Brass Audition Requirements

The following is a suggested repertoire. Students are encouraged to perform repertoire that showcases their ability.

1. Be prepared to play all 12 major and natural minor scales

2. One lyrical etude from “Lyrical Etudes for the Trumpet” by Phil Snedecor or equivalent (Except the Colorado All-state etudes)

• Other options are: Theo Charlier’s 36 etudes transcendences, Concone’s Lyrical Etudes, J. L. Small’s 27 Melodius and Rhythmical exercises

3. One technical etude from ‘Second Book of Practical Studies for the Trumpet or Cornet” by Robert W. Getchell or equivalent

• Other options are: Arban’s Characteristics etudes, V. Brandt’s Etudes for Trumpet

4. One solo of your choice from the following:
• “Andante et Allegro” by J. G. Ropartz
• “Andante et Allegro” by G. Balay
• “The Maid of the Mist” by H. Clarke
• Equivalent piece

• Two or three contrasting works totaling approximately 10 minutes of music. Applicants should choose examples that demonstrate both technical and lyrical strengths. Possible repertoire choices:
  • Mozart, Wolfgang A.: any concerto movement 1 or 2
  • Strauss, Richard: Concerto #1 or Concerto #2
  • Strauss, Franz: Concerto Op. 8
  • Saint-Saëns, Camille: Morceau de Concert
• Two octave major scales with arpeggios for Bachelor of Music and two octave with arpeggios when range permits for Bachelor of Music Education.
• Sight reading.

Confirm your audition repertoire with Prof. Daniel J. Cosio before preparing audition materials via email at daniel.cosio@unco.edu.

Live/Recorded Audition:
• Selected major scales in 2 octaves
• Two contrasting etudes (one lyrical, one technical), such as All-State etudes
• One solo of your choice from the following:
• Barat – Andante et Allegro
• De La Nux – Concert Piece
• Guilmant – Morceau Symphonique
• Saint-Saens – Cavatine
• Weber – Romance
• An equivalent piece that showcases your technical and musical ability well

Confirm your audition repertoire with Prof. Daniel J. Cosio before preparing audition materials via email at daniel.cosio@unco.edu.

Live/Recorded Audition:
• Selected major scales in 2 octaves
• Two contrasting etudes (one lyrical, one technical), such as All-State etudes
• One solo of your choice from the following:
• Jacob – Cameos
• Koetsier – Allegro Maestoso
• Lebedev – Concerto in 1 Movement
• Lebedev – Concert Allegro
• An equivalent piece that showcases your technical and musical ability well

The following is suggested repertoire. Students are encourages to perform repertoire that showcases their ability.

• All major scales – two octaves when possible (knowledge of all minor scales is preferred but not required). 
• One lyrical etude, such as one from “Melodious Etudes for Trombone” by Bordogni/Rochut. 
• One technical etude, such as one from “Selected Studies for Baritone” by Voxman, or “40 Progressive Studies for Trombone” by Tyrell. 
• Select one of the following solos:
  • Barat – Andante and Allegro
  • Capuzzi – Andante and Rondo  
  • Curnow – Rhapsody for Euphonium
  • Guilmant  – Morceau Symphonique
  • Rüedi – Three Pieces for Euphonium (pick 1-2 movements from the same “piece”).

• All major scales – two octaves when possible (knowledge of all minor scales is preferred but not required). 
• One lyrical etude, such as one from “Complete Vocalises for Tuba” by Bordogni (ed. Wes Jacobs preferred). 
• One technical etude, such as one from “60 Selected Studies for Tuba” by Kopprasch, or “40 Advanced Studies for Tuba” by Tyrell. 
• Select one of the following solos:
  ◦  Capuzzi – Andante and Rondo  
  ◦  Gregson – Concerto, movement 1  
  ◦  Haddad – Suite  
  ◦  Hartley- Suite for Unaccompanied Tuba
  ◦  Marcello – Sonata in F Major 

The following is a suggested repertoire. Students are encouraged to perform repertoire that showcases their ability.

1. Candidates must be able to perform two contrasting etudes.

Please chose any two etudes from the following books:
• “36 Etudes Trancedantes” by T. Charlier
• “Top Tones for the Trumpeter” by W. M. Smith
• “Vingt Etudes pour Trompete” by M. Bitsch
• Or equivalent

2. Possible sight-reading

3. Two contrasting solos or movements from the following repertoire:
• J. Haydn – Concerto
• Neruda – Concerto
• Hummel – Concerto
• Arutunian – Concerto
• Jolivet – Concertino
• Or equivalent

4. A piece, or a movement of a piece for Piccolo Trumpet (Required for Doctor of Arts, encouraged for M.M. applicants)

5. Minimum of 5 contrasting orchestral or band excerpts that showcase the ability to play contrasting styles.
• P. Hindemith – Symphony in Bb major
• P. Grainger – Lincolnshire Posy
• L. Bernstein – Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
• A. Copland – An Outdoor Overture
• G. Mahler – Excerpts from any of the Symphonies
• R. Strauss – Any excerpt
• I. Stravinsky – Excerpts from Petrouska, Pulcinella, or the Fire Bird.
• Or equivalent

