UM School of Music, Theatre & Dance - University of Michigan

Woodwinds Audition Information

Bassoon (MM & SM)

Pre-Screening Requirements

Upload unedited recordings of the following as separate tracks:

• Mozart: Concerto in B-flat Major KV 191: Movement 1
  (complete, with cadenza; piano accompaniment optional but recommended)
• Three contrasting orchestral excerpts of your choice
• A movement of a solo work or étude of your choice

Audition Requirements

Prepare two contrasting solo works from the standard repertory, two contrasting etudes and four orchestral excerpts. The solo works should demonstrate facility in different styles and/or time periods, and the excerpts should be chosen to highlight your skills in lyrical playing, high register playing, fast staccato, complicated technique, etc.

Clarinet (MM & SM)

Pre-Screening Requirements

Upload unedited recordings of at least three contrasting pieces. Movements of larger works are acceptable.

Audition Requirements

Prepare a minimum of three compositions representing different styles from the basic clarinet repertoire and four orchestral excerpts of contrasting character.

Flute (MM & SM)

Pre-Screening Requirements

Upload unedited recordings of at least three contrasting pieces. Movements of larger works are acceptable.

Audition Requirements

Prepare four compositions from the standard solo flute repertoire and four orchestral excerpts representing your highest level of proficiency. One of the compositions must be memorized. Please include a movement of a concerto as one of your selections. You may perform only two movements from a composition with multiple movements. Choose from the contrasting styles of the Baroque, Classical, French, or Contemporary literature. Skills are assumed in performance techniques appropriate to the graduate level. Be prepared to sight-read.

Oboe (MM & SM)

Pre-Screening Requirements

This program does not pre-screen at this time. Please be sure to fill out the required portions of the Artistic Profile but you do not need to upload recordings unless you are doing a Recorded Audition.

Audition Requirements

Prepare three complete works from the major solo repertoire, including music from the Baroque, Classical, and 20th-Century periods. Also prepare four orchestral excerpts of your choice. Familiarity with all major and minor scales and thirds is assumed. If you audition in person, you may be tested in sight-reading skills.

Saxophone (MM & SM)

Pre-Screening Requirements

Upload unedited recordings of at least two contrasting pieces. Movements of larger works are acceptable.

Audition Requirements

Prepare two major works for saxophone that will demonstrate your highest level of musical and technical development. It is recommended that at least one of the selections include one of the following works: Albright, Sonata; Bolcom, Lillith; Dahl, Concerto; Harbison, Sonata; Berio, Sequenze IXB; Denisov, Sonata; J.A. Lennon, Symphonic Rhapsody.

Jazz improvisation skills are welcomed and you are encouraged to request a separate audition with our Jazz & Contemporary Improvisation faculty. If you wish to take advantage of this, please contact the Auditions Coordinator to arrange your audition.

If you have played a recital, please bring with you a CD, if available, to supplement your audition.

Bassoon, Clarinet, Flute, Oboe & Saxophone (DMA)

An audition, interview, or portfolio review is required for every Graduate program. An email confirmation of your audition/interview date will be sent after receipt and processing of all your application materials. Admission decisions will be made in March after the audition/interview, when your complete file has been reviewed.

All portfolios and pre-screening recordings must be submitted by December 1 and will only be forwarded to the faculty for review when the application and all transcripts and test scores (if applicable) have been received. Pre-screening and audition recordings must be uploaded using your Artistic Profile. A select number of applicants will be scheduled for an audition/interview following the portfolio/pre-screening review.

Live auditions/interviews are highly preferred, especially for merit-based award consideration. We understand, though, that this is not always possible. Most MM and SM applicants to instrumental or voice performance programs living 300 miles or more from Ann Arbor may instead upload a recorded audition, which must be uploaded by January 15th for merit-based scholarship consideration. Repertoire requirements for recorded auditions are the same as for live auditions. DMA applicants are required to audition live.

Be aware that applicants who audition/interview in Ann Arbor are given priority for financial awards. SMTD merit-based scholarship decision letters are e-mailed near the beginning of April.

Send audition repertoire changes via email to our Auditions Coordinator (music.auditions@umich.edu) before the week of your audition date so that these changes will be reflected in the materials that the faculty review at your audition. Otherwise you may simply announce your repertoire changes at your audition.

Placement tests are only administered to specific applicant groups. Orchestral conductors will take a written and aural theory exam as part of their audition. Otherwise, all placement tests are taken at fall orientation prior to the first week of class.

Application & Audition Feedback Policy

The staffs of the Admissions Office and the faculty are not able to provide individual application or audition/interview feedback. We ask your understanding and thank you in advance.

 Updated on 10/08/2018