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Undergraduate Instrumental Auditions

We are offering several audition opportunities for instrumental students:

On-Campus Audition Dates

Nov. 15 & 16, 2024
Jan. 31 & Feb. 1, 2025
Feb. 21 & Feb. 22, 2025
  • Special Programming: Ƶ Symphony side-by-side rehearsal with Prof. Jeffrey Grogan (Saturday only)

Feb. 28 & Mar. 1, 2025
  • Special Programming: Ƶ Wind Ensemble side-by-side rehearsal with Dr. Matthew Mailman (Saturday only)

Alternate audition dates are easily arranged!

  • To request an alternate on-campus audition date, select "alternate date in-person" as your audition date preference in the application.


Recorded Auditions

Step 1: Apply to the University

Applicants must begin the Ƶ University Undergraduate/Transfer application prior to auditioning. Applications may be obtained by contacting the Undergraduate Admissions Office at (405)-208-5050 or online.


Step 2: Submit the audition form

audition applications for the 2024-2025 season are OPEN!

Instrumental auditions completed by March 1 will receive priority scholarship consideration. Acceptances and scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis. Learn more about scholarships...

Transfer applicants auditioning for spring semester entry must complete their audition no later than November 15.

All instrumental auditions will include sight-reading. Photocopied music and taped accompaniments are not permitted.

Step 3: Audition Requirements

FLUTE
  • Major Requirements:
    • All Major Scales
    • 3-octave chromatic scale
    • Two solos or movements from a major sonata or concerto demonstrating tone and technical facility
      • Examples: any piece from "French Music by French Composers," a Mozart Concerto, Bach or Poulenc Sonata, or solo of comparable difficulty level
    • Sight-reading
  • Non-major Requirements:
    • All Major scales
    • 3-octave chromatic scale
    • One piece demonstrating tone and technical abilities
    • Sight-reading

Please contact Dr. Lucy Song ([email protected]) with any questions about flute repertoire or audition requirements.


CLARINET
  • Major scales: 1-2 major scales as requested by the audition committee, performed from memory or from music, at least 2 octaves
  • Two contrasting pieces or etudes: All-State etudes, movements from larger works, or shorter single-movement works that best highlight the applicant's performance level
  • Sight-reading

Please contact Dr. Lisa Kachouee ([email protected]) with any questions about clarinet repertoire or audition requirements.


SAXOPHONE
  • Major scales and chromatic scale, 1 or 2 will be requested by the audition committee, performed from memory or from music
  • Two contrasting musical selections: standard etudes, a movement/section from a larger piece, short single-movement works
    • Examples: Rueff Chanson et Passepied, Joly Cantilène et Danse, Eccles Sonata, Villa-Lobos Fantasia, Glazunov Concerto, Ferling 48 Famous Studies, Berbiguier 18 Exercises (arr. Mule), Voxman Selected Studies
  • Jazz excerpts and improvisation are optional but welcomed
  • Sight-reading

Please contact Dr. Joshua Heaney ([email protected]) with any questions about saxophone repertoire or audition requirements.


OBOE & BASSOON
  • Two contrasting pieces
  • Repertoire may be solos or etudes written for the instrument, preferably one fast, technical piece and one slow, lyrical piece.
  • Sight-reading

Please contact Dr. Rachel Maczko ([email protected]) with any questions about oboe repertoire or audition requirements.

Please contact Dr. Anna Resnick ([email protected]) with any questions about bassoon repertoire or audition requirements.

TRUMPET, HORN, TROMBONE, EUPHONIUM, & TUBA
  • Applicants must perform two contrasting pieces. 
  • Repertoire may be solos or etudes written for the instrument, preferably one fast, technical piece and one slow, lyrical piece. 
  • Sight-reading

Please contact Prof. Michael Anderson ([email protected]) with any questions about trumpet repertoire or audition requirements.

Please contact Dr. Kate Pritchett ([email protected]) with any questions about horn repertoire or audition requirements.

Please contact Prof. Joshua Gaub ([email protected]) with any questions about trombone repertoire or audition requirements.

Please contact Dr. Genevieve Clarkson ([email protected]) with any questions about euphonium/tuba repertoire or audition requirements.

VIOLIN
  • Two works of contrasting style:
    • A movement from a standard concerto
    • A movement from the unaccompanied Bach sonatas and partitas
  • Sight-reading

Please contact Dr. Nicholas Hatt ([email protected]) with any questions about violin repertoire or audition requirements. 


VIOLA
  • Two works of contrasting styles from the standard viola repertoire selected from the following:
    • A movement from a major concerto.
    • A movement from the Bach Cello Suites (transcribed for viola).
    • A contrasting work that is considered to be from the standard viola solo repertoire. This may include a viola solo work, a concert piece, or a solo movement from unaccompanied works.
    • An etude demonstrating accomplished technique, such as Kayser, Kreutzer, Campagnoli, Paganini, etc.
    • The current required All-State audition piece.
    • A standard orchestral excerpt (e.g., Movement II from Beethoven Symphony No.5, Berlioz Roman Carnival Overture, Don Juan, Variation V, VII, or VIII from Brahms Haydn Variations, Mendelssohn Midsummer Night’s Dream Scherzo, etc.)
    • Other works not listed (with previous approval from the viola professor prior to the audition)
  • Sight-reading

Please contact Dr. Shaohong "Betty" Yuan ([email protected]) with any questions about viola repertoire or audition requirements.


