Graduate Audition Content

Performance

Remember to complete the application form and include it with your emailed materials or print it out and bring it to your in-person audition.

Perform works from the standard repertoire for your instrument that demonstrate your technical and expressive abilities. You should perform at a level appropriate to someone who has completed an undergraduate degree in Music.

Audition repertoire must include at least five vocal works which represent three of the four major style periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Twentieth Century/Contemporary) in the following four languages: English, Italian, French, and German.
Works selected should also include at least one operatic aria and one oratorio aria, one of which must contain a recitative. No more than two arias may be presented, but the two selected must represent contrasting style periods.
The remaining audition material must consist of art song repertoire and should also represent a variety of styles.
All audition repertoire, other than the oratorio selection (which may be performed with music), must be performed from memory.
If you feel your performance of the required pieces does not fully demonstrate the integration and limits of your full-voiced pitch range, you may add a series of vocalises to your recording or in-person audition.
If you choose, you may include additional selections. However, the required five works should be presented first in both online recordings and in-person auditions.

Perform three works from the standard repertoire in contrasting styles and different periods of music that demonstrate your technical and expressive abilities. You should perform at a level appropriate to someone who has completed an undergraduate performance degree in Music.
Performance should be memorized and at least 15 minutes.
Suggested works could include Bach, "Preludes and Fugues," or movements from any Suite or Partita; larger works of Chopin such as a Ballade, or Brahms, including any of his later works from Op 116-119. One modern work is highly desirable as well including any composition by Bartok, Debussy or Prokofiev.
For online audition, in addition to the three works, include a recording of you performing at least 4 scales and arpeggios of your choice a minimum of 4 octaves hands together, ascending and descending in parallel motion. Two scales must be in major and two must be harmonic minor (not C major or C minor). Suggested keys are: E and Eb Major: g and f harmonic minor in sixteenth-notes at M. M. (quarter note value) = 100.
For onsite auditions: You will be asked to perform your three selected works as well as the scales and arpeggios noted above.