Music Audition Requirements | Boston Conservatory at Berklee

Woodwinds Audition Information

Flute/optional piccolo, Oboe/optional English horn, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone

Note: Instrumental auditions must be performed without accompaniment. If you are submitting a recorded audition, please make sure that there is no accompaniment and that the recording has not been edited and does not contain reverb.

Flute

• Two movements of contrasting nature from the solo repertoire (e.g., Prokofiev sonata, Poulenc sonata, Mozart concerto)
• Two orchestral excerpts (e.g., Beethoven: Leonore Overture, Brahms: 4th Symphony, Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scherzo)

Optional Piccolo

• Two movements of contrasting nature from the solo repertoire (e.g., Vivaldi Piccolo concerto)
• Two orchestral excerpts (e.g., Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, Rossini: Semiramide Overture)

Oboe

• Two movements of contrasting nature from the solo repertoire (e.g., Mozart concerto, Vaughan-Williams concerto, Ferling etudes, Barrett etude)
• Two orchestral excerpts (e.g., Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra, Beethoven: 3rd Symphony, Rossini: La scala di setaOverture)

Optional English Horn

• Two movements of contrasting nature from the solo repertoire (e.g., Donizetti concertino)
• Two orchestral excerpts (e.g., Berlioz: Roman Carnival Overture; Dvôrák: New World Symphony, Largo; Debussy: Nocturnes, Fêtes)

Clarinet

• Two movements of contrasting nature from the solo repertoire (e.g., Mozart concerto, Weber: either concerto)
• Two orchestral excerpts (e.g., Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scherzo; Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol, Beethoven: Symphony No. 6, second movement)

Bassoon

• Two movements of contrasting nature from the solo repertoire (e.g., Mozart concerto)
• Two orchestral excerpts (e.g., Beethoven: 4th Symphony, Strauss: Don Juan, Stravinsky: Rite of Spring)

Saxophone

• Two movements of contrasting nature from the solo repertoire
• Two contrasting Ferling etudes (one fast, one slow)

Woodwinds with Auxiliary Instrument Specialization

Woodwinds with Auxiliary Instrument Specialization

Students interested in applying for graduate-level programs in woodwinds now have the option of formally declaring an auxiliary instrument specialization. The core curriculum for these specializations is nearly identical in structure to other graduate-level programs in woodwinds. Accepted students who declare auxiliary instrument specializations will note the specialized work in the applied area (private lessons, juries, and recitals), large ensembles (with casting priority on the specialized instrument), and the possibility of chamber music assignments. Applicants who wish to be considered for the specializations should adhere to the specific audition requirements below.

Flute with Piccolo Specialization

Flute

• Two contrasting movements of your choice from the standard solo repertoire (e.g., Mozart Concerti, Prokofiev Sonata, Poulenc Sonata, Bach Sonatas or Partita)

Piccolo

• Any Vivaldi piccolo concerto: one slow and one fast movement
• Four orchestral excerpts
• Your choice of opera overture by Rossini (e.g., La gazza ladra, La scala di seta Overture, Semiramide Overture)
• Your choice of Shostakovich Symphony 6, 8, or 10
• Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 4
• Berlioz, "Dance of the Sprites," from Damnation of Faust

Oboe with English horn Specialization

Oboe

• Two contrasting movements of your choice from the standard solo repertoire (e.g., Mozart Concerto, Vaughn-Williams Concerto, Strauss Concerto)

English horn

One of the following solo works:

• J.S. Bach, Cantata #1, aria "Wie schön leuchtet"
• Donizetti, Concertino for English horn

Three orchestral excerpts:

• Berlioz, Roman Carnival Overture: all the passages from the Andante Sostenuto section
• Debussy, Nocturnes Movt. 2 (Fêtes): the first passage and figures 2-4 and 14-18
• Rodrigo, Concierto de Aranjuez: Adagio

Clarinet with Bass Clarinet Specialization

Clarinet

• Two contrasting movements of your choice from the standard solo repertoire (e.g., Mozart Concerto, Weber Concerti, Nielsen Concerto)

Bass Clarinet

• One movement of a J. S. Bach cello suite (original or transposed keys)
• One contemporary solo piece of your choice (e.g., Elliott Carter: "Steep Steps"; Loevendie: "Duo"; Isang Yun: "Monologue")

Your choice of two of the following orchestral excerpts:

• Ravel, La Valse
• Stravinsky, Rite of Spring
• Grand Canyon Suite
• Shostakovich, Violin Concerto
• Ravel, Daphnis and Chloé, Suite No.2

Bassoon with Contrabassoon Specialization

Bassoon

• Two contrasting movements of your choice from the standard solo repertoire (e.g., Mozart Concerto, Weber Concerto, Tansman Sonata)

Contrabassoon

Complete orchestral parts for the following works:

• Ravel, Mother Goose Suite
• Ravel, Piano Concerto for the Left Hand
• Brahms, Symphony No. 1
• Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5

Multiple Woodwinds

All multiple woodwind applicants should demonstrate ability on at least three different woodwind family instruments (i.e. no multi-clarinets, no multi-saxes). For the applicant’s primary instrument, the applicant should prepare two contrasting movements from the standard repertoire. For every other instrument presented, prepare a work(s) that demonstrates current levels of technical and musical proficiency of at least 5 minutes in duration per instrument.

If unable to attend a live audition, applicants may submit a recorded audition. Please make sure that on the recording there is no accompaniment and that the recording has not been edited and does not contain reverb.

Updated on 09/17/2018