Oberlin College and Conservatory

Strings Audition Information

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Violin (BM)

Screening and Final Audition Requirements

l  one movement from a Bach solo sonata or partita

l  the first or last movement from a standard 19th or 20th century concerto

l  a study such as Dont, Gavinies, Rode, or Paganini

Either the Bach solo piece or the concerto movement should be memorized.

Screening Requirements (Artist Diploma)

l  first movement of a Mozart concerto with cadenza

l  one Paganini caprice

l  first two movements from any Bach solo sonata or the Chaconne from the D minor Sonata

l  one piece written after 1940

l  first movement from a standard 19th or 20th century concerto (for Shostakovich's Concerto No. 1 Op. 77, choose a fast movement)

Audition Requirements (Artist Diploma)

l  first movement of a Mozart concerto with cadenza

l  one Paganini caprice

l  first two movements from any Bach solo sonata or the Chaconne from the D minor Sonata

l  one piece written after 1940

l  complete 19th or 20th century concerto

Viola (BM)

Two or three selections—including movements from sonatas, concertos, and other solo pieces—of contrasting styles from standard repertoires; major and minor scales. Compositions chosen should demonstrate the applicant's ability in phrasing, sustained playing, and technical facility, including legato and staccato at varied tempi. 

NOTE: Major and minor scales are not required of students submitting a recorded audition.

Cello (BM)

l  one movement of a standard concerto - if you plan to play the 1st movement of either the Elgar: Concerto in E minor or Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 1, please also prepare the 2nd movement

l  one complete étude by a composer such as Duport, Popper, etc.

l  two movements of a suite by Bach

Compositions chosen should demonstrate the applicant's ability in phrasing, sustained playing, and technical facility, including legato and staccato at varied tempi.

Double Bass (BM)

Choose three of the following bulleted requirements:

l  two contrasting movements (or pieces) from the concerto, sonata, or similar repertoire

l  three contrasting excerpts from the standard orchestral repertoire

l  a solo piece composed after 1950 or an etude of choice

l  one or two movements from any of the Bach Cello Suites or any comparable piece or movement composed before 1750

Harp (BM)

Two contrasting solos of choice;

l  Level III/Advanced-Professional Warm-Up, from On Playing the Harp, by Yolanda Kondonassis, published by Carl Fische

l  One orchestral excerpt of choice. For more information, download the Harp Applicant Information Sheet or visit www.yolandaharp.com/teaching.

Harp Auditions: February 23, 2019

If you are applying to Oberlin only, the audition date will be February 23, 2019.  If you are applying only to Oberlin and that audition date is an impossibility, please contact Ms. Kondonassis' assistant at ykassistant@gmail.com. If you are applying to both CIM and Oberlin, your audition must be held at CIM (February 24, 2019) and must be scheduled through the CIM admissions office.  However, we encourage you to visit the Oberlin campus at some point.

Your CIM audition will be considered your Oberlin audition as well.

                                                                                                                                        Updated on 04/12/2019