Chicago College of Performing Arts | Roosevelt University

Strings Audition  Information

String Audition Requirements

For violin, viola, cello, and double bass, all repertoire composed unaccompanied must be played by memory. A score may be used for etudes or orchestral excerpts. It is strongly suggested that any repertoire composed with an accompaniment be performed with a piano accompaniment, but it is not required. The CCPA will not provide an accompanist, but applicants may bring their own if they wish.

VIOLIN

• Undergraduate (BM): One etude or caprice; one movement of a Bach Partita or Sonata for solo violin; a fast movement of a concerto.
• Graduate (MM): A caprice or short virtuoso piece; two movements of a Bach Partita or Sonata for solo violin; a fast movement of a concerto.
• Performance Diploma: A Paganini caprice; a Bach fuga or chaconne; a complete concerto with cadenza from one of the following: Bartok (#2), Berg, Brahms, Dvorak, Mendelssohn, Prokofiev (#1 or 2), Shostakovich (#1), Sibelius or Tchaikovsky.

VIOLA

• Undergraduate (BM): An etude; one movement of an unaccompanied Bach piece; a fast movement of a concerto.
• Graduate (MM): A fast movement of any major 20th-century viola concerto; two contrasting movements of an unaccompanied Bach piece; one other piece of the candidate’s choice.
• Performance Diploma: Three major works including a complete sonata or concerto.  If any composition is composed with accompaniment, the audition must be played with piano accompaniment.  At least two stylistic periods must be represented.

CELLO

• Undergraduate (BM) / Graduate (MM): Two contrasting movements of the same Bach Suite; a Popper Etude; the fast movement of a concerto such as the Dvorak, Lalo, Prokofiev Sinfonia Concertante (or work of similar difficulty).
• Performance Diploma: Three major works including a complete sonata or concerto.  If any composition is composed with accompaniment, the audition must be played with piano accompaniment.  At least two stylistic periods must be represented.

DOUBLE BASS

• Undergraduate (BM) and Graduate (MM): Two solo pieces of contrasting style, preferably including a movement of unaccompanied Bach and a fast movement from a concerto or a work of similar difficulty. Two standard excerpts representing two different composers selected from the following list: Mozart: Symphony No. 35, movement 1 or 4; Mozart: Symphony No. 40, movement 1 or 4; Beethoven: Symphony No. 5, movement 3; Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, movement 4; Brahms: Symphony No. 1, movement 1 or 4; Brahms: Symphony No. 2, movement 1 or 4; Strauss: Don Juan; Strauss: Ein Heldenleben. 
• Performance Diploma: Three majors works with piano accompaniment, including a complete sonata or concerto. At least two stylistic periods must be represented.
• All Orchestral Studies Applicants: First movement of a standard bass concerto, one movement from a Bach Cello Suite and one standard orchestral excerpt from each of the following composers:
• Beethoven: Symphony 3, 5, 7, or 9
• Mozart: Symphony 35, 39, or 40; or any opera
• Richard Strauss: Any tone poem or opera

HARP

• Undergraduate:
• Two of the following solo pieces or works of comparable difficulty:
• Prokofiev: Prelude in C
• Dussek: Sonata (Zabaleta arr.)
• Pescetti: Sonata in C minor
• Two of the following cadenzas:
• Nutcracker, "Waltz of the Flowers"
• Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Español
• Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
• Ravel: Cadenza from Piano Concerto in G
• Graduate:
• One of the following works:
• Handel: Concerto in B-flat
• Debussy: Danses Sacres et Profanes
• Ravel: Introduction et Allegro
• Mozart: Concerto for Flute and Harp, K. 299
• Two of the following excerpts:
• Donizetti: Solo and cadenza (in D major) from Lucia di Lammermoor
• Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
• Ravel: Cadenza from Tzigane
• Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Español
• Tchaikovsky: Cadenzas from Swan Lake
• Professional Diploma in Orchestral Studies: All five graduate excerpts listed above; a complete sonata or concerto
• Performance Diploma: Three major works, including a complete sonata or concerto. At least two stylistic periods must be represented.

Updated on 09/11/2018