Woodwinds Audition Requirements

Bassoon students performing.
PVA Auditions, Interviews and Portfolios

Undergraduates Graduates Audition Contacts

Undergraduates

Flute

  • Two pieces or movements of works from contrasting style periods. If movements of work are chosen, they must come from separate compositions. Applicant’s choices should demonstrate both lyrical and “technical” playing abilities.
  • Ab major, D major, G minor, and F# minor scales performed in the full-range.

Clarinet

  • Select and perform 4 major scales and 4 minor scales, full range.
  • Choose ONE piece in EACH category for a total of two audition pieces:
    • Perform one technical piece:
      • Weber Concertino
      • Weber Concerto No. 2 movement I or III
      • A different piece of your choice of similar technical difficulty to the above Weber works
    • Perform one lyrical piece. Choose one etude from the following:
      • C. Rose 32 Studies
    • Sightreading may be asked for at the audition.

Oboe

  • Undergraduate entrance auditions should consist of two contrasting solo pieces or etudes representing the applicant’s strengths, technical ability and lyricism.
  • Major and Minor scales and chromatic scale.
  • Any one movement from suggested list below:
    • Any Handel or Telemann Sonata
    • Haydn Oboe Concerto
    • Vivaldi Concerto (Any)
    • Marcello Oboe Concerto
    • Mozart Oboe Concerto
    • Saint-Saëns or Poulenc Sonata
  • A Barret or Ferling etude.
  • Sight Reading.

Bassoon

  • All major, minor, and chromatic scales.
  • Two contrasting solo selections from the standard repertoire.
  • Sight-reading will be provided at the audition.
    • Video auditions: A virtual interview time will be required to assess these skills.

Saxophone

  • Applicants should be prepared to perform their major scales and two musical selections that demonstrate technical and musical proficiency. These selections can be etudes or pieces.

Graduates

Flute

  • Candidates should prepare a 20 minute program consisting of works representing music between the Baroque and Modern periods.
    • Include the first or second movements of either Mozart’s G Major or D Major flute concertos.
  • 3 standard principal flute orchestral excerpts should be prepared for the audition.

Clarinet

  • Perform selections from 3 contrasting works displaying a range of technical and lyrical skill. Total performance time should be approximately 20 minutes.
  • Perform 4 orchestral excerpts of your choice.
  • Perform 6 major and 6 minor scales of your choice, full-range.
  • Sightreading may be asked for at the audition.
  • All graduate applicants must submit a writing sample. This should be an academic paper from the last degree in which the student was enrolled.

Oboe

  • Graduate auditions consist of two to three selected major works in the oboe repertory. These works should contrast in period, style, and tempo. Prospective graduates might choose to substitute a major technical etude by Bozza or any for the Sixteen Grand Studies by Barret in lieu of the third solo piece. Students should also prepare three contrasting orchestral excerpts of their choice.
  • An example of a graduate audition would be:
    • A movement or two from the Mozart Oboe Concerto, K. 314, Martinu, Goossens, or Strauss Oboe Concerto
    • Silvestrini, Bozza Etude, or any Sixteen Grand Studies from Barret.
    • (Optional) Oboe Solo: CPE Bach Sonata in A minor, Telemann Fantasias, Henri Tomasi Evocations, or Antal Dorati Five Pieces for Oboe Solo.
    • Oboe I excerpts from Ravel Le Tombeau de Couperin, Brahms Violin Concerto, Beethoven Eroica Symphony, Rossini La Scala di Seta, and Strauss Don Juan, or similar.
    • Sight-reading.

Bassoon

  • All major, minor, and chromatic scales.
  • Two contrasting solo selections from the standard repertoire.
  • A selection of orchestral excerpts is highly recommended.
  • Sight-reading will be provided at the audition.
    • Video auditions: A virtual interview time will be required to assess these skills.

Saxophone

  • Applicants should be prepared to perform a variety of musical selections that demonstrate current technical and musical proficiency.
  • One baroque transcription is required.

Audition Contacts

Headshot of James Hall.

James Hall

Professor of Flute, Head of Woodwind Area

Headshot of Tim Gocklin.

Tim Gocklin

Adjunct Faculty, Artist-In-Residence, Oboe

Music Audition Requirements

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