Auditions | College of Music | University of Colorado Boulder

Woodwinds Audition Information

Flute

Pre-Screening Recordings

All non-Colorado resident applicants must submit a high quality recording. Recordings must be submitted via your application checklist page on the CU Boulder Admissions page. Recordings will not be reviewed until both a CU-Boulder and College of Music application has been received. 

Live auditions will be granted to applicants chosen from these recordings.

Required Pre-Screening Repertoire

• Mozart: Concerto in G major, K. 313, or D major, K. 314 – 1st movement (exposition only)
• One contrasting piece from the standard flute literature 
• Two standard orchestral excerpts 

Note: It is recommended that you record these selections with a high quality microphone. Piano accompaniment is encouraged. If you would like to include a piece of your choice as the third track, these will be listened to. Supporting materials such as a resume or biography are also welcomed.

Deadlines for submitting the application and recording are as follows: 

• Fall applicants - December 1
• Spring applicants - October 1

Live Audition Requirements

Students invited to the in-person auditions will be notified of their acceptance to the auditions on or before January 15th. Live auditions repertoire for all auditioning flutists including Colorado residence:

• Mozart: Concerto in G major, K. 313, or D major, K. 314 – complete first and second movements plus cadenza
• One contrasting piece 
• Two standard orchestral excerpts

(Memorization is encouraged)

1. Colorado Residents
• Applicants are urged and encouraged to attend a Studio Class and a free trial lesson prior their audition.  The audition will be a formal ten-minute slot in front of the woodwind faculty.
2. Non-Residents
• Applicants travelling from out-of-town will be assigned a ten-minute audition and are encouraged to stay through the evening to meet with Professor Jennings for a mini-lesson.

Live auditions are strongly preferred. 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.

Clarinet

Preliminary recording

Preliminary recordings (DVD video is preferred) are recommended but not required. Pre-recordings must be submitted online via your application checklist page on the CU Boulder Admissions page or via mail (postmarked) on or before Dec. 1.

All applicants for every degree program in clarinet are encouraged to submit a preliminary recording of the highest quality possible.  This will be auditioned on an ADVISORY basis.  This will not prevent applicants from auditioning further if they so wish; the intention is to advise the applicant if they are of a suitable standard.  Your preliminary recording is welcome any time prior to the deadline and will be listened to as soon as possible (Submitting your recording earlier may facilitate arrangement of travel to the live audition).  Repertoire required for the preliminary recording is:

• Weber Concertino, Op 26 The first two pages, through variation II, with the sixteenth notes
• One Rose Etude of your choice from the 32 or 40 etudes for clarinet
• Optional: Orchestral Excerpts of your choice (2-4)

It is preferred that this recording include piano accompaniment. If mailing, please label clearly and mail to the Undergraduate Studies office.

Audition Requirements

Auditions, for at least two of the woodwind faculty, are scheduled at approximately 10-minute intervals. Applicants are requested to stay for individual interviews with Professor Silver later in the day. Audition repertoire should include two selections of contrasting style; for example: one selection could be slow and melodic and the other could be more technically oriented. You should demonstrate your strengths, and take into consideration the short time allowed for your audition. You may include orchestral excerpts as well.

Recorded Auditions

Live auditions are strongly preferred. 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.

Accompanists

If you wish to use a pianist, Professor Silver can supply names and contact information of suitable pianists in the area. Due to college-wide auditions happening concurrently and a shortage of suitable personnel, we regret we cannot provide accompanists.

Oboe

Audition Requirements

Please be prepared to play from among the following during your ten-minute assigned time:

• Repertoire

o    Two selections in contrasting styles, chosen to best demonstrate the ability of the student.These selections should be from different pieces.

o    One selection may be from a standard etude book or method, such as Barret, Ferling, Sellner, Rubank, Brod, etc.

