School of Music | College of Fine Arts - Boston University

Woodwinds 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.

Bassoon (MM) and Performance Diploma (PD)

Audition Repertoire

• Three contrasting movements from three different musical periods. At least one work should be from the major solo repertoire. A solo étude is acceptable for one of the selections. Accompaniment is not required.
• Three contrasting orchestral excerpts.
• Sight-reading may be requested.

Bassoon (DMA)

Audition Repertoire (Prescreen Required)

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

Bassoon Artist Diploma (AD)

Audition Repertoire (Prescreen Required)

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

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

Clarinet (MM) and Performance Diploma (PD)

Audition Repertoire

Applicants should prepare three contrasting works from the:

• Classical period.
• Romantic period.
• Contemporary period.

Orchestral excerpts can be substituted for one or two of the solo works.

Clarinet (DMA)

Audition Repertoire (Prescreen Required)

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

Clarinet Artist Diploma (AD)

Audition Repertoire (Prescreen Required)

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

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

Flute (MM) and Performance Diploma (PD)

Prescreen & Audition Repertoire

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

Applicants should prepare a movement of a sonata or concerto from four contrasting works and from the following eras:

• The Baroque
• The Classical
• The Contemporary
• Either the Romantic or the French School of the 1800s or mid-1900s (complete sonatas and concertos are not required)

Applicants should also prepare the major flute solos from of the following orchestral works:

• Ravel Daphnis et Chloe
• Mendelssohn A Midsummer Night’s Dream (scherzo)
• Debussy Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune (opening 4 bar solo, continue at rehearsal #2)
• Prokofiev, Peter and the Wolf, Opus 67 (opening solo)

Flute (DMA)

Prescreen & Audition Repertoire

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

Applicants should prepare material equivalent to a master’s-level recital program, including music from the Baroque Era, Classical Era (concertos are acceptable), French or Romantic Era, and a piece composed within the last 50 years. Pieces that demonstrate some knowledge and use of extended techniques would be welcome but are not required. Your selections should represent approximately 60 minutes of music and the committee may choose from this material.

Flute Artist Diploma (AD)

Prescreen & Audition Repertoire

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

Applicants should prepare material equivalent to a master’s-level recital program, including music from the Baroque Era, Classical Era (concertos are acceptable), French or Romantic Era, and a piece composed within the last 50 years. Pieces that demonstrate some knowledge and use of extended techniques would be welcome but are not required. Your selections should represent approximately 60 minutes of music and the committee may choose from this material.

Oboe (MM) and Performance Diploma (PD)

Audition Repertoire

• One piece from the Baroque or Classical period.
• One piece from the Romantic period.
• One contemporary piece.
• Orchestral excerpts

Oboe (DMA)

Audition Repertoire

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

Oboe Artist Diploma (AD)

Audition Repertoire

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

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

Saxophone (MM) and Performance Diploma (PD)

Audition Repertoire

Applicants should prepare three contrasting works from the:

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

Applicants may also offer orchestral excerpts suitable to his or her own instrument.

Saxophone (DMA)

Audition Repertoire

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

Saxophone Artist Diploma (AD)

Audition Repertoire

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

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

Updated on 09/25/2018