CELLO
  • Two works of contrasting style that demonstrate technical skill and musicianship. Selections may be made from the following:
    • An étude (Popper, Grützmacher, Schroeder, Duport, etc.) or caprice by Piatti or Franchomme
    • The exposition of a standard concerto
    • A showpiece, a lyrical piece, or a movement from a sonata
    • A movement from a Bach suite
    • Current All-State cello audition repertoire
  • Sight-reading

Please contact Prof. Emily Stoops ([email protected]) with any questions about cello repertoire or audition requirements.


DOUBLE BASS
  • Two works of contrasting style. This could include the exposition of a concerto, a Bach Cello Suite movement, a sonata, an etude, All-State material, etc. 
  • One Orchestral Excerpt, or an additional solo work 
  • Sight-reading

Please contact Prof. Tyler Shepherd ([email protected]) with any questions about double bass repertoire or audition requirements.


HARP
  • One solo work from the standard harp literature
  • One solo work that represents your artistic musicianship
  • Sight-reading 

Please contact Prof. Emily Duncan ([email protected]) with any questions about harp repertoire or audition requirements.

Please contact Dr. Tommy Dobbs ([email protected]) with any questions about percussion repertoire or audition requirements.

SOLO LITERATURE
  • Snare Drum: One Solo/Etude by Cirone, Peters, Delecluse, or Tompkins
    Marimba (Two-Mallets): One solo demonstrating two-mallet ability
    • Examples: works by Bach, Koshinski, Green, McMillian, Goldenberg, etc.
  • Marimba (Four-Mallets): One solo demonstrating four-mallet ability
    • Examples work by Bach, Zeltsman, Sammut, Stout, Burritt, or published transcriptions/arrangements
  • Timpani: One Solo or Etude by Delecluse, Carter, Hochrainer, Beck, Goodman, Lepak, etc.
OPTIONAL (but encouraged)
  • Drumset: Medium/Up-tempo swing (time and trading fours), Bossa Nova, Funk, and Samba
  • World Percussion: Steel Pan solo (pans provided if requested), congas (provided), riq, maracas, various frame drums, etc.

    Auditionees can submit videos if they desire. If time permits, auditionees can select to demonstrate live.
GEAR PROVIDED
  • Brass Pearl Philharmonic Snare Drum (4” with REMO Skyntone Head) or Aluminum Pearl Philharmonic Snare Drum (5.5” with REMO M5 Head)
  • Yamaha YM-5104A 5.0 Marimba or Malletech Stiletto 5.0 Marimba
  • Yamaha Dresden and Balanced Action Timpani will be available
  • Adams Alpha Series Xylophone (low C)
  • Yamaha YG-2500 Pedal Glockenspiel (3 1/3 Octave Range)

Please Note: All-State audition material can be used if you desire.

Feel free to contact Dr. Tommy Dobbs ([email protected]) for a free lesson, a personal tour of our facilities, or to setup an audition date.

Follow the Ƶ Percussion Studio on , and .

  • Applicants are required to perform three pieces from memory, selected from the following historical periods:
    • Baroque (e.g. Bach, Scarlatti, Handel, Rameau, Couperin)
    • Classical (e.g. one movement of a Mozart, Haydn, or Beethoven Sonata)
    • Romantic (e.g. Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Brahms, Liszt)
    • Twentieth Century (e.g. Debussy, Ravel, Bartok, Hindemith, Prokofieff, Copland, Muczynski)
  • Applicants may be asked to perform all or part of their prepared repertoire.

Please contact Dr. Sergio Monteiro ([email protected]) with any questions about piano repertoire or audition requirements. 

  • Applicants are required to perform three pieces:
    • One work by J.S. Bach or another Baroque composer
    • One piece by a Romantic or contemporary composer
    • A hymn, prepared as if it were being played for a congregation
  • Ample time and pistons will be provided for registering pieces and hymn.

Please contact Dr. Melissa Plamann ([email protected]) with any questions about organ repertoire or audition requirements. 

  • Undergraduate Guitar auditions require at least 15 minutes of music with a minimum of two contrasting works. For these works, the music may be performed on classical, acoustic, or electric guitar. Additional works (not required) may include original compositions and performances on other plucked string historical or folk instruments such as the lute, theorbo, banjo and mandolin.
  • Applicants will be contacted by the Guitar faculty upon completion of the application.

Please contact Prof. Matt Denman ([email protected]) with any questions about guitar repertoire or audition requirements. 

  • Composition applicants must audition on their major instrument, according to the guidelines above. 
  • Composition auditions require the submission of a portfolio of original compositions, recordings, and an interview with the Composition faculty.
  • Applicants will be contacted by the Composition faculty upon completion of the application.

Please contact Dr. Edward Knight ([email protected]) with any questions about the composition portfolio or audition requirements. 

  • Music Education applicants must audition on their major instrument, according to the guidelines above. 
  • In addition, Music Education applicants will interview with the Music Education faculty and submit a one-page resume.
  • Applicants will be contacted by the Music Education faculty upon completion of the application.

Please contact Prof. Peter Markes ([email protected]) with any questions about the music education interview or audition requirements. 

Questions?

Are you still thinking about whether or not to audition? That's okay, let's explore and see if we're a good fit for each other! and we'll follow up degree options, ensembles, scholarships, and tips for the college audition process.

We want to ensure your success and help you find your passion!

Please reach out to us at [email protected].
405-208-5050
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Wanda L. Bass School of Music
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