Audition Requirements & Repertoire

Applicants are required to submit recording(s) and schedule a live audition or interview. Select programs prescreen applicants to determine if a live audition or interview will be conducted. Auditions(opens in new tab) are in-person, closely following campus Community Health Standards. Program specific audition repertoire, including specific recording or possible prescreening requirements, are listed below.

Auditions are a vital part of the application process. Live auditions and interviews are scheduled after a completed application, application fee, and all required documents have been submitted. Qualifying applicants will be notified and invited to schedule an audition.

On-Campus Audition Dates

Instrumental & Composition

Saturday, January 20, 2024 (NYC, Alchemical Studios)
Friday, January 26, 2024
Friday, February 2, 2024
Friday, February 9, 2024 (On-Campus & Chicago, location TBD)
Friday, February 23, 2024

Voice

Saturday, January 20, 2024 (NYC, Alchemical Studios)
Saturday, January 27, 2024
Saturday, February 3, 2024
Friday, February 9, 2024 (Chicago, location TBD)
Saturday, February 10, 2024
Saturday, February 24, 2024

Applicants unable to travel for an in-person audition or not available on any of the above dates should contact an Admissions Counselor.

Audition Repertoire Requirements

Bassoon

Application Recording:

Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities, ideally around five minutes in length with repertoire of your choice. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your playing in a solo environment.

Audition Repertoire:

  • Two (2) contrasting movements from a concerto, sonata, or solo work (not necessarily two movements from the same work)
    • It is recommended that one movement be from a piece written prior to 1900, and one be from after 1900
    • One piece may be an etude that showcases the student’s technical and lyrical ability (from Weissenborn’s 50 Advanced Studies or similar etude book)
  • May be asked to play all major scales

Piano accompaniment is not required.

If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact bassoon professor Stephanie Patterson at pattersons@uncsa.edu

Cello

Application Recording:

Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities, ideally around five minutes in length with repertoire of your choice. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your playing in a solo environment.

Audition Repertoire:

  • One memorized movement from a Bach Suite
  • The first movement from a standard concerto
  • You may be asked to demonstrate ability to sight-read.

If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact cello professor Brooks Whitehouse at whitehouseb@uncsa.edu.

Clarinet

Application Recording:

Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities, ideally around five minutes in length with repertoire of your choice. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your playing in a solo environment.

Audition Repertoire:

  • Two or three selections (including movements from sonatas and concertos)
  • Excerpt from "Quintet for Clarinet & String Quartet in F sharp minor" by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: pg. 1, top 3.5 lines (mm. 5-26). (Email Dr. Espina-Ruiz for the excerpt.)
  • Major and minor scales
  • Compositions should demonstrate your ability in phrasing, sustained playing and facility

If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact clarinet professor Oskar Espina-Ruiz at espina-ruizo@uncsa.edu.

Composition

The Composition program provides training in the craft and art of music composition, with special emphasis on form, harmony, counterpoint, scoring, technology, innovation and genre crossing.

Prescreening:

  • Submit three to four representative scores, with recordings when possible, with your application. Scores should be submitted through your Admissions Portal as part of your overall portfolio.

Applicants whose submitted scores demonstrate readiness to audition for the Composition program will be invited for an interview with the Composition faculty on scheduled audition dates.

  • You should be prepared to discuss your musical background and training, influences, and compositional interests and goals.
  • You will not need to audition on an instrument to be considered for the composition program.

If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact composition professor Lawrence Dillon at dillonl@uncsa.edu.

Double Bass

Application Recording:

Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities, ideally around five minutes in length with repertoire of your choice. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your playing in a solo environment.

Audition Repertoire:

  • Two contrasting works: one demonstrating lyricism, and another demonstrating more virtuosic technique
  • Examples of suitable repertoire for the audition would be the fast and slow movements of a standard concerto (i.e. Cimador, Capuzzi, Dragonetti); movements from a Baroque sonata by Marcello, Vivaldi, or Scarlatti; or etudes by Storch/Hrabe, Simanl, Rabbath, and others.
  • Three two-octave scales

If you have questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact double bass professor Paul Sharpe at sharpep@uncsa.edu.

Euphonium

Application Recording:

Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities, ideally around five minutes in length with repertoire of your choice. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your playing in a solo environment.

