School of Music | College of Fine Arts - Boston University

Strings Audition Information

Prescreening

Applicants to the following programs and instruments need to submit a prescreening video recording or portfolio for review before they can be invited to a live audition or interview.

• Applicants to cello, double bass, flute, percussion, piano, trumpet, violin, or voice regardless of degree or program
• Graduate Composition majors
• All applicants to the Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance
• All applicants to the Artist Diploma

Prescreening recordings and portfolios are due by December 1. Applicants will be notified of prescreening results in early January.

Violin (MM) and Performance Diploma (PD)

Prescreen & Live audition Repertoire

The repertoire for the prescreening and live audition is the same.

Applicants should prepare one movement from each of the following:

• An unaccompanied Bach sonata or partita.
• A standard concerto.
• A standard sonata with piano (preferably from a different style period).
• A virtuoso show piece.

We strongly suggest memorization for the Bach, the concerto, and the show piece.

Accompanists are provided for violin auditions in Boston. Applicants should bring legible and easily managed piano scores to the audition. This can be from a book, a separately bound copy, or double-sided music in a binder. It is not necessary to send scores in advance.

Violin (DMA)

Prescreen & Live audition Repertoire

The repertoire for the prescreening and live audition is the same.

Applicants should prepare the following:

• A complete unaccompanied Bach sonata or partita.
• A complete standard concerto.
• A standard sonata with piano (preferably from a different style period).
• A virtuoso show piece.

We strongly suggest memorization for the Bach, the concerto, and the show piece.

Accompanists are provided for violin auditions in Boston. Applicants should bring legible and easily managed piano scores to the audition. This can be from a book, a separately bound copy, or double-sided music in a binder. It is not necessary to send scores in advance.

Violin (AD)

Prescreen & Live audition Repertoire

The repertoire for the prescreening and live audition is the same.

Applicants should prepare each of the following:

• A complete unaccompanied Bach sonata or partita.
• A complete standard concerto.
• A standard sonata with piano (preferably from a different style period).
• A virtuoso show piece.

We strongly suggest memorization for the Bach, the concerto, and the show piece.

Artist diploma applicants are required to provide their own pianist for Boston auditions.

Viola (MM) and Performance Diploma (PD)

Live Audition Repertoire

Applicants should prepare one movement from each of the following:

• An unaccompanied Bach Suite.
• A standard concerto (Walton, Hindemith, Bartok, or the equivalent).
• A Romantic or a 20th-century sonata with piano.

We strongly suggest memorization for the Bach and the concerto.

Accompanists are provided for viola auditions in Boston. Applicants should bring legible and easily managed piano scores to the audition. This can be from a book, a separately bound copy, or double-sided music in a binder. It is not necessary to send scores in advance.

Viola (DMA)

Live Audition Repertoire

• A complete unaccompanied Bach suite.
• A complete Romantic or 20th-century sonata with piano.
• A complete standard concerto (Walton, Hindemith, Bartok, or the equivalent).

We strongly suggest memorization for the Bach and the concerto.

Accompanists are provided for viola auditions in Boston. Applicants should bring legible and easily managed piano scores to the audition. This can be from a book, a separately bound copy, or double-sided music in a binder. It is not necessary to send scores in advance.

Viola (AD)

Live Audition Repertoire

• A complete unaccompanied Bach suite.
• A complete Romantic or 20th-century sonata with piano.
• A complete standard concerto (Walton, Hindemith, Bartok, or the equivalent).

We strongly suggest memorization for the Bach and the concerto.

*Artist diploma applicants are required to provide their own pianist for Boston auditions.

Cello (MM) and Performance Diploma (PD)

Prescreen & Live Audition Repertoire

The repertoire for the prescreening and live audition is the same.

• One movement of an unaccompanied Bach suite.
• One movement of a standard concerto.
• One movement of a standard sonata with piano (preferably from a different style period than the Bach and concerto).

We strongly suggest memorization for the Bach and the concerto.

Accompanists

Accompanists are provided for cello auditions in Boston. Applicants should bring legible and easily managed piano scores to the audition. This can be from a book, a separately bound copy, or double-sided music in a binder. It is not necessary to send scores in advance.

Cello (DMA)

Prescreen & Audition Repertoire

The repertoire for the prescreening and live audition is the same.

• A complete unaccompanied Bach suite.
• A complete standard concerto.
• A complete standard sonata with piano (preferably from a different style period than the Bach and concerto).

We strongly suggest memorization for the Bach and the concerto.

Accompanists

Accompanists are provided for cello auditions in Boston. Applicants should bring legible and easily managed piano scores to the audition. This can be from a book, a separately bound copy, or double-sided music in a binder. It is not necessary to send scores in advance.

Cello Artist Diploma (AD)

Prescreen & Live Audition Repertoire

The repertoire for the prescreening and live audition is the same.

• A complete unaccompanied Bach suite.
• A complete standard concerto.
• A complete standard sonata with piano (preferably from a different style period from the Bach and concerto

We strongly suggest memorization for the Bach and the concerto.

Accompanists

Artist diploma applicants are required to provide their own pianist for Boston auditions.

Double Bass (MM) and Performance Diploma (PD)

Prescreen Repertoire:

• A movement from Bach Cello Suites
• A movement from the standard solo literature, OR the 1st Movement from a standard bass concerto, including the published cadenza
• Three (3) standard orchestral excerpts.

Live Audition:

• A movement from Bach Cello Suites
• 1st Movement from a standard bass concerto, including the published cadenza
• Three (3) standard orchestral excerpts
• Any solo piece of the applicants choosing

Memorization is not required.

Double Bass (DMA)

Prescreen & Live Audition Repertoire

The repertoire for the prescreening and live audition is the same.

• A complete unaccompanied Bach suite.
• A complete standard concerto.
• A complete sonata.
• Standard orchestral excerpts of contrasting tempi and styles.

Memorization is not required.

Double Bass (AD)

Prescreen & Live Audition Repertoire

The repertoire for the prescreening and live audition is the same.

• A complete unaccompanied Bach suite.
• A complete standard concerto.
• A complete sonata.
• Standard orchestral excerpts of contrasting tempi and styles.

Memorization is not required.

Harp (MM) and Performance Diploma (PD)

Live Audition Repertoire

Applicants must be prepared to perform three compositions, one from the Baroque or Classical period, one from the Romantic period, and one from the Contemporary period. Applicants may also offer orchestral excerpts.

Harp (DMA)

Live Audition Repertoire

Applicants should prepare material equivalent to a master’s-level recital program.

Updated on 09/24/2018