6. J. S. Bach – Any of the piccolo excerpts (Required for Doctor of Arts, encouraged for M.M. applicants)

7. Mussorgsky/Ravel – Pictures at an Exhibition – Promenade and Samuel Goldenberg und Schmuyle (Required for Doctor of Arts, encouraged for M.M. applicants)

• Sight-reading and major & minor scales, with arpeggios in two octaves.
• Two movements or works from contrasting style periods that are of comparable difficulty to the following:
  • Dukas: Villanelle
  • Gliere: Concerto
  • Hindemith: Sonata
  • Jacob: Concerto
  • Mozart: Concerto #2 or Concerto #4
  • Schumann: Adagio and Allegro
  • R. Strauss: Concerto #1
• Five orchestral excerpts from among the following:
  • J.S. Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No 1. – Horn 1
  • Beethoven – Symphony No. 3 – Horn 2
  • Beethoven – Symphony No. 6 – Horn 1
  • Beethoven – Symphony No. 9 – 3rd mvt.: 4th horn solo
  • Brahms- Symphony #3 first horn solo
  • Mendelssohn – Nocturne from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
  • Tchaikovsky – Sym. #5 1st horn solo from 2nd mvt.
  • R. Strauss – Ein Heldenleben – Ist horn
  • R. Strauss – Till Eulenspiegel – Ist horn
  • Wagner – Short Call from “Gotterdammerung”

Note: Audition requirements for the Graduate Performance Certificate are the same as for the Master of Music. A live audition is not required, but is highly encouraged, for Graduate Assistantship consideration.

Pre-Screening: Confirm your audition repertoire with Prof. Daniel J. Cosio via email at daniel.cosio@unco.edu.

1.  One etude from “Melodious Etudes” by Bordogni/Rochut

2. A minimum of two contrasting solos from the following repertoire:
• Barfield – Red Sky
• Bernofsky – Two Latin Dances
• Bloch – Symphony for Trombone
• Casterede – Sonatine
• David – Concertino
• Grondahl – Concerto
• Mills – Red Dragonfly
• Peaslee – Arrows of Time
• Ropartz – Piece for Trombone
• An equivalent piece that showcases your technical and musical ability well

3. Selected orchestral excerpts from the following list (minimum of 3 for MM, 5 for DA):
• Berlioz – Hungarian March
• Mahler – Symphony No. 3
• Mozart – Requiem, Kyrie (alto only)
• Mozart – Requiem, Tuba Mirum (required)
• Ravel – Bolero
• Rossini – La Gazza Ladra (one trombone version)
• Saint-Saëns – Organ Symphony
• Schumann – Rhenish (alto only)
• Strauss – Also Sprach Zarathustra
• Strauss – Ein Heldenleben
• Wagner – Ride of the Valkyries (minor and first major sections)

4. OPTIONAL for MM, Required for DA applicants: a piece, movement, or excerpt that showcases ability in doubling, such as a jazz etude, alto/bass excerpt, etc.

Note: Audition requirements for the Graduate Performance Certificate are the same as for the Master of Music. A live audition is not required, but is highly encouraged, for Graduate Assistantship consideration.

Pre-Screening: Confirm your audition repertoire with Prof. Daniel J. Cosio via email at daniel.cosio@unco.edu.

1. One etude from “Melodious Etudes” by Bordogni/Rochut, played 8vb

2. A minimum of two contrasting solos from the following repertoire:
• Bourgeois – Concerto
• Bozza – New Orleans
• Brubeck – Concerto
• Candillari – Extremely Close
• David – Three Imaginary Landscapes
• Gillingham – Sonata
• Hidas – Meditation
• Ritter-George – Concerto
• Spillman – Concerto
• White – Tetra Ergon
• Wilborn – Jazz Triptych
• An equivalent piece that showcases your technical and musical ability well

3. Selected orchestral excerpts from the following list (minimum of 3 for MM, 5 for DA):
• Beethoven – Symphony No. 9
• Berlioz – Hungarian March
• Bruckner – Symphony No. 7
• Haydn – Creation (required)
• Kodaly – Hary Janos
• Mozart – Requiem, Kyrie
• Respighi – Fountains of Rome
• Rossini – La Gazza Ladra (one trombone version)
• Rossini – William Tell
• Schumann – Rhenish
• Strauss – Ein Heldenleben
• Wagner – Ride of the Valkyries (minor and first major sections)
• Wagner – Das Rheingold, Entry of the Gods into Valhalla

4. OPTIONAL for MM, Required for DA Applicants: a piece, movement, or excerpt that showcases ability in doubling, such as a jazz etude, alto/bass excerpt, etc.

Master of Music and Graduate Performance Certificate

• A minimum of two contrasting solos or movements from the standard solo repertoire.
• Two to six band or orchestral excerpts from the standard band and orchestral audition repertoire.

Doctor of Arts

• A minimum of three contrasting solos or movements from the standard solo repertoire.
• Four to six band or orchestral excerpts from the standard band and orchestral audition repertoire.

• A minimum of two contrasting solos or movements from the standard solo repertoire. 
• Two to six band or orchestral excerpts from the standard band and orchestral audition repertoire.