Auditions

Audition Requirements

  • Solo audition of 30 minutes minimum
  • Live auditions preferred when possible for local applicants
  • Audition videos/links must be submitted in Slideroom application
  • Performance must draw from the approved Audition Repertoire listed according to instrument below

Audition Repertoire by Instrument

Woodwinds

For specific questions, contact Director of Instrumental Studies John Burdett at jburdett@apu.edu.

Flute

  • Bach: B minor Sonata
  • Mozart: Concerto in D Major or G Major
  • Dutilleux: Sonatine
  • Prokofiev: Sonata
  • Other approved standard repertoire

Oboe

  • Mozart: Concerto in C Major
  • Strauss: Concerto
  • Dorati: Cinq Pieces Pour Le Hautbois

Bassoon

  • Mozart: Concerto in B flat Major
  • Vivaldi: Concerto in E minor or A minor
  • Milde: Scale Studies and Etudes

Clarinet

  • Brahms: Sonatas No. 1 and 2
  • Mozart: Concerto, K. 622
  • Debussy: Premiere Rhapsodie
  • Stravinsky: Three Pieces
  • Weber: Concertos No. 1 or 2, Grand Duo Concertant
  • Rose: 32 Etudes

Saxophone

  • Creston: Sonata, Rhapsodie
  • Glazounov: Concerto
  • Heiden: Sonata
  • Ibert: Concertino de Camera
  • Muczynski: Sonata
  • Bozza: Etudes
  • Ferling: Etudes
  • Karg: Etudes

Percussion

For specific questions, contact Director of Instrumental Studies John Burdett at jburdett@apu.edu.

Snare Drum

  • Etudes by Cirone, Peters, Delecuse
  • Multiple Percussion
  • Solo pieces by Kraft or other approved composers

Marimba

  • Sonata, by Bach
  • Multiple mallet solos by approved composers
  • Concertos by approved composers

Timpani

  • Solos by Carroll, Carter, or other approved composers

Brass

For specific questions, contact Director of Instrumental Studies John Burdett at jburdett@apu.edu.

Trumpet

  • Fasch: Concerto in D
  • Haydn: Trumpet Concerto
  • Hummel: Trumpet Concerto
  • Honegger: Intrada
  • Charlier: Etudes

French Horn

  • Bach: Selection from Cello Suite
  • Beethoven: Sonata
  • Bozza: En Fore
  • Gallay: Etudes
  • Gliere: Concerto
  • Hindemith: Concerto
  • Kling: Etudes
  • Alphonse: Books 4-6
  • Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 2 or No. 3
  • Strauss: Concerto No. 1 or No. 2
  • V. Reynolds: 48 Etudes

Trombone

  • Bourgeouis: Concerto
  • Bozza: Ballade
  • Ewazen: Sonata
  • Grondahl: Concerto
  • Saint-Saens: Cavatine
  • Hindemith: Sonata (1st or 3rd mvt)
  • DeFaye: Deux Danses
  • Ewazen: Sonata
  • Martin: Ballade
  • Rimsky Korsakov: Concerto (1st mvt)
  • Bach: Unaccompanied Cello Suites

Tuba

  • Bordogni: Solfeggi for Tuba
  • Broughton: Sonata
  • Plog: Three Miniatures
  • Vaughan Williams: Concerto
  • Williams: Concerto

Excerpts:

  • Berlioz: Overture to Benvenuto Cellini (#16 to 5 measures after #19)
  • Gershwin: An American in Paris (#67 to #68)
  • Resphighi: Fountains of Rome (#11 to #14; 13 measures after #14 to Largamente

Guitar

For specific questions, contact Director of Guitar Studies Tom Hynes at thynes@apu.edu.

Choose two from the following:

  • A dance or two from a Lute Suite, Cello Suite or Violin Sonata or Partita by J.S. Bach
  • A major classical work of length by Sor (Theme & Variations, Sonata or Grand Solo), Giuliani (Theme & Variations, Sonata, Grand Overture), Aguado (Rondo in Am)
  • A major Romantic/Neo-classic work of length by Ponce, Tansman, Castelnuovo-Tedesco. A sonata or suite from any of these composers will suffice
  • A modern work of length by Brouwer, Takamitsu, Walton, Britten or Smith-Brindle or comparable work

Harp

For specific questions, contact Director of String Studies Marek Szpakiewicz at marek@apu.edu.

  • Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite solo
  • Two contrasting works: (1) 17th or 18th century composer, (2) 20th century composer
  • Etude (e.g. Bochsa Etude No. 1 from Cinquante Etudes Op. 34, Book One)
  • Orchestral excerpt (e.g. Waltz of the Flowers harp cadenza from the Nutcracker Suite)

Keyboard Collaborative Arts

For specific questions, contact Director of Keyboard Studies Joel Clifft at jclifft@apu.edu.

Applicants must perform the following:

  • One complete solo work, performed from memory
  • One complete instrumental sonata
  • One opera aria
  • Three art songs of varied style and language

Applicants may also be required to demonstrate sight-reading skills. All sonatas must be performed with an instrumentalist. All songs and arias must be performed with a singer. The applicant is expected to provide his or her own musical partners.

Piano

For specific questions, contact Director of Keyboard Studies Joel Clifft at jclifft@apu.edu.

Applicants must perform the following:

  • One Prelude and Fugue from The Well Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach
  • One complete classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert (excluding Beethoven “Opus 49”)
  • One large-scale work from the romantic period
  • One virtuoso etude

The applicant may also be required to demonstrate sight-reading skills.

Strings

For specific questions, contact Director of String Studies Marek Szpakiewicz at marek@apu.edu.

Violin

Each of the following (four selections total):

  • Two contrasting movements of a Bach unaccompanied Sonata or Partita
  • One movement of a standard violin concerto
  • One virtuoso piece/caprice/etude

Viola

Each of the following (four selections total):

  • Two contrasting movements of either a Bach cello Suite or a Bach violin Sonata or Partita
  • One movement of a standard viola sonata
  • One movement of a standard concerto written for viola

Cello

Each of the following (four selections total):

  • Two contrasting movements of Bach cello suites
  • One movement from a standard cello sonata
  • One movement from a standard cello concerto

Double Bass

Each of the following (three selections total):

  • One movement of Bach transcribed solo cello, key of applicant’s choice
  • One movement of a standard concerto
  • One movement of a sonata with piano

Note: This information is current for the 2022-23 academic year; however, all stated academic information is subject to change. Please refer to the current Academic Catalog for more information.

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