Audition Requirements & Repertoire
Specific repertoire for required application recordings, possible prescreening requirements, and in person auditions is listed under each instrument.
Audition Repertoire Requirements
Bassoon
Application Recording
Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities 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 (3) contrasting movements from the repertoire that represent at least 2 major classical time periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Contemporary.
- One (1) Concert Study from an étude book, such as the Milde Op. 26, or other equivalent étude that showcases the students lyrical and technical playing.
- A piece composed since 1950, written by a composer who is traditionally underrepresented in the field, either because of gender, identity, race, ethnicity, or who was for other reasons previously excluded from the traditional canon. There are numerous resources with examples of these works, but for suggestions of pieces at different difficulty levels, please contact Dr. Patterson.
- A minimum of four (4) contrasting standard orchestral excerpts.
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 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 fast and a slow concerto movement
- A Prelude and two contrasting dance movements from solo Bach
- A showpiece or contemporary work written after 1940
Clarinet
Application Recording
Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities 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 (3) selections that should include but not be limited to a complete sonata or concerto
- A work composed in the last 50 years
- Excerpt from "Quintet for Clarinet & String Quartet" by James Lee III : pg. 1, mm. 6-30 (Email Dr. Espina-Ruiz for the excerpt.)
- Demonstrate the ability to sight-read
If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact clarinet professor Oskar Espina-Ruiz at espina-ruizo@uncsa.edu.
Collaborative Piano
Prospective applicants are encouraged to schedule a conversation with Dr. Allison Gagnon, Chair of Collaborative Piano, early in the application process. PAC candidates are especially advised to do this so that they can learn more about the opportunities provided in this unique certificate program.
Application Recording
Please upload a short, recent video recording (recorded within the past year) that
shows your pianistic and collaborative skill set. You are free to choose the repertoire
and partners. Please note that recordings are not used for prescreening; all applicants
are invited to a live audition. Uploaded recordings are used to help familiarize faculty
with your work prior to the live audition.
Audition Repertoire Guidelines
Each applicant should prepare for the following audition elements:
- Three (3) contrasting selections* to be performed with a vocal partner.
- Two (2) contrasting selections* to be performed with an instrumental partner.
- One (1) selection for piano solo.
- A quick study selection, which will be provided 24-48 hours in advance. This is performed in the audition without rehearsal and with a partner.
- Sight reading without a partner.
For questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact collaborative piano professor Allison Gagnon at gagnona@uncsa.edu.
*Applicants are required to discuss and confirm collaborative repertoire with Dr. Gagnon in advance, to ensure partner availability.
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 (3) to four (4) representative scores, with recordings when possible, with your application. Scores should be submitted through your Admissions Portal as part of your overall portfolio.
- Submit a sample of your writing on a musical subject (e.g. an analysis of a composition or a paper on a music history topic). The writing sample should be submitted through your Admissions Portal as part of your overall portfolio.
- Submit a statement of purpose describing your experience, goals and career interests as a professional composer. This statement of purpose, or Artistic Statement, should be submitted through your Admissions Portal.
Interview
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 Jared Miller at millerja@uncsa.edu.
Composition for Film and Visual Media
Portfolio
- A portfolio with three (3) to five (5) original compositions, preferably demonstrating proficiency in musical storytelling and contrasting musical styles.
- Compositions should be submitted in the following formats: film clips with original score (MP4 preferred), live or MIDI audio recordings (M4A preferred), and accompanying musical scores in PDF format.
Program Prerequisites
- Qualified applicants must have an undergraduate degree, preferably with a concentration or major in music composition.
- Applicants with undergraduate degrees in concentrations other than music will be required to take a written and aural proficiency exam in musicianship.
Physical and Cognitive Abilities
- Applicants must, at a minimum, possess functional use of the somatic senses, have adequate motor capabilities to manage situations in which these senses would be employed, and be able to integrate data acquired via these senses.
Applicants schedule either a virtual or on-campus, in-person interview.
