Auditions Graduate Repertoire

Graduate Music Audition Repertoire by Program

Transfers and Graduate students have until April 15 to send in VHS tapes or DVDs (PC-formatted). Applicants unable to attend a live audition should send VHS tapes or DVDs to NYU Steinhardt, Music and Performing Arts, Suite 777, 35 W. 4th Street, New York, NY 10012. Please clearly indicate your name, program applied to, contents of tape or CD and NYU ID, if applicable.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL THE DEPARTMENT AT 212-998-5424

Composition:

Master's: Applicants should submit a portfolio of three or four scores of varying instrumentation, accompanied by a CD recording of at least two of the works.

For applicants submitting for the Scoring for Film and Multimedia Sequence, the portfolio should contain three or four concert works, but, in addition, may also include film cues or multimedia works on DVD or Quicktime.

Ph.D.: Applicants should submit a portfolio (CD and score) of four compositions in a variety of media, as well as evidence of their writing (e.g. analysis or term paper).

Piano Performance

Master's (Concentration in Solo Piano)
One prelude and fugue from Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier
A complete Beethoven Sonata (excluding Opp. 14, 49, 79)
One work by Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Liszt or Rachmaninoff
One etude by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Ligeti or Debussy
One 20th-century or 21st-century composition

Master's Degree in Piano Performance (Concentration in Collaborative Piano - Vocal)
Required Audition Repertoire:
A memorized solo piano piece or movement of a solo piece (not exceeding 7 min.) from the following list:
Prelude and Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier
Beethoven Sonata, excluding Op. 14, 49, 79
Romantic composition by Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Liszt or Rachmaninoff
20th-century or 21st-century composition Etude by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Ligeti or Debussy
Sight Reading
Interview with faculty

For vocal repertoire, applicants must be able to sing and play simultaneously in the original language:
DEBUSSY: Green (from Ariettes oubliées)
SCHUMANN: Du Ring an meinem Finger (from Frauenliebe und Leben)
WILLSON: My White Night (from The Music Man)
LOESSER: Somebody Somewhere (from The Most Happy Fella)

Choose and prepare one aria from the following:
MOZART: “Hai gia vinta la causa – Vedrò mentr’io sospiro” (Count’s aria from Le Nozze di Figaro)
PUCCINI: “Quando m’en vo” (Musetta’s waltz from La Bohème)
STRAVINSKY: “No word from Tom – I go to Him” (Anne Trulove’s aria from The Rake’s Progress)
STRAUSS: “Sien wir wieder gut…” (Composer’s aria from Ariadne auf Naxos)
VERDI: “Ah, fors' è lui...Sempre libera” (Violetta’s aria from La Traviata)

Master's Degree in Piano Performance (Concentration in Collaborative Piano - Instrumental)
Required Audition Repertoire:

A memorized solo piano piece or movement of a solo piece (not exceeding 7 min.) from the following list:
Prelude and Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier.
Beethoven Sonata, excluding Op. 14, 49, 79.
Romantic composition by Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Liszt or Rachmaninoff.
20th-century or 21st-century composition.
Etude by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Ligeti or Debussy.

Sight-reading
Interview with Faculty

For instrumental repertoire, applicants must be prepared to play three required pieces, one from each of the three lists below (A, B, and C):

LIST A (Choose one)

VIOLIN AND PIANO
MOZART: Sonata No. 1 in C major K. 6
MOZART: Sonata No. 35 in A major K. 526
BEETHOVEN: Sonata No. 1 in D major Op.12
BEETHOVEN: Sonata No. 5 in F major Op. 24 ("Spring Sonata")
BEETHOVEN: Sonata No. 9 in A major Op. 47 ("Kreutzer Sonata")
BEETHOVEN: Sonata No. 10 in G major Op. 96

VIOLA (or GAMBA) AND PIANO
BACH: Sonata in G major, BWV 1027
BACH: Sonata in D major, BWV 1028
BACH: Sonata in G minor, BWV 1029

VIOLONCELLO (or GAMBA) AND PIANO
BACH: Sonata in G major, BWV 1027
BACH: Sonata in D major, BWV 1028
BACH: Sonata in G minor, BWV 1029
BEETHOVEN: Sonata in A major Op. 69

LIST B (Choose one)

VIOLIN AND PIANO
BRAHMS: Sonata No. 1 in G major Op. 78 ("Rain Sonata")
BRAHMS Sonata No. 2 in A major Op. 100
BRAHMS: Sonata No. 3 in D minor Op. 108
FRANCK: Sonata in A, M.8

VIOLA AND PIANO
BRAHMS: Sonata No. 1 in F minor Op. 120
BRAHMS: Sonata No. 2 in E flat major Op. 120

VIOLONCELLO AND PIANO:
BRAHMS: Sonata in E minor Op. 38
BRAHMS: Sonata in F major Op. 99
FRANCK:Sonata in A, M.8

LIST C (Choose one)

VIOLIN AND PIANO
DEBUSSY: Sonata in G minor L 140

VIOLA AND PIANO
Hindemith: Sonata in F, No. 4, Op. 11

VIOLONCELLO AND PIANO
SHOSTAKOVICH: Sonata in D minor Op. 40

Ph.D.:
Ph.D. applicants should prepare a full recital program, from which they will be asked to perform a maximum of 30 minutes. All doctoral auditions are to be performed live. A video-tape audition may be submitted in exceptional circumstances.

Suggested Ph.D. Program:
Baroque: A Bach work containing a fugue.
Classical: A Beethoven Sonata or a late Schubert Sonata.
Romantic: A large-scale work by Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, Schumann.
20th-century or 21st-century music: A significant work by Ravel, Debussy, Ives, Prokofiev, Stockhausen, Carter, etc.

Violin:*

Master's and Advanced Certificate:
Two movements of unaccompanied Bach memorized
A 20th Century composition
A first or last movement from a standard Romantic concerto memorized
A virtuosic solo piece is also suggested

Ph.D. (Prepare the works in their entirety):
An entire standard concerto (e.g. Beethoven, Brahnms, Tchaikovsky, Sibelius) memorized
An unaccompanied Bach Fugue or the Chaconne
At least one movement of a standard Classical sonata
A 20^th Century work

Viola:*

Master's and Advanced Certificate:
One movement of a major work from the concerto repertoire memorized
Three movements from an unaccompanied Bach Suite (originally for cello) or Sonata or Partitas (originally for violin) memorized
One movement of a major work from the sonata repertoire
A work or movement composed post 1960

Ph.D. (prepare the works in their entirety):
A major concerto, all movements memorized
A major work from the sonata repertoire in its entirety
An unaccompanied Bach Suite (originally for cello) or partita or sonata (originally for violin) in its entirety memorized
An entire work composed past 1960

Cello:*

Master's and Advanced Certificate:
Two contrasting movements from a Bach Suite memorized
Two movements of a standard Concerto memorized
A contemporary work
A sonata: Brahms, Beethoven, Shostakovich or comparable work

Ph.D. (prepare the works in their entirety):
Three contrasting movements of a Bach suite memorized
An entire concerto memorized
A contemporary work in its entirety
A complete Sonata: Brahms F major, Franck A Major, Chopin Sonata or Rachmaninoff Sonata

Double Bass:*

Master's and Advanced Certificate:
First two movements of either Dittersdorf, Koussevitzky, Vanhal, or Bottesini concertos
One movement of an unaccompanied Bach cello suite

Ph.D.:
In addition to the above, a short contemporary work.

Harp:

Master's and Advanced Certificate:
One Bochsa Etude, Op. 34
A choice of Handel Harp Concerto (complete), Hindemith Sonata (complete) or Faure Impromptu
A choice of one harp condenza from Tchaikovsky/Nutcracker Waltz of Flowers, Britten Young Person’s Guide or Donizetti Lucia
A work of your choice
Sight-reading

Ph.D.
Mozart Concerto for Flute and Harp (complete)
A choice of one orchestral excerpt Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique (1^st harp), Ravel Tzigane or Stravinsky Symphony in 3 movements
A work of your choice

(* An accompanist is provided for string instrument auditions.)

Flute:

Master's:
3 contrasting works from different style periods

Ph.D.:
4 contrasting works from different style periods Please include at least one contemporary work.
In addition, the doctoral candidate should be prepared to present works which represent his/her areas of specialization. The audition committee is interested to hear works which the applicant has commissioned for their instrument.

