Crane School of Music | SUNY Potsdam

Strings Audition Information

Violin

Please prepare two contrasting works (one showing legato playing, and one faster). You must be prepared to perform a randomly selected three-octave scale in both major and melodic minor, as well as a short sight-reading excerpt. Appropriate repertoire examples include:

- Concerto movements at the level of Haydn, Kabalevsky, Mozart, Barber, Bruch, Mendelssohn, or Lalo

- Any movement from a Solo Sonata or Partita by J.S. Bach (except the Gigue from the E Major Partita)

- Other solo pieces, sonatas, or concerti of comparable difficulty are also acceptable. 

- Choosing two works from the vast violin repertoire can be tough, so if you have any questions, please contact Prof. Liesl Schoenberger Doty 

at dotyls@potsdam.edu or Dr. Sarah Hersh at hershss@potsdam.edu. 

Viola

Please prepare two contrasting works (one showing legato playing, and one faster). You must be prepared to perform a randomly selected three-octave scale in both major and melodic minor, as well as a short sightreading excerpt. Appropriate repertoire examples include:

- Concertos by J.C. Bach, Bartok, Bloch, Handel, Hindemith, Hoffmeister, Hummel, Stamitz, Vaughan Williams or Walton

- Sonatas by Bloch, Brahms, Clarke, Hindemith, Hummel, Marcello, Marais, Milhaud, Shostakovitch or Vivaldi

- Any movement (except the Minuet/Bourrée) of a solo suite by J.S. Bach

Please note that the Telemann Viola Concerto is not acceptable repertoire for the audition

For questions about repertoire, please contact Dr. Shelly Tramposh at tramposh@potsdam.edu.

Cello

Please prepare two contrasting works (one lyrical in style, showing legato playing, and one faster piece, showing your technical abilities), including one movement of a concerto. You must be prepared to perform a randomly selected three-octave scale in both major and melodic minor, as well as a short sightreading excerpt. Appropriate repertoire examples include:

- Concerti: Haydn in C, Boccherini in B-Flat Major, Lalo, Goltermann No. 5, Saint-Saëns No. 1, Romberg No. 2 and Boëllmann Symphonic Variations.

- Sonatas: Boccherini, Brahms in E Minor, Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Vivaldi.

- Contrasting pieces: The Swan, Vocalise, Prayer, Intermezzo by Granados, or any “showpieces” by Popper. Bach Solo Cello Suites I, II or III only (Prel ude, Allemande, Courante or Gigue preferred).

For questions about repertoire, please contact Dr. Marie-Élaine Gagnon at gagnonmc@potsdam.edu.

Double Bass

Please prepare two contrasting movements or pieces, one fast/technical and the other slow/lyrical. Example works include:

Marcello, Sonata in E Minor, Sonata in G Minor, Sonata in F Major, or Sonata in A Minor; Simandl, Tempo de Polacca; Capuzzi, Concerto in D Major; Corelli, Sonata in D Minor; Vivaldi, Sonata No. 3 in A Minor or Sonata No. 5 in E Minor; Galliard, Sonata in F Major; Weinstein, Contemporary Modal Solos.

Harp (BA)

- A representative etude such as Bochsa, Quarante Etudes Faciles, Op. 318

 

• - Two contrasting solo works, illustrating different styles and techniques

 

• - At least one of the works should be performed from memory

Harp (MM)

• - One orchestral cadenza
• - Three contrasting solo works or movements of works, illustrating different styles and techniques
• - At least one of the works should be performed from memory

In addition, sight-reading is required during all harp auditions.

                                                                                                                                             Updated on 04/01/2019