The Hartt School - University of Hartford

Conducting Audition Information

The conducting audition at Hartt has four components:

1. Dictation exam (melodic, rhythmic, harmonic, piece identification).
2. Written exam testing your knowledge of instrumentation, orchestration, translations and terms, transpositions, harmonics, theory and counterpoint.
3. Interview, which may include keyboard playing and sight-reading.
4. Conducting audition, in two parts:  (1) read through, and (2) rehearsal.

To be considered for a conducting audition at The Hartt School, each applicant is asked to submit the following materials:

1. Curriculum vitae (education, teachers, master classes, and conducting experience).
2. A comprehensive list of works performed, and works studied.
3. A video of you in rehearsal, no more than fifteen minutes, with the camera positioned behind the ensemble, focused on the podium.
4. A video of you in performance, unedited (again, with camera behind ensemble).
5. A written analysis, ten to fifteen pages, analyzing one major piece from the wind ensemble or orchestral repertory.  Suggested works:

Grainger:               Lincolnshire Posy

Hindemith:            Symphony in Bb

Colgrass:               Winds of Nagual

Maslanka:             A Child’s Garden of Dreams

Haydn:                  Symphony no. 100, 101, 103 or 104

Mozart:                 Symphony no. 38, 39, 40 or 41

Beethoven:            Symphony no. 1, 3, 5 or 8

Brahms:                 Symphony no. 3, 4 or Haydn Variations

Tchaikovsky:        Symphony no. 4 or 6

Bartók:                  Concerto for Orchestra

Stravinsky:            Le sacre du printemps, Part I or II    

(The applicant may propose another work, subject to approval.)

Updated on 08/28/2018