Audition Repertoire:

  • Two contrasting sections from a standard solo (Haddad, Mozart, etc.)
  • One etude from a standard method for Euphonium (Rubank, Rochut, etc.)
  • All major scales
  • Sight-reading

If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact tuba/euphonium professor Brent Harvey at harveyb@uncsa.edu.

Flute

Application Recording:

Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities, ideally around five minutes in length with repertoire of your choice. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your playing in a solo environment.

Audition Repertoire:

  • A piece by a BIPOC composer
  • A piece of your choice showcasing range of ability
  • Scales (all majors and melodic minors)

Substitutions to the listed repertoire are okay. If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact flute professor Dr. Tadeu Coelho at coelhot@uncsa.edu.

Guitar

Application Recording:

Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities, ideally around five minutes in length with repertoire of your choice. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your playing in a solo environment.

Audition Repertoire:

  • Three (or more) contrasting selections, ideally performed from memory, which demonstrate the range of the applicant’s artistic ability*
  • Several open or movable position scales (two or three octaves)
  • Your ability to sight read standard notation and lead sheets will also be evaluated.

*We accept guitar applicants with a variety of backgrounds and training experiences. Auditions can show the full range of playing abilities in the applicant’s skill set. These can include performances on Nylon, Steel String and Electric guitars. In addition to at least two selections performed as instrumental solos, repertoire can include performing improvised melodic and chordal material (including with a backing track) as well as accompanying the players own voice.

If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact guitar professor Joseph Pecoraro at pecorj@uncsa.edu.

Harp

Application Recording:

Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities, ideally a minimum of ten minutes in length with repertoire of your choice. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your playing in a solo environment.

Audition Repertoire:

From memory, two solos of contrasting nature that demonstrate the technical and musical level attained thus far.

If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact harp professor Jacquelyn Bartlett at bartlettj@uncsa.edu.

Horn

Application Recording: Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities, ideally around five minutes in length with repertoire of your choice. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your playing in a solo environment.

Audition Repertoire:

  • Two or three selections in contrasting styles, including at least one solo or movement of a solo and one etude
  • All major scales
  • Sight-reading

If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact horn professor Dr. Maria Serkin at serkinm@uncsa.edu.

Oboe

Application Recording:

Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities, ideally around five minutes in length with repertoire of your choice. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your playing in a solo environment.

Audition Repertoire:

  • Two or three contrasting selections (including movements from sonatas and concertos). Selections should demonstrate your ability in phrasing, sustained playing, and facility.
  • Major and minor scales

If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact oboe professor Robin Driscoll at robindriscolloboe@gmail.com.

Organ

Application Recording:

Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities, ideally around five minutes in length. We recommend a selection from the list of audition repertoire requirements below. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your playing in a solo environment.

Audition Repertoire:

  • Two contrasting works/movements from different stylistic periods
  • A hymn as if leading a congregation
  • Sight-reading

If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact organ professor Timothy Olsen at olsent@uncsa.edu.

Percussion

Application Recording: 

Please upload a video demonstrating your playing abilities. Only solo repertoire and concerto performances (when applicable) may be included. Video should be 3 to 5 minutes total and may be comprised of multiple 30 to 60 second performances that highlight best skills. Everything included must have been filmed less than one year ago. While high-quality recordings in controlled environments are encouraged, this is not a requirement. Thoughtfully recorded smartphone videos can suffice.

Percussionists who do not have access to timpani, marimba, and/or a concert snare drum for their recording should contact Dr.  Komljenović to discuss their audition program.

Audition Repertoire:

  • Etudes or solos on the following:
    • Snare drum (rudimental and orchestral),
    • Timpani (2, 3, or 4 drums)
    • 2-mallet keyboard or 4-mallet keyboard solo (marimba, vibes, or xylophone)
  • Optional: a multiple percussion solo and/or drum set solo

Sight-reading, timpani tuning, scales and rudiments will be part of the audition

Applicants must contact percussion studio director, Dr. Ksenija Komljenović no less than two weeks prior to their scheduled audition with information about the instruments needed for thier audition.

For questions about the audition process or repertoire, please contact Dr. Ksenija Komljenović

Piano

Application Recording:

Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities, ideally around five minutes in length with repertoire of your choice. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your playing in a solo environment.

Audition Repertoire:

  • One piece by JS Bach
  • One movement from a Classical Sonata
  • One 19th century piece

If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact piano professor Dmitri Shteinberg at shteinbergd@uncsa.edu.

