Audition and Portfolio Requirements | Lamont School of Music

Conducting audition Information

Fall 2019 audition will take place on: 02/02, 02/09, 02/16/2019 (Saturday)

Audition requirements are the same for master of music, certificate and artist diplomaapplicants.

Orchestral conducting (all levels) and artist diploma applicants must submit a pre-screening audition video by December 15.

Choral and wind conducting applicants for the master of music or certificate in conducting must submit the Graduate Application by January 15.

AREA-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Choral, Orchestral, Wind

CHORAL

In addition to the general University of Denver graduate application requirements (which include the TOEFL for the international students), choral conducting applicants must successfully complete a live conducting audition. 

Preliminary Round (for artist diploma only)

Upload 20 minutes of video showing the applicant conducting (no specific repertoire requirements; please include both concert and rehearsal footage).

For all programs

The live audition will consist of:

1. Audition conducting Lamont Chorale on Tuesday, February 12th or by appointment. Audition repertoire is to be determined. Please contact Dr. Catherine Sailer, Director of Choral Studies, for a list of audition pieces.
2. Interview with the Director of Choral Studies, Dr. Catherine Sailer on the day of the audition.
3. Written test to determine the candidate's knowledge of choral literature and score analysis skills on the day of the audition.

ORCHESTRAL

By December 15, 2018, in addition to the general University of Denver and Lamont graduate application requirements (which include the TOEFL for the international students), applicants must:

Preliminary Round

1. Provide a resume detailing previous conducting experiences.
2. Upload 3-6 videos of the applicant conducting (no specific repertoire requirements; concert footage preferred, but rehearsal footage acceptable).
3. Provide a written statement of the candidate's availability and preferences regarding the two final round audition dates listed below.
4. Optional: letters of recommendation from those who have seen the applicant conduct.

Important Note: Only candidates whose applications are 100% complete by December 15, 2018 will be considered for the final round.

Final Round

1. If accepted into the final round, take a conducting audition with the Lamont Symphony Orchestra on EITHER January 28, 2019 conducting Sibelius Symphony No. 2, 1st mvt. OR on March 4, 2019 conducting Bruckner Symphony No. 4 "Romantic", 4th mvt. Finale.
• Note: For the Sibelius, any edition should be fine. For the Bruckner, you must have the Haas edition (Kalmus A1193).
2. Interview with Professor Lawrence Golan (on the day of the audition between 9:30 and 10:30am).
3. Take a written test to determine the candidate's knowledge of the orchestra (on the day of the audition).

In preparation for the test, candidate should become intimately familiar with Norman Del Mar's book "The Anatomy of the Orchestra." Hint: Del Mar's writing style is such that he likes to state a basic principle, and then spend pages discussing the rare exceptions to that principle. The test will include questions about the basic principles, not the rare exceptions.

WIND

In addition to the general University of Denver and Lamont graduate application requirements (which include the TOEFL for the international students), applicants must:

Preliminary Round:

1. Provide a resume detailing previous conducting experience.
2. Submit 3 letters of recommendation from those who have seen the applicant conduct.
3. Upload a preliminary video recording of the applicant's conducting (no specific requirements).
4. Provide a preferred audition date (if invited for a live audition) and an alternate date.

If invited to the live audition, you will:

1. Conduct the Lamont Wind Ensemble. Please contact Dr. Joseph Martin directly for repertoire.
2. Interview with the Director of the Wind Ensemble, Dr. Joseph Martin on the day of the audition.
3. ​
4. Updated on 08/23/2018