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School of Music

DMA Audition Information

 

Admission to the School of Music as a Doctor of Musical Arts student requires an audition or the submission of scholarly/creative materials. These steps are in addition to the formal application process for admission to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Information on graduate admissions can be found at www.unl.edu/gradstudies.

Auditions for performance and conducting areas are heard by the School of Music faculty and are usually 20-30 minutes in length. To assist candidates in achieving success, each area has set forth requirements for their department. Please refer to the list below in knowing how to prepare.

 
Please Select Your Area Of Interest
Conducting
Composition
Jazz Studies
 
 
 
 

DMA - PERFORMANCE:

BRASS
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Euphonium:

Audition options include submitting a screening recording followed by a live audition (preferred) or a CD/Video. Register your audition preference by completing the Graduate Audition Form.

The screening recording should contain:

  1. two contrasting movements from a standard repertoire solo piece for euphonium, for example: Horowitz, Concerto; Wilder, Sonata; Ponchielli, Concerto; Sparke, Pantomime,
  2. band excerpts from the standard repertoire including Holst, Suites; Bennett, Suite of Old American Dances; Schoenberg, Theme and Variations.
Horn:

Audition options include submitting a screening recording followed by a live audition (preferred) or a CD/Video. Register your audition preference by completing the Graduate Audition Form.

The screening recording should contain:

  1. three works of contrasting styles that represent the applicant's technical, melodic and interpretive abilities
  2. a minimum of seven standard orchestral excerpts.

Bass Trombone:

    Audition options include submitting a screening recording followed by a live audition (preferred) or a CD/Video. Register your audition preference by completing the Graduate Audition Form.

    The screening recording should contain:

  1. one slow and one fast movement from works such as Filas-Romance Concertante; Ewazen-Ballad; Gillingham-Sonata for Bass Trombone; Brubeck-Concerto for Bass Trombone, Bozza-New Orleans or equivalent (accompaniment required),
  2. a solo of applicant’s choice (accompaniment required), and
  3. orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire.

Tenor Trombone:

    Audition options include submitting a screening recording followed by a live audition (preferred) or a CD/Video. Register your audition preference by completing the Graduate Audition Form.

    The screening recording should contain:

  1. one slow and one fast movement from works such as Filas-Sonata; Stojowski-Fantasie; Ewazen-Sonata; Ewanzen-Concerto; Crespo-Improvisation #1; Grondahl-Concerto or equivalent (accompaniment required),
  2. a solo of applicant’s choice (accompaniment required), and
  3. orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire.

Trumpet:

Audition options include submitting a screening recording followed by a live audition (preferred) or a CD/Video. Register your audition preference by completing the Graduate Audition Form.

The screening recording should contain:

  1. Honegger Intrada and two other solo works of your choice.
  2. five orchestral excerpts of standard repertoire.

Tuba:

Audition options include submitting a screening recording followed by a live audition (preferred) or a CD/Video. Register your audition preference by completing the Graduate Audition Form.

The screening recording should contain:

  1. two contrasting movements from a standard repertoire solo piece for tuba, for example: Vaughan Williams, Concerto; Hindemith, Sonate, Penderecki, Capriccio (complete piece),
  2. orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire including Wagner, Meistersinger Overture; Wagner, Ride of the Walkurie; Hindemith, Symphonic Metamorphosis; and Revueltas, Sensamaya.

JAZZ STUDIES (performance)
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All applicants should prepare the following for the screening CD:  

  1. One advanced level American Popular/Jazz Standard such as Donna Lee, Confirmation, Joy Spring, or Have You Met Mrs. Jones
  2.  A tune based on Rhythm Changes
All applicants should prepare the following for the live audition or CD/video recital CD:

20 minute recital that features a variety of styles including:  one advanced level American Popular/Jazz Standard (such as Donna Lee, Confirmation, Joy Spring, or Have You Met Mrs. Jones), a tune based on Rhythm Changes, a ballad and a modern jazz standard (works by Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane etc.)

JAZZ STUDIES (composition)
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Students interested in majoring in jazz composition should:

Submit a portfolio of 3-5 scores (hard copy & CD examples) in an array of media and jazz genres to the School of Music admissions office. Portfolios should be submitted not less than 4 weeks in advance of the application portfolio priority deadline of February 15.

KEYBOARD
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Piano: 

Three pieces in contrasting styles from memory.

