Audition and Portfolio Requirements | Lamont School of Music

Guitar & Harp Audition Information

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

LIVE AUDITION

Applicants will preference their top two (2) audition dates for a live audition in Denver on the Lamont application. All auditions are approximately 20 minutes in length. The applicant will choose one of the prepared works to perform. The faculty will choose the second of the prepared works and possibly an additional work as well.

Applicants unable to travel to Denver

While Lamont faculty prefer to have applicants audition on campus, those unable to travel to Denver for a live audition may submit an unedited video audition in lieu of the on-campus audition. Recordings received after January 15 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This video should be uploaded through the Lamont application.

AREA-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Guitar, Harp

GUITAR

Undergraduate (BM and BA)

1. Allemande and Bourrée from J.S. Bach's Lute Suite in E minor BWV 996. Any good edition is acceptable; one suitable edition is Johann Sebastian Bach, The Solo Lute Works, ed. Frank Koonce (2nd edn, San Diego 2002: Neil A. Kjos Music Company). If you are unable to prepare these pieces for any reason, contact the Chair of Guitar and Harp ahead of your audition to discuss a suitable alternative: jonathan.leathwood@du.edu.
2. One study from the following:
• Fernando Sor, 12 Studies, op. 6: nos. 1, 2, 8
• Fernando Sor, 24 Progressive Lessons, op. 31: nos. 16, 19, 20, 21
• Fernando Sor, 24 Easy Exercises, op. 35: nos. 13, 17, 22
• Matteo Carcassi, 25 Etudes Mélodiques et Progressives, Op. 60: nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 13 16, 17
3. One work of your own selection, demonstrating your technical and musical maturity
4. One three-octave major and one three-octave melodic minor scale of your choice
5. Sight reading, to be selected at the audition

Graduate (MM and certificate in performance)

1. One movement from J.S. Bach's solo lute, violin, or cello sonatas, suites, or partitas (excluding the Allemande and Bourrée from the Lute Suite in E minor, BWV 996)
2. Two solo pieces of your choice, different in character and style, demonstrating your technical and musical maturity
3. Major and melodic minor scales in all keys, in three octaves where possible; one major and one minor scale will be requested by the auditioning panel
4. Sight reading, to be selected at the audition

HARP

Undergraduate (BM and BA)

1. Two standard works of contrasting style demonstrating highest technical and artistic abilities (Grandjany Variations on a Theme of Haydn, Glinka Nocturne, Nina Rota Saraband e Tocatta, etc.). Memory required.
2. Orchestral excepts:
1. Rimsky-Korsakov, Capriccio Espagnol cadenza
2. Choose one of the following:
• Britten, Young Person's Guide Cadenza and Fugue
• Verdi, La Forza del Destino Overture
3. Sight-reading

Graduate (MM and certificate in performance)

1. Choose one of the following
• A transcription or original piece or movement of a work by a member of the Bach family. Memory required.
• A movement of a standard concerto (Mozart Flute and Harp concerto, Handel Concerto in B flat, Debussy Danses, etc), accompaniment not required. Memory required.
2. Two works of contrasting style demonstrating highest technical and artistic abilities 

(Scarlatti Sonata, Spohr Fantasie, Salzedo Scintilation, Grandjany Rahpsodie, etc.). Memory required.

3. Orchestral Excerpts:

1.               Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique

2.               Choose one of the following:

§  Ravel, Tzigane cadenza

§  Donizetti, Lucia di Lammermoor

§  Straus, Danse de Salomé

                  Sight reading

Updated on 08/23/2018