Audition Requirements | Mason Gross School of the Arts

Keyboard Audition Information

Application Deadlines
Rutgers University Graduate School Application due December 1, 2018
Pre-screening Video (on-line submission) due December 15, 2018
Graduate School Supporting Documents (transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc.) due February 1, 2019

Application Procedure
1. Submit the Rutgers University application
2. After the university application is received, instructions for the submission of the supplemental application will be sent via email. Follow these instructions.
3. After the supplemental application and audition fee payment are received, instructions for the submission of the prescreening video will be sent via email. See prescreening requirements below.
4. After all prescreening videos have been evaluated, applicants will be contacted with the results by mid-January. Applicants whose video performance are approved will be invited to campus for a live audition.

Piano Performance (MM, AD, DMA)

Prescreen Requirements:
All applicants to graduate programs in Piano Performance (Master of Music, Artist Diploma, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees) who are not currently completing a degree from Mason Gross must submit a prescreening recording. Applicants' prescreening submissions must be in video format which shows a clear view of the applicant's hands. The video does not need to be "professional quality" but should clearly and accurately represent the applicant. While pieces or movements may be included from different settings/performances, each individual piece or movement should be unedited and should not contain any processed effects.

The prescreening video must be a minimum of 30 minutes in duration. It must include three of the four categories below. All pieces must be performed from memory, except works composed after 1945.

1. A work by J.S. Bach in one of the following genres: Prelude and Fugue, Suite, Toccata, another work containing a fugue
2. A sonata-allegro movement from a classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert
3. A substantial work from a significant Romantic Era composer
4. A work by a 20th or 21st century composer that illustrates post-romantic compositional techniques and which is not shorter than five minutes in duration.

Live Audition Requirements:
If the applicant's pre-screening submission is approved, he or she will be invited to audition live on campus. Applicants must offer the repertoire as indication below at live auditions. Again, memorization is required except for works composed after 1945.

 •  Master of Music applicants must offer a program of at least 45 minutes of music satisfying all four of the categories above as well as the remaining movements of classical sonata.
 •  Artist Diploma applicants must offer a program of at least 60 minutes satisfying all four of the categories above as well as the remaining movements of the classical sonata.
 •  Doctor of Musical Arts applicants must offer a program of at least 60 minutes of music that either (a) satisfies the four categories above and includes the remaining movements of the classical sonata; or (b) is pre-approved by the piano faculty. DMA applicants will also participate in a short interview with faculty members.

Recorded Audition Requirements:
Live auditions are strongly recommended for all piano applicants. However, special permission may be granted for a video recording in lieu of a live audition if the applicant is unable to attend a live audition. The recording must be in accordance with the general recording guidelines indicated above for the prescreening requirement and offer the same required repertoire as indicated above for each degree program (i.e. a MM recorded audition must be at least 45 minutes in duration and satisfy all four of the repertoire categories above).

Organ (MM, AD, DMA)

Audition Requirements:
Applicants scheduled for an audition will be given rehearsal time.

Master of Music
 • A work from the North German Baroque or French Classical repertoire
 • A major Prelude and Fugue by J.S. Bach
 • A major work by Franck, Mendelssohn, Reger, or other 19th century organ composer
 • A work written after 1960
 • Sight-reading of a short trio

Artist Diploma and Doctor of Musical Arts

 • A work from the North German Baroque or French Classical repertoire
 • One of the chorale-based trios from the Great Eighteen Chorales or Clavier-Übung III, or one movement from one of the Six Organ Sonatas by J.S. Bach
 • A major Prelude and Fugue by J.S. Bach
 • A major work by Franck, Mendelssohn, Reger, or other 19th century organ composer
 • A work written after 1960
 • Sight-reading of a short trio 

Updated on 10/13/2018