USC Thornton School of Music

Woodwinds Audition Information

BA, BM, MM, Graduate Certificate (GCRT), DMA

Bassoon

Piano accompaniment is NOT required. Audio or video recordings are acceptable for prescreen. Audition repertoire for all degree levels is the same for the live audition and prescreen recording.

• Three selections representing various stylistic periods of music. These selections should be full-length pieces chosen from the standard solo literature or standard etude books such as Weissenborn, Jancourt, Milde, or comparable excerpts from standard ensemble literature may also be included. If any of the selections are taken from a multi-movement sonata or concerto, applicants need only prepare one movement of the piece.
• All major and minor scales and sight reading may be tested at the live audition.

Clarinet

Piano accompaniment is NOT required. Audition repertoire for all degree levels is the same for the live audition and prescreen recording.

• Three selections representing various stylistic periods of music. These selections should be full-length pieces from the standard solo literature, although excerpts from ensemble literature may also be included. If any of the selections are taken from a multi-movement sonata or concerto, applicants need only prepare one movement of the piece. (Note: Video recording only for prescreen)

Flute

Piano accompaniment is NOT required. Audition repertoire for all degree levels is the same for the live audition and prescreen recording (video only).

• Mozart – Exposition of 1st and 2nd movements of Concerto in G Major or D Major – piano not necessary.
• One contrasting piece (solo flute or with optional piano)
• Two excerpts from the following list:
• Mendelssohn Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream – 2 measures before P to the end.
• Beethoven Leonore Overture No. 3 – measures 328–360.
• Brahms Symphony No. 4 – Last movement – measures 93–105.
• Debussy Afternoon of a Faun – measures 1–4

Oboe and Saxophone

Piano accompaniment is NOT required. Audio or video recordings are acceptable for prescreen.

• Prescreen Recording
• Two selections, in contrasting styles, from the standard solo repertoire

• Live Audition Repertoire
• Three selections representing various stylistic periods of music. These selections should be full-length pieces from the standard solo literature, although excerpts from ensemble literature may also be included. If any of the selections are taken from a multi-movement sonata or concerto, applicants need only prepare one movement of the piece.

Additional Information

Students auditioning for woodwinds and brass, may request that a pre-screen recording be considered in lieu of the live audition. It is extremely important to note, however, that only a recording which includes both the required pre-screen audition repertoire and the required live audition repertoire would be considered in lieu of a live audition. Recordings that do not include the required live audition repertoire will not be considered in lieu of a live audition. Only video recordings are accepted for Flute and Clarinet.

Important note

Undergraduate applications are not accepted for Spring admission to these programs unless the student is already enrolled at USC. All graduate applicants for spring admission are required to submit a pre-screen recording. Spring applicants will be notified via email regarding their prescreen decision.

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Updated on 08/15/2018