Organ:

    Screening CD

  1. A major work by J.S. Bach (e.g., a prelude and fugue; two or more movements of a trio sonata; or a group of chorale settings)
  2. A work written by a composer born between 1800 and 1900 (a single movement of a larger work is acceptable)
  3. A work written by a composer born after 1900 (a single movement of a larger work is acceptable)

    4. Live audition or CD recital (live audition preferred; CD accepted only when distance necessitates it, in consultation with the applied professor) A program of no more than 30 minutes, consisting of:
  4. A major work by J.S. Bach (e.g., a prelude and fugue; two or more movements of a trio sonata; or a group of chorale settings)
  5. A work written by a composer born between 1800 and 1900 (a single movement of a larger work is acceptable)
  6. A work written by a composer born after 1900 (a single movement of a larger work is acceptable)
  7. EITHER a work written before 1725 by a composer other than Bach OR a work written within the last 10 years.

PERCUSSION
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Audition options include submitting a screening recording followed by a live audition (preferred) or a DVD (or standard VHS video) of a recent live performance.

Mallet Percussion:

  1. Two contrasting works from the four mallet marimba repertoire.
  2. Two 2-mallet solos, one being a rapid movement from the Six Sonatas & Partitas for Violin by J.S. Bach.
  3. A four mallet solo from the vibraphone repertoire.
  4. Four orchestral excerpts of the candidate's choice.

Snare Drum:

  1. Three compositions of contrasting styles (one specifically rudimental) that represent the applicant's technical, musical and interpretive abilities. One may be an etude.
  2. Four standard orchestral excerpts - including: The Birth of Kije - Prokofiev, Scheherazade, Mvts III & IV - Rimsky-Korsakov.

Timpani:

  1. One complete composition from works such as: 4 Verses for Timpani - Houllif, Capriccio for Solo Timpani - Gauthreaux, Eight Pieces for Timpani (the March or Canaries) - E. Carter, etc.
  2. Four orchestral excerpts of applicant's choice - including: Symphony No. 7 by Beethoven, Mvt I Vivace measures 89-111 and 315-326.

Multiple Percussion:

  1. Optional

STRINGS
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Cello:

  1. A complete concerto (memorization strongly recommended)
  2. A complete Sonata (Beethoven or later)
  3. A complete Bach Suite
  4. A piece written after 1938

Viola:

  1. A complete concerto (Walton, Bartok, Hindemith or anothy approved by UNL viola faculty in advance).
  2. A complete sonata (from the Romantic period to the present).
  3. A complete unaccompanied piece by Bach, Hindemith or Reger.
  4. At least one movement of Bach.

Violin:

  1. A complete concerto (memorization strongly recommended).
  2. A complete concerto by Mozart (memorization strongly recommended): K 207, 211, 216, 218 or 219.
  3. Two contrasting movements of the Bach Solo Partitas or Sonatas.
  4. Concert work written after 1945.

Bass:

The screening recording should contain:

  1. One slow and one fast movement from works such as Vanhal, Concerto; Hindemith, Sonata; Koussevitzky, Concerto or other equivalent (accompaniment optional)
  2. A solo movement of applicant’s choice.


The live audition or CD/video recording should:

be 20-25 minutes in length (accompaniment required). Include repertoire of major composers for the instrument, and cover a sampling of the appropriate time periods.

VOICE
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  • DMA Pre-screening audition requirements include a total of 5 selections including:

      • 1 aria from an opera or oratorio (any language)
      • 1 English language art song
      • 1 Italian language art song
      • 1 French language art song
      • 1 German language art song

      • DMA audition requirement is a 20-25 minute recital representing various languages and styles.

       

      WOODWINDS
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      Preliminary audition screen CD and live audition or CD/Video taped audition requirement
      Any recorded CD submission needs to be of a recent live performance.

      All DMA audition recordings should include piano accompaniment as required of the repertoire.

        Flute:

      All applicants should prepare the following for the screening CD:

      10 minutes of representative recent live performances with piano accompaniment as required of the repertoire.

      All applicants should prepare the following for the live audition or CD/video recital CD:

      20-25 minutes of a well-chose program demonstrating musicianship and technique in a wide variety of styles, including a movement of Bach or Mozart (single movements possible). At least one slow and one fast standard orchestral excerpt is required. Accompaniment required (and provided if a live audition).
       

      Oboe:

      All applicants should prepare the following for the screening CD:

      10 minutes of representative recent live performances with piano accompaniment as required of the repertoire.