If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact composition professor Chris Heckman at heckmanc@uncsa.edu.
Conducting
Requirements and audition/interview details to be available soon.
Contact Dr. Mark Norman with any questions at normanm@uncsa.edu.
Double Bass
Application Recording
Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities 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) movements of an unaccompanied cello suite by Johann Sebastian Bach
- One (1) piece demonstrating lyricism
- One (1) piece that displays virtuosic technique
- Three (3) to five (5) standard orchestral excerpts from different composers
- At least two (2) different eras should be represented in your solo selections, and at least twenty minutes of music should be prepared for presentation.
- At least one (1) piece should be a concerto or sonata movement, or a substantial showpiece from the standard double bass repertory.
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 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) complete major works for euphonium (Friedrich, Curnow, etc.)
- One (1) Rochut étude of the applicant’s choice
- One (1) characteristic study from Arbans Method of the applicant’s choice
- Five (5) standard band excerpts of your choice.
- All major and minor scales
- Demonstrate the ability to sight-read
Flute
Application Recording
Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities 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) movements of a J.S. Bach Sonata or First movement of a Mozart Concerto with cadenza (G or D)
- A piece representative of the student's ability by a BIPOC composer
- Three (3) Standard Orchestral Excerpts (as from the Baxtresser book)
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 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 20-30 minute program of contrasting solo concert works performed from memory
- Demonstrated ability to sight-read a variety of textures
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 playing abilities with repertoire
of your choice. Recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your
playing in a solo environment.
Audition Repertoire
A 30-minute program of contrasting works:
- At least one (1) selection from the Baroque period
- At least one (1) selection Romantic
- At least one (1) selection from the 20th century
- Four (4) major orchestral excerpts
Solos should be performed from memory.
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 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 from standard solo repertoire (Mozart, Strauss, etc.)
- One movement or work written in the 20th or 21st century
- Three (3) to five (5) standard orchestral excerpts of your choice.
- Major and minor 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 with repertoire
of your choice. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display
your playing in a solo environment.
Audition Repertoire
- Tow (2) or three (3) contrasting movements from repertoire that represents at least
two (2) major classical time periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Contemporary.
- It is recommended that at least one (1) movement be from a piece written by a composer from a diverse, underrepresented group. For suggestions or help with your program, please contact Dr. Theodora Proud.
- A minimum or three (3) contrasting standard orchestral excerpts.
- Piano accompaniment is not required.
If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact oboe professor Teodora Proud at pejasinovicproudt@uncsa.edu.
Organ
Application Recording
Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities 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 major free work by J.S. Bach (including the trio sonatas)
- A composition from the Romantic period
- A composition from the 20th-21st century
- A hymn played 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 one (1) video consisting of solo repertoire and concerto performances (when applicable) demonstrating playing abilities. Video should be approximately 10 minutes in length and may be comprised of multiple recordings highlighting best skills and performances. Everything included must have been filmed within the past year. Thoughtfully recorded smartphone videos or professional recordings are both acceptable.
Audition Structure (45 minutes):
| Instrument/Room Set-Up | 5–10 minutes |
| Audition Performance | 25–30 minutes |
| Interview | 5–10 minutes |
Audition Repertoire
Applicants are required to contact Dr. Komljenović no less than two (2) weeks prior to a scheduled audition to confirm the instrument needs for their audition. Repertoire that travels easily is strongly recommended.
Applicants are required to prepare 25 to 30 minutes of audition material consisting of solos for:
- Snare drum
- Timpani
- Marimba or vibraphone
- Multiple percussion or theatrical percussion
Sight-reading on snare drum, timpani, and/or keyboard and a brief interview are also included in the audition. In the interest of time, performances may need to be interrupted.
Live auditions are video recorded.
Applicants are encouraged to contact Percussion Studio Director, Dr. Ksenija Komlejenovic to discuss repertoire choices or questions about the audition process.
