AUDITIONS & INTERVIEWS  
 
 

School of Music, Theatre & Dance Graduate Requirements and Dates

Brass section   For all Master of Music and Specialist in Music Programs. 

  (For Doctoral programs, choose the Rackham Graduate

    Requirements & Dates link above.)

An accompanist is recommended for recorded auditions, but is neither required nor provided for in-person auditions.

Audition Requirements

Bassoon

Clarinet

Euphonium

Flute

Horn

Oboe

Percussion

Saxophone

Trumpet

Tuba

Audition Schedule and Application Deadline Dates

General School of Music, Theatre & Dance Graduate Audition and Interview Information

 

Bassoon

Prepare two movements from any of the standard concerti or sonatas for bassoon, contrasting in tempo, and four orchestral excerpts from the standard orchestral repertory.

Clarinet

Prepare a minimum of three compositions representing different styles from the basic clarinet repertoire and four orchestral excerpts of contrasting character.

Euphonium

Prepare fifteen minutes of solo literature and/or band excerpts representative of your repertoire and highest proficiency. You are encouraged to demonstrate your knowledge of different stylistic periods. If auditioning in person, you may be asked to sight-read and to play two-octave major and minor scales and scales in 3rds. Memorization is required for the scales but not for the solo repertoire. Skills are assumed in the reading of both bass and treble clefs and in performance techniques appropriate to the graduate level.

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Flute

Prepare four compositions from the standard solo flute repertoire and four orchestral excerpts representing your highest level of proficiency. One of the compositions must be memorized. Please include a movement of a concerto as one of your selections. You may perform only two movements from a composition with multiple movements. Choose from the contrasting styles of the Baroque, Classical, French, or Contemporary literature. Skills are assumed in performance techniques appropriate to the graduate level. Be prepared to sight-read.

Horn

Prepare two complete compositions of your choice representing different styles. In addition, be prepared to play any portion of the first movement of Strauss' Second Concerto and three contrasting orchestral excerpts. You may be asked to play two-octave major, minor, and chromatic scales. Memorization is required for scales only. Proficiency is assumed in performance techniques appropriate to the graduate level.

Oboe

Prepare three complete works from the major solo repertoire, including music from the Baroque, Classical, and 20th-Century periods. Familiarity with all major and minor scales and thirds is assumed. If you audition in person, you may be tested in sight-reading skills.

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Percussion

Please select music from the solo recital literature and/or orchestral excerpts which demonstrates your highest musical and technical abilities in snare drum, mallet-keyboard instruments, and timpani. Sight-reading and timpani tuning will be evaluated. Applicants are required to demonstrate skills in all of the above areas. Memorization is neither required nor discouraged.  If you have a performance on VHS or DVD of a solo or chamber music multiple percussion work or if you have percussion skills in the areas of drum set, pan, and/or hand drumming, please bring a non-returnable copy of a VHS or DVD of your playing demonstrating your highest musical and technical abilities in those areas.

Auditions in Ann Arbor are highly preferred; videotaped auditions will be considered only in unusual circumstances. If you wish to audition via DVD or videotape, please email Professor Gramley (jgramley@umich.edu) for permission before preparing your recording.

Saxophone

Prepare two major works for saxophone that will demonstrate your highest level of musical and technical development. It is recommended that at least one of the selections include one of the following works: Albright, Sonata; Bolcom, Lillith; Dahl, Concerto; Harbison, Sonata; Berio, Sequenze IXB; Denisov, Sonata; J.A. Lennon, Symphonic Rhapsody. Jazz improvisation skills are welcomed and you are encouraged to request a separate audition with our Jazz and Improvisation Studies faculty. If you wish to take advantage of this, indicate your request for a supplementary jazz audition on your application.  If you have played a recital, please bring with you a CD, if available, to supplement your audition. If a recorded audition is permitted, the repertoire chosen should reflect considerable variety and should be equivalent in length to a recital program. A CD of a full recital, with accompanist, is preferred.

Trumpet (updated November 2007)

Prepare twenty minutes of the standard solo recital literature for trumpet and standard excerpts from the orchestral repertoire representing your highest level of proficiency. You are encouraged to demonstrate your knowledge of different stylistic periods and ability to perform on the piccolo. You will be asked to transpose while sight-reading. Skills are assumed in performance techniques appropriate to the graduate level.

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Trombone

Prepare twenty minutes of standard solo literature and four excerpts from the standard orchestral repertoire. You are encouraged to demonstrate your knowledge of different stylistic periods. Those auditioning in Ann Arbor may be expected to play two-octave major, minor, and chromatic scales from memory.

Tuba

Prepare fifteen minutes of solo literature and/or orchestral excerpts representative of your repertoire and of your highest proficiency. You are encouraged to demonstrate your knowledge of different stylistic periods. If auditioning in Ann Arbor, you may be asked to sight-read and play two-octave major, minor, and chromatic scales. Memorization is required for the scales but not for the solo literature. Skills are assumed in performance techniques appropriate to the graduate level.

Audition Schedule and Application Deadline Dates

Audition Date
Application Deadline
Notes
11/21/2008
09/15/2008
no Flute, Oboe, Percussion
01/16/2009
12/01/2008
no Bassoon, Clarinet, Oboe, Percussion
01/30/2009
12/01/2008
only Clarinet, Oboe
02/05/2009
12/01/2008
only Percussion
02/12/2009
12/01/2008
only Percussion
02/13/2009
12/01/2008
no Percussion
02/19/2008
12/01/2008
only Percussion
02/20/2009
12/01/2008

no Percussion

03/27/2009
01/15/2009

only Bassoon, Clarinet, Flute, Oboe

No merit scholarship consideration

02/01/2009
12/01/2008

Los Angeles, CA

no Percussion

02/07/2009
12/01/2008

New York, NY

no Percussion

02/08/2009
12/01/2008

Houston, TX

no Percussion

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