      All applicants should prepare the following for the live audition or CD/video recital CD:

      20-25 minutes of a well-chose program demonstrating musicianship and technique in a wide variety of styles. For example, Mozart or Strauss, Paris Conservatory, 20th-century. At least one slow and one fast standard orchestral excerpt is required. Accompaniment required (and provided if a live audition).

      Clarinet:

      All applicants should prepare the following for the screening CD:

      10 minutes of representative recent live performances with piano accompaniment as required of the repertoire.

      All applicants should prepare the following for the live audition or CD/video recital CD:

      20-25 minutes of a well-chose program demonstrating musicianship and technique in a wide variety of styles and in at least two genres (i.e. Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and 20th-century). At least one slow and one fast standard orchestral excerpt is required. Accompaniment required (and provided if a live audition).

      Saxophone:

      All applicants should prepare the following for the screening CD:

      10 minutes of representative recent live performances with piano accompaniment as required of the repertoire.

      All applicants should prepare the following for the live audition or CD/video recital CD:

      20 minutes of music representing the applicant's technical, melodic and interpretive abilities. Repertoire chosen should be of Grade IV or V level or higher. Please choose contrasting selections that demonstrate both your melodic ability and your technical range. Applicants may use a transcription (baroque or classical); however, at least one selection must be from the 20th-century/conservatory literature written for the saxophone. Accompaniment required (and provided if a live audition).

      Bassoon:

      All applicants should prepare the following for the screening CD:

      10 minutes of representative recent live performances with piano accompaniment as required of the repertoire.

      All applicants should prepare the following for the live audition or CD/video recital CD:

      20-25 minutes of a well-chose program demonstrating musicianship and technique in a wide variety of styles, including the first and second movements of the Mozart or Weber Concerto and a 20th century piece of your choice. At least one slow and one fast standard orchestral excerpt is required. Accompaniment required (and provided if a live audition).

       

      DMA - CONDUCTING:
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      Choral:

      1. A screening video: 20-25 minute standard VHS video or DVD of conductor with camera angle limited to side or front view of the conductor. Approximately 10-15 minutes should be of a recent rehearsal; the remainder of the video should be of a recent public performance.

      2. After receiving approval of the screening video, schedule an audition. Applicants should confer with the Director of Choral Activites (peklund1@unl.edu) regarding the literature to be conducted for the audition. The audition will include vocalizing the choir, rehearsing the choir, an interview with the choral faculty, and a brief singing exercise.

      Orchestral:

      1. A screening video (preferably submitted before January 15): 20-25 minute standard VHS video or DVD of conductor with camera angle limited to side or front view of the conductor. Approximately 10-15 minutes should be footage of a recent rehearsal; the reminder of the video should be footage of a recent public performance.

      2. After receiving approval of the screening video, schedule an audition. Applicants should confer with the Director of Orchestral Activities (twhite1@unl.edu) regarding the literature to be conducted for the audition. The audition will begin with a run-through of the selected repertoire, followed by 5-10 minutes of rehearsal (lead at the discretion of the applicant). For the remainder of the audition, the applicant will be coached in a "quasi-lesson format" by the Director of Orchestras.
      Wind Band:
      1. A screening video (preferably submitted before January 15): 20-25 minute standard VHS video or DVD of conductor with camera angle limited to side or front view of the conductor. Approximately 10-15 minutes should be footage of a recent rehearsal; the reminder of the video should be footage of a recent public performance.

      2. After receiving approval of the screening video, schedule an audition. Applicants should prepare all six movements of Percy Grainger's Lincolnshire Posy. Each applicant is responsible for securing his or her own full score (Fennell edition) and will perform a 20-minute audition with the UNL Wind Ensemble. The audition will begin with a run-through of the selected movements, followed by 5-10 minutes of rehearsal (lead at the discretion of the applicant). For the remainder of the audition, the applicant will be coached in a "quasi-lesson format" by the Director of Bands.

      3. Following the audition, a brief diagnostic exam designed to assess the applicant's aural skills, score reading and recognition, analytical skills, knowledge of terminology and transpositions, and familiarity with wind band literature (grades 1-6) will be administered. (The skills components of the exam will use Lincolnshire Posy as a point of departure.) Each applicant will have an interview with the Director of Bands and members of the band faculty to discuss the applicant's professional goals, philosophy, and experience.

       

      DMA - COMPOSITION:
      Click here to complete required form 

      Composition:

      Students interested in majoring in composition should:

      Submit a portfolio of 3-5 scores (hard copy & CD examples) in an array of media and genres to the School of Music admissions office. Portfolios should be submitted not less than 4 weeks in advance of the application portfolio priority deadline of February 15.