Piano
Application Recording
Please upload a brief video recording demonstrating your playing abilities 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 (1) large work by J.S. Bach
- One (1) complete classical sonata
- One (1) large work from the 19th Century
- One (1) étude by Chopin, Debussy, Liszt or Rachmaninoff
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 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 (3) selections that should include but not be limited to a complete sonata or concerto
- A work composed in the last fifty years
- Demonstrate the ability to sight-read
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 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 Trombone
- Complete movement from a standard concerto for trombone (e.g., Grondahl, Hindemith)
- All major and minor scales
- Two (2) contrasting étude (i.e. technical and lyrical)
- Three (3) orchestral excerpts: Ravel, Bolero; Mozart, Requiem Tuba Mirum – 2nd part; Berlioz, Hungarian March – 2nd part
- Sight-reading
Bass Trombone
- Bach, Sarabande from Suite No. 5 for unaccompanied cello.
- Complete movement from a standard concerto for bass trombone (e.g. Ewazen, etc.)
- Two (2) contrasting etudes (i.e. technical and lyrical)
- Major and minor scales
- Three (3) orchestral excerpts: Wagner, Ride; Berlioz, Hungarian March; Kodaly, Hary Janos
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 with repertoire of your choice. This recording should be recent (within the past year) and display your playing in a solo environment.
Audition Repertoire
- Audition repertoire is flexible
- Suggested repertoire: Haydn or Hummel Concerto
- One (1) movement of a 20th or 21st century work
- Five (5) to seven (7) standard orchestral excerpts, including piccolo trumpet
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 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) complete major works for tuba (Vaughan-Williams, Gregson, Barnes, Wilhelm, etc.)
- Two (2) études for tuba, one Rochut/Bordogni and one Bousquet
- Five (5) standard orchestral excerpts of the applicant’s choice.
- All major and minor scales
- Demonstrate the ability to sight-read
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 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 Bach cello Suites, Violin Sonatas, or Partitas, preferably from memory
- Two (2) movements of a concerto from the standard repertoire
- A major sonata
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 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) movements of a J.S. Bach solo sonata or partita, preferably from memory
- Two (2) movements of a concerto from the standard repertoire
- A work written after 1940
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
Applicants should review the Fletcher Opera Audition Process for complete application, prescreening, and audition procedures.
Application Recording
Masters of Music
Pre-screening video recording file or link consisting of two (2) contrasting arias
representing two (2) languages.
Graduate Arts Certificate
Pre-screening video file or link consisting of three (3) arias representing three
(3) languages.
Professional Artist Certificate
Pre-screening video recording file or link consisting of four (4) arias, representing
at least three (3) languages.
Audition Repertoire
Masters of Music
-
- Six (6) selections of contrasting style in four languages; English, Italian, French,
German, Russian, Czech, Spanish
- One (1) must be in Italian
- One (1) must be in English
- Three (3) must be opera arias
- One (1) must be written after 1950
- One (1) must be musical theatre
- Six (6) selections of contrasting style in four languages; English, Italian, French,
German, Russian, Czech, Spanish
Graduate Arts Certificate
-
- Seven (7) selections of contrasting style in four languages; English, Italian, French,
German, Russian, Czech, Spanish
- One (1) must be in Italian
- One (1) must be in English
- Four (4) must be opera arias
- One (1) must be written after 1950
- One (1) must be musical theatre
- Seven (7) selections of contrasting style in four languages; English, Italian, French,
German, Russian, Czech, Spanish
Professional Artist Certificate
-
- Eight (8) selections of contrasting style in four languages; English, Italian, French,
German, Russian, Czech, Spanish
- One (1) must be in Italian
- One (1) must be in English
- Four (4) must be opera arias
- One (1) must be written after 1950
- One (1) must be musical theatre
- Eight (8) selections of contrasting style in four languages; English, Italian, French,
German, Russian, Czech, Spanish
If you have any questions about the audition process or requirements, please contact Steven LaCosse at lacosses@uncsa.edu.