School of Music | College of Fine Arts - Boston University

Keyboard Audition Information

Prescreening

Applicants to the following programs and instruments need to submit a prescreening video recording or portfolio for review before they can be invited to a live audition or interview.

• Applicants to cello, double bass, flute, percussion, piano, trumpet, violin, or voice regardless of degree or program
• Graduate Composition majors
• All applicants to the Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance
• All applicants to the Artist Diploma

Prescreening recordings and portfolios are due by December 1. Applicants will be notified of prescreening results in early January.

Piano (MM and Performance Diploma)

Prescreen & Live audition Repertoire

The repertoire for the prescreening and live audition is the same.

• One work from the Baroque.
• One work from the Classical.
• One work from either the Romantic or Contemporary period.

Prescreening Only:

ONLY in the case of multi-movement works, the following is acceptable in prescreening video:

• Several short movements from a Baroque suite.
• Any Bach Prelude and Fugue must be presented in its entirety.
• Two contrasting movements form of a Classical sonata. (i.e. the first movement and contrasting slow movement; or, if the first movement is a slow movement, please submit a contrasting fast movement)
• A single movement from a large Romantic or Contemporary piece.

Complete works should be presented for the live audition. All works should be performed from memory. Concerto literature is not appropriate for the live audition.

Piano (DMA)

The repertoire for the prescreening and live audition is the same.

Applicants should prepare material equivalent to a master’s-level recital program.

Prescreening Only:

ONLY in the case of multi-movement works, the following is acceptable for a prescreening video:

• Several short movements from a Baroque suite.
• Any Bach Prelude and Fugue must be presented in its entirety.
• Two contrasting movements form of a Classical sonata. (i.e. the first movement and contrasting slow movement; or, if the first movement is a slow movement, please submit a contrasting fast movement)
• A single movement from a large Romantic or Contemporary piece.

Complete works should be presented for the live audition. Concerto literature is not appropriate for the live audition.

Piano (AD)

The repertoire for the prescreening and live audition is the same.

Applicants should prepare material equivalent to a master’s-level recital program.

Chamber music is not appropriate for the AD audition or prescreening recording. Concerto literature is not appropriate for the live audition.

Collaborative Piano (MM)

Prescreening

For the Master of Music prescreen, please present the following:

1. One German song
2. One French song
3. First movement of any Beethoven violin or cello sonata
4.  

All repertoire must be performed with a partner.

1. Solo piano work (can be single movement) of less than 10 minutes

Live Audition

Applicants must audition with all of the following repertoire. If requested, collaborative partners will be provided by the School. Applicants are urged to audition with their own collaborative partners whenever possible.

Vocal (Please prepare all songs in High Keys)

• Schubert Ganymed
• Brahms Wie Melodien
• Fauré La lune blanche lui dans les bois (from La Bonne Chanson)
• Debussy C’est l’extase (from Ariettes Oubliées)
• Barber St. Ita’s Vision (from Hermit Songs)

Instrumental (Please prepare complete sonatas)

• Beethoven Violin Sonata Op. 12 in D major
• Brahms Violin Sonata No. 2 in A major

Solo

• Work or movement less than 10 minutes in length from the classical or romantic repertoire; memorization not required.
• In addition, applicants will be asked to sight-read both vocal and instrumental literature.

Collaborative Piano (DMA)

Prescreening

For the Doctor of Musical Arts prescreen, please present the following:

1. Three songs of contrasting style and language
2. Two movements from the same or from different duo sonatas

All repertoire must be performed with a partner.

1. Solo piano work (can be single mvt) of less than 10 minutes

Selections must include repertoire from at least three of the following categories:

French / German / American / 20^th century

Live Audition

In the DMA program, collaborative pianists may choose to focus on either vocal or instrumental repertoire, or a combination of both. Audition repertoire choices reflect the intended focus. Applicants should choose one (either a. or b.) from each category. All songs should be prepared in the HIGH key.

Category 1

a. Beethoven Cello Sonata No.3 in A major
b. Schubert (prepare all:) Im Frühling Rastlose Liebe

Category 2

a. Brahms Cello Sonata No.2 in F major
b. Strauss (prepare all:) Cäcilie Glückesgenug

Category 3

a. Franck Violin Sonata
b. Debussy Trois Chansons de Bilitis

Category 4

a. Shostakovich Cello Sonata
b. Argento (prepare all:) Six Elizabethan Songs

Category 5

A movement or work of solo piano repertoire less than 10 minutes in length from the Classical, Romantic, or 20th-century repertoire; memorization not required.

In addition, applicants will be asked to sight-read both vocal and instrumental literature.

Organ (MM)

MM Repertoire

• A work by J.S. Bach (a large chorale prelude, trio sonata, or major prelude and fugue) or one of his contemporaries
• A major work from the Romantic repertoire
• A piece of contemporary music
• Applicants may also be asked to demonstrate other keyboard skills, although it is understood that a candidate may not have had much experience in this area.

Organ Master of Sacred Music (MSM)

MSM Repertoire

• A work by J.S. Bach (a large chorale prelude, trio sonata, or major prelude and fugue) or one of his contemporaries
• A major work from the Romantic repertoire
• A piece of contemporary music
• Candidates may also be asked to demonstrate other keyboard skills, although it is understood that a candidate may not have had much experience in this area.

For further details of the MSM program see the School of Theology website.

MSM Audition Options

Submit a Prescreening Recording by December 1st (accompaniment optional) in order to be considered for a Boston Audition*
• View the video recording guidelines

If you pass prescreening, the Boston audition dates are:
• February 2, 2018
• February 9, 2018

Organ (DMA)

DMA Repertoire

• A major work of J.S. Bach
• A work from before 1750
• A work from 1800 to 1900
• A work from after 1900 (until the present)

Of these, one should be lyrical, another brilliant, and they should represent at least two different nationalities.

Organ Artist Diploma (AD)

AD Repertoire

Applicants should prepare a 30-minute recital program demonstrating the applicant’s technique, musicality, scholarship, and artistry.

If you have any specific questions regarding repertory, please email Prof. Peter Sykes, Chair of Historical Performance.

*Artist diploma applicants are required to provide their own pianist for Boston auditions.

Harpsichord (MM) and Performance Diploma (PD)

MM/PD Repertoire

• A work by J.S. Bach.
• A work by an eighteenth-century French composer.
• A work from the seventeenth century.

Of the pieces listed above, one should be brilliant and another lyrical.

Harpsichord (DMA)

Live audition Repertoire

• A major work by J.S. Bach.
• A work by an eighteenth-century French composer.
• A work from the seventeenth century.
• A sonata by Scarlatti or Soler.

Of the pieces listed above, one should be brilliant and another lyrical.

Harpsichord (AD)

Live audition Repertoire

Applicants should prepare a 30-minute recital program demonstrating the applicant’s technique, musicality, scholarship, and artistry. Chamber music is not appropriate for AD auditions.

Updated on 09/24/2018