Saxophone

Application Recording:

Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities, ideally around five minutes in length with repertoire of your choice. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your playing in a solo environment.

Audition Repertoire:

  • Two or three selections (including movements from sonatas and concertos)
  • Major and minor scales
  • Compositions should demonstrate your ability in phrasing, sustained playing, and facility

If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact saxophone professor Robert Young at youngr@uncsa.edu.

Trombone

Application Recording:

Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities, ideally around five minutes in length with repertoire of your choice. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your playing in a solo environment.

Audition Repertoire:

Tenor and/or Bass Trombone

    • One complete movement from a trombone solo of your choice.
    • Two contrasting etudes, i.e., technical and lyrical
    • Major scales
    • Sight-reading

If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact trombone professor John Ilika at ilikaj@uncsa.edu.

Trumpet

Application Recording:

Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities, ideally around five minutes in length with repertoire of your choice. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your playing in a solo environment.

Audition Repertoire:

  • Two or three selections in contrasting styles, including at least one solo or movement of a solo and one etude
  • All major and natural minor scales
  • Sight-reading

If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact trumpet professor David Dash at dashd@uncsa.edu.

Tuba

Application Recording:

Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities, ideally around five minutes in length with repertoire of your choice. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your playing in a solo environment.

Audition Repertoire:

  • Two contrasting sections from a standard solo (Marcello, Bach, Haddad, etc.)
  • One etude from a standard method for tuba (Tyrell, Bordogni, etc.)
  • All major scales
  • Sight-reading 

If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact tuba/euphonium professor Brent Harvey at harveyb@uncsa.edu.

Viola

Application Recording:

Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities, ideally around five minutes in length with repertoire of your choice. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your playing in a solo environment.

Audition Repertoire:

  • One movement of a Bach suite, solo sonata or partita, preferably from memory
  • One major movement of a concerto from the standard repertoire
  • You may be asked to demonstrate ability to sight-read

If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact viola professor Jordan Bak at bakj@uncsa.edu.

Violin

Application Recording:

Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities. This recording can be as short as five minutes in length with repertoire of your choice, should be recent (within the past year), and display your playing in a solo environment.

Audition Repertoire:

  • One movement of a Bach solo sonata or partita, preferably from memory
  • One major movement of a concerto from the standard repertoire
  • You may be asked to demonstrate ability to sight-read

If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact violin faculty members Kevin Lawrence (lawrencek@uncsa.edu), Ida Bieler (bieleri@uncsa.edu) or Janet Orenstein (orensteinj@uncsa.edu) about their respective studios.

Voice

Application Recording:

Please upload videos of "live" singing in the requested styles. Live piano accompaniment is advised, but prerecorded accompaniment is acceptable. Videos are to be unedited and without use of reverb or audio enhancements (no microphone). Everything included must have been filmed less than one year ago.

Audition Repertoire:

Prepare 3 selections contrasting in style, language and tempo. It is not necessary to have an example from each category, but 2 selections must be classical.

  • Classical Art Song from Baroque, Classical, Romantic or Contemporary period in any language and by composer of any gender.
    Example: a selection from "26 Italian Songs and Arias"
  • Published folksong or spiritual for solo voice arranged by a classical composer such as John Jacob Niles, Kenneth Frazelle, Aaron Copland, Ben Moore, Harry T. Burleigh, etc.
  • A lyric, non-belt Musical Theatre selection. Suggested composers include Jason Robert Brown, Andrew Lippa, Adam Guettel, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Jeanine Tesori, etc.
  • Arias approved in advance by a member of the UNCSA Voice Department (contact information included below)

Required criteria for song selections:

  • 2 classical songs
  • At least one selection must be in English
  • At least one classical selection must be in a foreign language
  • Must be published
  • Sheet music for each selection bound in a binder to be provided to the accompanying pianist; if available, sheet music should be composed piano accompaniment
  • Must be memorized

Not acceptable selections:

  • Pop, R&B, Rock, Contemporary Gospel, or other style normally sung with amplification
  • A cappella selections (exception: a published unaccompanied piece, such as “The Singer” by Michael Head)
  • Excerpted voice lines from choral arrangements (exception: an aria or solo song from a larger work such as Faure's Requiem)
  • Pre-recorded accompaniments (exception: if auditioning virtually.)

In addition to singing prepared selections, you may be asked to sight-read.

Any of the following Voice Faculty may be contacted for approval of aria selection or with questions about the program or audition process: