Graduate Audition Guidelines & Dates

All doctoral auditions are expected to be live. A taped audition may be considered only in exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the audition committee.

Masters applicants who live more than 250 miles from New York City may submit a live recording to their prospective teacher.

Pre-Screening CDs are required for these areas: Flute, Bassoon, Violin and Voice. The CDs must be received (not postmarked!) by the Department of Music no later than 1 December 2012. No pre-screening CDs will be reviewed without a copy of the submitted application.

All live auditions are to be held at Stony Brook University unless otherwise noted.

Audition Forms

Standard Audition Form

Piano Audition Form

Completed forms should be sent with all other application materials to:
Graduate Coordinator
3304 Staller Center
Stony Brook, NY 11794-5475

Audition Requirements

Bass
Date: February 11, 2013
Repertoire:
DMA Level:
One half-hour of diverse pieces of significant musical content, including at least one movement from a Bach Suite or Gamba Sonata (from a full recital)

MM Level:
A representative sonata or concerto or:
Two or three:
1. Contrasting movements from different pieces
2. Short works
or:
3. Orchestral solos

Bassoon
Date: March 1, 2013
Pre Screening:
A CD Recording must be received from all applicants (MM and DMA). The recording should include applicant's choice of approximately 3 samples of the live audition repertory listed below, totaling around 15 minutes. At least one example must be with accompaniment. The CD should be accompanied by the Audition Form and a one-page resume.

Live Audition Requirements:
MM Degree:
1. Three complete, contrasting solo works: At least one must be a major concerto (e.g., Mozart, Weber, Hummel, Vivaldi). One work may be unaccompanied.
2. Four contrasting, standard orchestral excerpts.

DMA Degree:
1. At least one complete bassoon concerto from the following list: Mozart Concerto K191, Weber Concerto, Hummel Concerto, Jolivet Concerto
2. Three additional complete, contrasting works, one may be unaccompanied.
3. Be prepared to discuss (including, but not limited to): Each work's place in bassoon repertoire, the composer, performance practice, the edition used as compared to other editions of that work, etc.
4. At least eight contrasting, standard orchestral excerpts.

Piano accompaniment is recommended. Substitutions for the above requirements will be considered on a case by case basis. These substitutions must be reviewed by Frank Morelli. He welcomes any questions via e-mail: morbassoon@aol.com

Cello
Date: February 26 and 27. 2013
Repertoire:
DMA Level:
1. A standard concerto (complete)
2. A Bach Suite (complete)
3. A contemporary piece
4. 1st Movement from any standard sonata with piano

MM Level:
1. 1st movement of a standard concerto
2. 2 movements from any Bach Suite
3. A piece of the student's choice.

Clarinet
Date: March 1, 2013
Repertoire:
DMA Level
1. One standard work for clarinet and orchestra (i.e., concertos by Mozart, Weber, Nielsen, Copland, Françaix, Tomasi; the Rossini Variations; the Debussy Prémière Rhapsodie; the Weber or Busoni Concertinos. The Debussy work may be used as the second category work below.) At least one movement of this selection must be MEMORIZED.
2. One work for clarinet and piano (i.e., sonatas by Brahms, Poulenc, Bernstein, Reger; the Muczynski Time Pieces, Schumann Fantasy Pieces, Françaix Variations, Weber Grand Duo Concertante).
3. One unaccompanied 20th or 21st Century work (i.e., Stravinsky Three PIeces, Carter Gra, Sutermeister Capriccio, Messaien Abyss of the Birds)
4. Two contrasting etudes (i.e., by Rose, Jeanjean, Cavallini, Jettel)
5. Five standard orchestral excerpts

MM Level (Live preferred; CD submission acceptable)
1. One standard work for clarinet and orchestra (i.e., concertos by Mozart, Weber, Nielsen, Copland, Françaix, Tomasi; the Rossini Variations; the Debussy Prémière Rhapsodie; the Weber or Busoni Concertinos. The Debussy work may be used as the second category work below.)
2. One work for clarinet and piano (i.e., sonatas by Brahms, Poulenc, Bernstein, Reger; the Muczynski Time Pieces, Schumann Fantasy Pieces, Françaix Variations, Weber Grand Duo Concertante).
3. Two contrasting etudes (i.e., by Rose, Jeanjean, Cavallini, Jettel)
OR
One etude (examples given above) AND one unaccompanied 20th or 21st Century work (i.e., Stravinsky Three PIeces, Carter Gra, Sutermeister Capriccio, Messaien Abyss of the Birds)
4. Three standard orchestral excerpts

Flute
Date: February 22, 2013
Pre-screening:
Pre-screening CD should not to exceed 25 minutes. Recording must have accompaniment if the work is accompanied.
1. The expositions of the first and second movement of either the Mozart G
Major or D Major Flute Concerto, with accompaniment
2. Two different movements of two different works from two contrasting periods of the standard flute solo repertoire. (may include a concerto movement or solo sonata; selection may or may not be with accompaniment)
3. Three standard orchestral excerpts , one of which must be Mendelssohn Midsummer's Night Dream Scherzo, including the 4 bar introduction and solo; other two of applicant's choice of contrasting styles.
Repertoire for the Live Audition:
1. An entire Mozart concerto of the applicant's choice (D or G Major)
2. Two complete and contrasting solo works for flute from different periods
3. Five standard contrasting orchestral excerpts of applicant's choice, one
which must be the Mendelssohn Midsummer's Night Dream Scherzo (with 4 bar introduction as well as the solo)

Guitar
Date: February 12, 2013
Repertoire:
DMA Level:
1. One Villa-Lobos Etude
2. One major contemporary piece (not neo-classic)
3. One complete Bach Lute Suite

MM Level:
1. One Villa-Lobos Etude
2. One major contemporary piece (not neo-classic)
3. One movement from any of the Bach Lute Suites

Please submit any questions regarding repertoire substitution to Jerry Willard at: luter@nyc.rr.com, or 212-864-6775

Harpsichord
Date: February 12, 2013
Repertoire:
1. A contrapuntal work of J.S. Bach
2. Selection of French dances from either the 17th or 18th centuries
3. Choice of either early 17th century Italian, English virginalist, or contemporary piece.

In addition, a short example of continuo realization will be provided to test the candidate's expertise.

Your choice of repertoire should reflect both your musical knowledge of different period and national performance practice styles as well as technical fluency. Memorization is not required. The audition will last approx. 15-20 minutes.

Applicants are invited to sit in on Baroque Ensemble class which meets 10-1 on Tuesday mornings in Room 0111.

Oboe
Date: February 2, 2013
Repertoire:
1. Two etudes from Ferling or Barrett. One slow, one fast.
2. One major concerto, Mozart, Strauss, Martinou, etc.
3. Three orchestral excerpts.

Percussion
Date: February 16 and 17, 2013
Repertoire:
1. Mallet solo (approximately 10 minutes long, Marimba or Vibes)
2. Multiple percussion solo (approximately 10 minutes long, applicant may bring own instruments or use the percussion studio equipment)
3. Timpani (any of the Carter Etudes)
4. Own choice of work that well represents applicant's musical interests (hand drumming, theater percussion, electronics, etc.)
5. Sight reading (rhythmic and melodic, 2 and 4 mallet)

Contact Eduardo Leandro for any questions regarding choice of repertoire and to schedule the audition: eduleo@mac.com

Piano
Date: February 28 - March 2, 2013
Repertoire:
Both DMA and MM applicants will be expected to have prepared a full and representative program. No other repertoire instructions are given by the faculty.

Trumpet, Trombone, Horn and Tuba
Date: February 25, 2013
Repertoire:
1. Two contrasting movements from a piece or two contrasting solo pieces
2. Several standard orchestral excerpts

Viola
Date: February 7, 2013
Repertoire:
Please Note: There is no pre-screening CD requirement for Viola

Both DMA and MM applicants will be expected to have prepared a full and representative program. No other repertoire instructions are given by the faculty.

Violin
Date: February 4 and 5, 2013
Repertoire:
Please Note: Repertoire requirements for the Pre-Screening CD and the Live Audition are the same. Applicants may choose to play different pieces at the Live Audition from those submitted on the CD.
DMA Level:
1. One movement of a major violin concerto
2. Two contrasting movements OR the Chaconne of J.S. Bach Sonata or Partita for solo violin
3. One movement of a sonata for violin and piano OR one short virtuosic piece for solo violin or for violin and piano
4. One movement of a work for solo violin or violin and piano written after 1945

MM Level:
1. One movement of a major violin concerto
2. Two contrasting movements OR the Chaconne of J.S. Bach Sonata or Partita for solo violin
3. One movement of a sonata for violin and piano OR one short virtuosic piece for solo violin or for violin and piano

Voice
Date: February 14, 2013
Repertoire:
The recording should include two pieces:
1. One (1) operatic aria in any language
2. One (1) art song in any language.

The live audition will be 15 minutes long. You will be expected to sing at least four pieces, one of which must be an operatic aria. Your audition repertoire should include selections in all of the following four languages: French, German, English, and Italian or Spanish (you may choose between the last two languages). If you wish, you may also offer a piece in Russian, but that is not required. Applicants to the MM program should have sung at least one solo recital.

Jazz Studies (all instruments)
Date: By appointment with Ray Anderson: ray.anderson@stonybrook.edu