Auditions | College of Music | University of Colorado Boulder

Strings Audition Information

Violin

Pre-Screening Recordings

Pre-screening recordings are not required, but strongly recommended for all undergraduate string applicants. Recordings must be submitted via your application checklist page on the CU Boulder Admissions page by Dec. 1. Audio and/or video recordings are accepted; however, video recordings are preferred. Pre-screening repertoire is the same as those for the live audition (see each individual instrument below). A maximum of 20 minutes is satisfactory.

Audition Requirements

Please prepare the following repertoire for violin auditions:       

• A movement of a standard concerto

• A movement of a Bach solo sonata or Partita

• Additional piece of applicant's choice

Note: Violin applicants should request in their “College of Music Essay” their preference for the violin professor with whom they would like to study.

Live auditions are strongly preferred. In the live audition, memorization of works such as the concerto and Bach is required (only exceptions are for BME and BA applicants). Students who are unable to travel to Boulder for a live audition may submit a high-quality recorded audition. Please see the Recorded Audition Guidelines for information on submitting a recording.

Viola

Pre-Screening Recordings

Pre-screening recordings are not required, but strongly recommended for all undergraduate string applicants. Recordings must be submitted via your application checklist page on the CU Boulder Admissions page by Dec. 1. Audio and/or video recordings are accepted; however, video recordings are preferred. Pre-screening repertoire is the same as those for the live audition (see each individual instrument below). A maximum of 20 minutes is satisfactory.

Audition Requirements

Please prepare the following repertoire for viola auditions:       

• A movement of a standard concerto
• A movement of a Bach Solo Suite
• Additional piece of applicant's choice

Live auditions are strongly preferred. In the live audition, memorization of works such as the concerto and Bach is required (only exceptions are for BME and BA applicants). Students who are unable to travel to Boulder for a live audition may submit a high-quality recorded audition. Please see the Recorded Audition Guidelines for information on submitting a recording.

Cello

Pre-Screening Recordings

Pre-screening recordings are not required, but strongly recommended for all undergraduate string applicants. Recordings must be submitted via your application checklist page on the CU Boulder Admissions page by Dec. 1. Audio and/or video recordings are accepted; however, video recordings are preferred. Pre-screening repertoire is the same as those for the live audition (see each individual instrument below). A maximum of 20 minutes is satisfactory.

Audition Requirements

Please prepare the following repertoire for cello auditions:       

• A movement of a standard concerto
• A movement of a Bach Solo Suite
• Additional piece of applicant's choice

Live auditions are strongly preferred. In the live audition, memorization of works such as the concerto and Bach is required (only exceptions are for BME and BA applicants). Students who are unable to travel to Boulder for a live audition may submit a high-quality recorded audition. Please see the Recorded Audition Guidelines for information on submitting a recording.

Double Bass

Pre-Screening Recordings

Pre-screening recordings are not required, but strongly recommended for all undergraduate string applicants. Recordings must be submitted via your application checklist page on the CU Boulder Admissions page by Dec. 1. Audio and/or video recordings are accepted; however, video recordings are preferred. Pre-screening repertoire is the same as those for the live audition (see each individual instrument below). A maximum of 20 minutes is satisfactory.

Audition Requirements

Please prepare the following repertoire for double bass auditions:       

• One movement from a double bass concerto


o    (Bottesini, Capuzzi, Dittersdorf, Dragonetti, Koussevitsky, Sperger, Vanhal)

                  One movement from a baroque sonata or from a Bach cello suite


                  One standard orchestral excerpt

o    (Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Strauss, Tchaikovsky)

Live auditions are strongly preferred. In the live audition, memorization of works such as the concerto and Bach is required (only exceptions are for BME and BA applicants). Students who are unable to travel to Boulder for a live audition may submit a high-quality recorded audition. Please see the Recorded Audition Guidelines for information on submitting a recording.

Harp

Pre-Screening Recordings

Pre-screening recordings are not required, but strongly recommended for all undergraduate string applicants. Recordings must be submitted via your application checklist page on the CU Boulder Admissions page by Dec. 1. Audio and/or video recordings are accepted; however, video recordings are preferred. Pre-screening repertoire is the same as those for the live audition (see each individual instrument below). A maximum of 20 minutes is satisfactory.

Audition Requirements

Please prepare the following repertoire for harp auditions:       

• Two contrasting pieces
• One orchestral excerpt

Live auditions are strongly preferred. In the live audition, memorization of works such as the concerto and Bach is required (only exceptions are for BME and BA applicants). Students who are unable to travel to Boulder for a live audition may submit a high-quality recorded audition. Please see the Recorded Audition Guidelines for information on submitting a recording.

Updated on 08/22/2018