Bienen School of Music - Northwestern University

Woodwinds Audition Information

Master of Music: Bassoon

For Final Audition:

Suggested Solo Selections:

• Milde étude from Concert Studies Book 2
• Mozart, Concerto K.191, First and Second movements
• St. Saëns Sonate, First and Second movements
• Any Vivaldi Concerto, First and Third movements

Orchestral Excerpts:

• Ravel, Bolero (solo)
• Stravinsky, Le sacre du printemps, opening and recap on C-flat
• Mozart, Le nozze di Figaro Overture, opening and recap (eighth note passages)
• Beethoven, Symphony No. 4, fourth movement (sixteenth note passages)
• Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 4, end of second movement

In addition: All major and harmonic minor scales and arpeggios for the entire range of the instrument (to high E)

Master of Music: Clarinet

Prescreening required: must be video recording

For Prescreening:

• Two contrasting études from the Rose 32 Études for Clarinet
• First movement from concerto by Mozart, Copland, or Nielsen
• One prepared piece of the applicant’s choice NOT listed above

For Final Audition:

• Entire concerto by Mozart, Copland, or Nielsen
• Minimum of two contrasting major pieces from the standard clarinet repertoire NOT listed above
• Selection of three or four orchestral excerpts of contrasting character

Master of Music: Flute

Prescreening required: video preferred

For Prescreening:

• Two contrasting works, one from the Baroque, Classical or Romantic style and one from the 20th or 21st century. If including a multi-movement work, only two contrasting movements from the work are required.
• Two contrasting orchestral excerpts

For Final Audition:

• Four works representing different styles from the standard repertoire. If including a multi-movement work, only two contrasting movements from the work are required.
• Four contrasting orchestral excerpts demonstrating both lyrical and technical skills.

In addition, possible sight-reading

Master of Music: Oboe

For Final Audition:

Suggested Solo Selections:

• Concerto by Cimarosa, Marcello, Handel, Mozart or Strauss
• Sonata by Telemann, Handel, Saint-Sans, or Hindemith
• Schumann, Three Romances
• Britten, Six Metamorphoses

In Addition: Two contrasting études by Barret or Ferling and standard orchestral excerpts of the applicant’s choice

Sight-reading may be required at the audition. 

Master of Music: Saxophone

Prescreening required: must be video recording

For Prescreening:

• Two contrasting études from: Bozza Etude Caprices, Lacour 28 Etudes After Messiaen, Lauba Neuf Etudes, Koechlin Etudes for Saxophone and Piano, Karg-Elert 25 Capricen und Sonate, or other etudes of similar difficulty
• Three works or movements of contrasting styles, including at least one work from the contemporary repertoire and one work from the standard repertoire

For Final Audition:

• All major and harmonic minor scales, full range; major 3rds and 4ths
• Three complete works of contrasting styles. One should be from the standard repertoire, and one should be from the contemporary repertoire

Updated on 09/05/2018