                  Scales

o    Major scales

·         Two octaves: Chromatic, B-flat, B, C, D-flat, D (if possible, E-flat and E)

·         One octave and a fifth: E-flat, E, F, G-flat, G (if possible, A-flat and A)

·         One octave: A-flat, A

o    Minor scales: at the current capability level of the student.

Live auditions are strongly preferred. 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.

Preliminary Recording

As an option, applicants may submit a preliminary recording that will be evaluated on an advisory basis. Please note that this is not a “preliminary round” that prevents an applicant from auditioning further. This recording should be postmarked by December 15 to enable sufficient time for evaluation before the audition.

Bassoon

Preliminary Recording/Pre-Audition

Either a preliminary recording (video is preferred) or a pre-audition is recommended (but not required). The recording must be submitted online via your application checklist page on the CU Boulder Admissions page. The deadline for submission of a recording or for scheduling a pre-audition is December 1. The preliminary recording/pre-audition will be used only for advisory purposes.

Repertoire for both the preliminary recording and pre-audition should include your choice from etudes (Weissenborn Bassoon Method or Milde Concert Studies Book I or II), and a movement from a solo work (with or without piano). Accompaniment is not required.

Live Audition Requirements

Students may choose a live or recorded audition, however a live audition is strongly preferred. Repertoire must include a minimum of three contrasting movements from the list of works below. Other repertoire may be considered. Please contact Professor Ishikawa at ishikawa@colorado.edu for approval of repertoire other than that listed below. Applicants must prepare a complete movement of a work. The audition committee will select sections from each movement for the live audition. Cadenzas are not required. The total length of a live audition is 10 minutes.

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. Requirements for a recorded audition are identical to a live audition. For recorded auditions, editing within a movement is prohibited. Any indication of editing may disqualify an applicant from admission. The recording (audio, or video) must be in a digital format with high quality audio. Please note that most consumer video recorders, HD or standard, have poor audio quality and may not be suitable for producing audition materials.

Audition Repertoire

• Antonio Vivaldi, first, or third movement of any concerto
• G.P. Telemann, Sonata in F minor – any movement
• François Devienne, Sonata for Bassoon, Op. 24, No. 3, or No. 4 – any movement
• W. A. Mozart, Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra, movement 1
• Carl Maria von Weber, Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra, movement 3
• Carl Maria von Weber, Andante and Hungarian Rondo
• Eugene Bozza, Recit Scicilienne et Rondo
• Burrell Phillipps, Concert Piece for Bassoon and Orchestra, movement 1
• Ludwig Milde, Concert Studies Books I, any selection
• Ludwig Milde, Concert Studies Books II, any selection

Saxophone

Audition Requirements

Please prepare two or three contrasting works with or without accompaniment. You should prepare approximately 10-15 minutes of music.

• Recommended music (not limited to the list below)

o    Classical

Bernard Heiden - Sonata (Mvts. I and/or II)
Glazounov - Concerto (to #16 or more)
Bozza - Aria
Eccles - Sonata
Maurice - Tableaux de Provence (one or more of mvts. I-IV)
Voxman or Ferling Etudes to supplement above

• Jazz (Optional; it does not hurt your chances of acceptance if you do not play jazz.)

Transcribed solos - Charlie Parker - Omnibook or other

It is not recommended that you perform with an Aebersold recording for your audition.

Additional Requirements

• You “may” be asked to play a scale or two that demonstrates your full range (chromatic scale included).

Accompanists

• Accompanists for works that include piano are encouraged though not required. Most auditions are held without a pianist. If you choose to perform with piano you must bring your own accompanist. 

Recorded Auditions

Live auditions are strongly preferred. 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.

Your preliminary recording is welcome any time prior to February 1st and will be listened to promptly. Submitting earlier may facilitate timely arrangement of travel to the live audition if you so choose. Repertoire should follow the guidelines listed above. Mail preliminary recordings to:       

Tom R. Myer
University of Colorado Boulder
College of Music, UCB 301
Boulder, CO 80309-0301

Updated on 08/22/2018