Oboe:

Master's:
3 contrasting works from different style periods

Clarinet:

Master's:
3 contrasting works from different style periods

Bassoon:

Master's:
3 contrasting works from different style periods

Saxophone:

Master's:
2 movements from an original work for saxophone and piano
2 movements or contrasting sections from a concerto
2 orchestral excerpts
Composers: Creston, Mucynski, Bassett, Ibert, Dahl

Ph.D.:
2 contrasting original works for saxophone and piano
2 concertos, one of which must use the altissimo register
1 work using extended techniques
In addition, the doctoral candidate should be prepared to present works which represent his/her areas of specialization. The audition committee is interested to hear works which the applicant has commissioned for their instrument.

French Horn:

Master's:
All major and minor scales.
3 contrasting works from different style periods Orchestral Excerpts

Ph.D.:
4 contrasting works from different style periods Please include at least one contemporary work. Orchestral Excerpts
In addition, the doctoral candidate should be prepared to present works which represent his/her areas of specialization. The audition committee is interested to hear works which the applicant has commissioned for their instrument.

Trumpet:

Master's:
All major and minor scales.
3 contrasting works from different style periods Orchestral Excerpts

Trombone:

Master's:
3 contrasting works from different style periods Orchestral Excerpts

Tuba:

Master's:
All major and minor scales.
3 contrasting works from different style periods Orchestral Excerpts

Percussion:

Marimba: One major work from the four mallet solo marimba repertoire.
Snare drum; One solo from the Delecluse 12 Etudes, of applicants choosing
Timpani: One Carter Solo, of applicants choosing
Multiple percussion: One solo from the major percussion repertoire, of applicants choosing
Orchestra Excerpts; Select one major work for xylophone, snare drum and timpani, of applicants choosing

A personal interview is preferred but conditional acceptance may be obtained by submission of cassette tape no longer than 30 minutes. Tapes should be received by February for fall admission and by July for graduate students.

Prof. Jonathan Haas
Director of Percussion Studies
Dept. of Music and Performing Arts
35 West 4th Street, Suite 777
New York, NY 10012
(914) 747-9177

Jazz Composition:

Applicants should submit a portfolio (CD and scores) of three compositions, and sing or play one of your compositions and a standard. (CD submission is acceptable for composition majors.) For further information please contact the Jazz office at (212) 998-5446 or email David Schroeder at ds38@nyu.edu

Jazz Performance (instrumental):

Taped audition via VHS videocassette or DVD ONLY.
Three jazz standards of contrasting tempo and style accompanied by a live rhythm section.
At least TWO selections must be a “standard.”
One selection may be an original composition.
In addition to video submissions, CD projects may be submitted as supporting material.
ONLY Video and DVD’s are accepted as the main source material for auditions.
For further information please contact the Jazz office at (212) 998-5446 or email David Schroeder at ds38@nyu.edu

Jazz Performance (voice): piano or guitar skills required

Taped audition via VHS videocassette or DVD ONLY.
Three jazz standards of contrasting tempo and style accompanied by a live rhythm section.
ADDITIONALLY, you must also demonstrate your ability to play piano or guitar accompanied by a bassist or both bass and drums. Choose two contrasting jazz standards demonstrating your ability to play melody, improvise and comp chord voicings.
In addition to video submissions, CD projects may be submitted as supporting material.
ONLY Video and DVD’s are accepted as the main source material for auditions.
For further information please contact the Jazz office at (212) 998-5446 or email David Schroeder at ds38@nyu.edu

Music Education:

Contact Professor Nancy Shankman regarding masters and doctoral audition dates and requirements at 212 998 5539 or Nancy.shankman@nyu.edu

Performance Audition: Prepare three selections representing three different historical styles (i.e. Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century. The Twentieth Century or Contemporary category may be divided into the so-called mainstream 20th Century music of composers such as Bartok, Stravinsky, Schoenberg, etc., avant-garde, or the rock/pop/jazz genre. In addition prepare a list of repertoire, and a list of teachers you have studied with. If you have done arrangements and/or compositions submit a portfolio of 3-5 works that bests represents this activity

Music skills: Sight reading, sight singing, and keyboard skills will be evaluated

Examples of Writing: Submit at least three examples of your written work that would best represent your ability to conduct scholarly research and writing.

Music Technology:

Information here.

Vocal Performance:

(An accompanist is provided for all vocal auditions)

For Classical Voice audition requirements, please see Classic Voice Auditions
For Music Theatre audition requirements, please see Music Theatre Auditions

For further information regarding Auditions or to speak to a Program Director or Advisor, please call Music and Performing Arts Professions at (212) 998-5424

Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions - 35 W. 4th Street, Suite 777 - New York, NY 10012 - (212) 998-5424