Frost School of Music | University of Miami

Strings Audition Information

Prescreen is required on the following: Choral Conducting, Classical Flute, Classical Tuba, Classical Viola, Classical Violin, Jazz Instrumentalists/Vocalists, Keyboard Degrees, Orchestral/Wind Conducting

Violin

Prescreening and On-Campus Audition Requirements

Applicants for all degrees

Live audition is required. All works to be presented from memory. The audition should consist of a 20-25 minute performance of selections from each of the following:

• Complete major Concerto
• 1st & 2nd movements of Bach Sonatas in G, A, or C
• Caprice by Paganini or its equivalent in virtuosity

Viola

Prescreening and On-Campus Audition Requirements

Select two or three contrasting selections from the options below which best demonstrate your ability. 

Applicants to the Master of Music

Live audition or a recorded audition uploaded to SlideRoom. 

• Selected sections from the following:
• Prelude and dance movement from Bach Cello Suite 4, 5, or 6, or two contrasting movements from a Bach Violin Sonata or Partita
• Movement from a major twentieth or twenty-first-century Concerto
• An original work for viola of the candidates choice

Unaccompanied works and Concertos should be performed from memory.

Applicants to the Doctor of Musical Arts

A live audition is required. The audition should consist of 30-45 minutes of selected sections from the following:

• A complete Bach Cello Suite or Violin Sonata or Partita
• A complete major twentieth or twenty-first century Concerto
• An original work for viola of the candidates choice

Unaccompanied works and Concertos should be performed from memory.

Applicants to the Artist Diploma

• For students holding a Bachelor’s degree in performance, the requirements are the same as the Master of Music.
• For students holding a Master’s degree in performance, the requirements are the same as the Doctor of Musical Arts, but a video recording may be uploaded to SlideRoom if a live audition is not possible.

Cello

Applicants to the Master of Music

Live audition or a video recording uploaded to SlideRoom. 

• Two contrasting movements from Bach Cello Suite 4, 5, or 6
• The first movement from a major Concerto
• An additional work of the applicant’s choice

Unaccompanied works and Concertos are to be performed from memory.

Applicants to the Doctor of Musical Arts

Live audition is required. 

• Complete Bach Cello Suite
• Complete major Concerto
• Commercially published piece of the applicant’s choice

Unaccompanied works and Concertos are to be performed from memory.

Double Bass

Applicants to the Master of Music

Live audition or a video recording uploaded to SlideRoom. The audition should consist of 15-20 minutes of selections from the following:

• One movement from a Bach Cello Suite
• One movement from a major Concerto- Bottesini, Koussevitzky, etc.
• Orchestra excerpts:
• Mozart Symphony #40 movements 1 and 4
• Beethoven Symphony #5 Scherzo and Trio
• Strauss Ein Heldenleben #9 through #13
  
  

Unaccompanied works and Concertos are to be performed from memory.

Applicants to the Doctor of Musical Arts

Live audition is required. The audition should consist of 15-20 minutes of selections from the following:

• Bach Cello Suite- any edition
• Sonata or Modern composition
• Complete major Concerto
• An Orchestra excerpt from each major style:
• Baroque- Bach Orch. Suite #2 Polonaise and Badinerie
• Classical- any Mozart, Haydn, or Beethoven Symphony
• Romantic- Brahms Symphony #2: Movements 1 and 4 or Strauss Ein Heldenleben #9 and #77
  
  

Unaccompanied works and Concertos are to be performed from memory.

Applicants to the Artist Diploma

• For students holding a Bachelor’s degree in performance, the requirements are the same as the Master of Music.
• For students holding a Master’s degree in performance, the requirements are the same as the Doctor of Musical Arts, but a recorded audition may be uploaded to SlideRoom if a live audition is not possible.

Harp

Applicants for the Master of Music

Live audition or a video recording uploaded to SlideRoom. The audition must contain 15-20 minutes of selections from the following:

• A standard work from the Baroque or Classical period
• Bach
• Dussek
• Handel
• Mozart
• A standard work from the Romantic period
• Debussy
• Grandjany
• Ravel
• Tournier
• Two standard orchestra excerpts
• Berlioz (Symphonie Fantastique, Mvt 2)
• Britten (Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, cadenza)
• Ravel (Tzigane, cadenza)
• Tchaikovsky (any ballet cadenza)

Applicants to the Doctor of Musical Arts

A 30 to 45 minute program representing three of the following periods:

• Baroque
• Classical
• Romantic
• Contemporary

Applicants to the Artist Diploma

• For students holding a Bachelor’s degree in performance, the requirements are the same as the Master of Music.
• For students holding a Master’s degree in performance, the requirements are the same as the Doctor of Musical Arts.

Updated on 09/03/2018