if there are any questions about these repertoire requirements.

Viola: Any three contrasting movements which demonstrate a student’s range of capabilities. These movements should include a movement of a concerto, a movement of an unaccompanied Bach Suite (originally for cello) and a movement of the student’s choice. Works from at least two different composers should be represented on the audition. In addition, applicants should be prepared to play a major and minor 3-octave scale of the applicant’s choice, slurred and spiccato. Applicants are encouraged to consult with Lembi Veskimets (kveskime@bw.edu) if there are any questions about these repertoire requirements. 

Cello: Any three contrasting movements which demonstrate the student’s range of capabilities, both technical and stylistic. The applicant may choose movements from any repertoire including sonatas, concertos, Bach Suites or etudes. If the applicant wishes, it is acceptable to pick two movements from the same work, though at least two composers must be represented. Applicants are encouraged to consult with Regina Mushabac (rmushaba@bw.edu or 440-826-2099) if there are questions about these repertoire requirements.

Double Bass: A selection of three contrasting pieces from a concerto, sonata or etude that demonstrate a student’s range of capabilities, both technical and stylistic. Two of the movements may be from the same composer, but you must have at least two composers represented. Examples include the sonatas of Marcello, Vivaldi or Eccles; or concertos of Capuzzi, Dragonetti, Dittersdorf or Koussevitzky. You are encouraged to consult with Charles Carleton, ccarleto@bw.edu, if you have any questions about the repertoire requirements.

Harp: Selections from orchestral and solo harp literature appropriate to the individual student.

Guitar: Execution of two scales from “The Segovia Scales,” as well as any type of chromatic scale. (Other scales are permitted, with a minimum of two octave range.) 

Performance of any etude from the Fernando Sor Etudes (Segovia Edition) from 1-10. Or, any composition by M. Giuliani or his contemporaries. 

Performance of any piece transcribed from repertoire for the Lute, Vihuela, Renaissance and/or Baroque guitar. 

Performance of any prelude or etude by Heitor Villa-Lobos or Leo Brouwer. Or, any composition by F. Tárrega or his contemporaries. Memorization is always encouraged.

Flute: One movement of a classical concerto or baroque sonata, i.e, Mozart Concerto in D major or G major or Bach Sonatas in E major or e minor. One piece from music by French composers (Schirmer) or equivalent. One piece of choice, in a contrasting style. All major, harmonic, and melodic minor scales; minimum two-octave range. Applicants are encouraged to consult with George Pope (gpope@bw.edu) and Sean Gabriel (sgabriel@bw.edu) if they have questions.

Oboe: Any movement(s) from sonatas by Handel, Telemann, Saint-Saëns, Hindemith or Poulenc, or from concertos by Mozart, Marcello or Strauss; contrasting etudes by Barrett or Ferling; all major and minor scales.

Clarinet: At least two selections in contrasting styles. Sonatas by  Hindemith, Saint-Saëns, Brahms and Bernstein. Concertos by Mozart, Weber and Debussy. Etudes by Rose and Cavallini.

Saxophone: Two contrasting etudes by Ferling, Voxman or Mule. Sonatas by Heiden, Creston, Eccles or other standard repertoire. Concerti by Glazunov, Ibert, Dubois, Villa-Lobos or others. For students also interested in jazz, prepare a blues selection in the key of Bb, F or C along with a jazz standard (medium tempo) of your choice.

Bassoon: Sonatas by Vivaldi, Telemann, Fasch, Saint-Saëns and Hindemith; concertos by Vivaldi, Mozart and Weber.

Trumpet: A sonata by Hindemith, Kennan or Halsey Stevens; a concerto by Haydn, Hummel or Neruda; two contrasting etudes by Arban, Brandt or Charlier. Standard excerpts from the orchestral repertoire. Scales and sight-reading may be required.

Horn: Mozart Concerto No. 2 or No. 4, first movement; R. Strauss Concerto No. 1, first movement; Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5, second movement solo. All major and minor scales and arpeggios, two octaves.

Trombone:  Etudes from materials such as Kopprasch, Blazhevich and Rochut. Solos such as David, Hindemith, Guilmant and Marcello. Orchestral excerpts welcome but not required.

Euphonium: One lyrical and one technical étude from materials such as Rochut, Kopprasch and Voxman Selected Studies. One solo work such as Guilmant, Galliard, or Jacob. Scales and sight reading may be requested.

Tuba: Three contrasting etudes, one each from Blazevich, Bordogni/Rochut and Kopprasch. All major scales.

Percussion: Etudes or pieces comparable in difficulty to those listed below. Performance on mallet percussion and snare drum is required along with the applicant’s choice of timpani or drum set. Scales and sight-reading may be required.

• Snare Drum: Performance in concert and rudimental styles, e.g., one of Cirone’s Portraits in Rhythm and a solo from Wilcoxon’s The All-American Drummer.
• Mallets: Performance of a marimba, xylophone or vibraphone solo or etude by Musser, Peters, Smadbeck, Zeltsman, etc. Applicants are invited to perform a 2 and a 4 mallet solo if they wish.
• Timpani: An etude from the Goodman, Hinger, Hochrainer, Carroll or Delecluse methods. Interval tuning may be required.
• Drum Set: Demonstration of different styles and/or transcriptions. A written solo is not necessary.

Organ: Three contrasting selections from the following categories:  Chorale preludes, preludes and fugues by Bach or works of other Baroque composers such as Buxtehude, Böhm and Lübeck; works of Franck, Mendelssohn, Brahms or works of other Romantic composers; works of Langlais, Hindemith, Dupré, Sowerby or works of other late Romantic or Modern/20th Century composers. Works need not be memorized.

Piano: Candidates for the Bachelor of Music degree must prepare a Prelude and Fugue of J.S. Bach from the Well-Tempered Clavier plus two other works (or movements of larger works) by different composers. All pieces must be memorized and should demonstrate a range of musical and pianistic styles.

Students auditioning for the Bachelor of Arts degree should prepare a Prelude and Fugue of J.S. Bach plus one other contrasting work.

Four octave major and minor scales, four octave arpeggios and sight-reading are part of the audition.

Applicants are encouraged to consult with Dr. Robert Mayerovitch (rmayerov@bw.edu) if they have questions about audition requirements.

Voice: Three memorized selections chosen from songs and arias of the 17th and 18th centuries; art songs from the 19th century to present; and operatic and oratorio literature when suitable for the singer. Show tunes, pop songs and religious pop songs are not appropriate.

Music Theatre Audition: You will be expected to audition in voice, theatre and dance areas.  

• Voice: three memorized one-minute selections; one ballad, one up-tempo and one piece of your choice, all from the music theatre repertoire. An accompanist will be provided.
• Drama/Theatre: one age-appropriate monologue from either classical or contemporary drama not to exceed one minute in length. It is highly recommended that you read the play in advance.
• Dance: a group dance call will be conducted at the end of the audition day. Bring appropriate movement clothes and jazz shoes.