Audition - Curtis Institute

Brass Audition Information

In addition to fulfilling the specific requirements below, applicants should possess physical aptitude for the chosen instrument, a good ear, a sense of rhythm, and the ability to read at sight.

Trumpet (BM)

Applicants must submit a screening video with the application to be considered for the live auditions. Applicants will be notified in January of their 

live audition status.

Screening Repertoire

Applicants should prepare a video recording of 10 to 15 minutes in length, containing the following:

- One solo work (not for piccolo trumpet), either a movement of a standard concerto or sonata (not to exceed 8 minutes) or a single-movement 

  solo work (not to exceed 8 minutes). Longer works, or individual movements recorded with cuts are acceptable

• - Three contrasting standard orchestral excerpts

Live Audition Repertoire

Applicants will play:

- Two contrasting études from Bousquet and Charlier or equivalent

• - One movement of a sonata or a complete single movement work from the standard repertoire
• - One complete concerto: Haydn, Hummel, Arutunian, or equivalent
• - 3 to 5 contrasting standard orchestral excerpts

Applicants must display at least rudimentary knowledge of transposition.

Trombone (BM)

Auditions will be held for tenor trombone and/or bass trombone, depending on the opening. Applicants must submit a screening video with the application to be considered for the live auditions. Applicants will be notified in January of their live audition status.

Tenor Trombone Screening Repertoire

Applicants should prepare video recordings (unaccompanied) of the following. Each work should be one uninterrupted recording.

- One movement from a concerto, sonata, or other substantial solo work.

• - One technical étude by Kopprasch, Tyrell, or Blazhevich.
• - One lyrical étude by Bordogni, Rochut, or the equivalent.
• - At least three orchestral excerpts of contrasting style.

Live Audition Repertoire (Bass and Tenor Trombone)

Applicants will play:

- One complete concerto, sonata, or other substantial solo work.

• - One technical étude by Kopprasch, Tyrell, or Blazhevich.
• - One lyrical étude by Bordogni, Rochut, or the equivalent.
• - At least three orchestral excerpts of contrasting style.

- Applicants may be asked to play all major and minor scales and to read at sight in alto, tenor, and bass clefs.

Horn (BM)

Live Audition Repertoire

Applicants will demonstrate familiarity with all major and minor scales and arpeggios. In addition, applicants will play:

- One movement of a concerto or sonata

• - One étude by Kopprasch and one by Gallay
• - The following orchestral excerpts:
• - The last movement of Brahms’s Symphony No. 1
• - The second-horn part from the trio of the third movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3
• - The second movement of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5
• - R. Strauss’s Till Eulenspiegel
• - Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante defunte
• - The short call from Wagner’s Siegfrieds Rheinfahrt
• - The first movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7
• - The third movement of Brahms’s Symphony No. 3

Tuba (BM)

Tuba Screening Repertoire

Applicants should prepare video recordings (unaccompanied) of the following. Each work may be recorded separately.

- An etude by Bordogni, Blazhevich, or Snedecor, performed on contrabass tuba

• - The 1st movement of the Vaughan Williams Tuba Concerto, from the beginning though the downbeat of rehearsal 3, and the 
•   cadenza to the end of the movement, recorded as one take. Any published version of the cadenza is acceptable.
• - Wagner, Die Meistersinger Overture, first 8 measures, and rehearsal J through rehearsal L
• - Wagner, Ride of the Walkure (standard B-major excerpt)
•  

Live Audition Repertoire

Applicants will play:

- An etude or solo of the applicant’s choice, to be performed on contrabass tuba

• - The first and second movements of the Vaughan Williams concerto
• - At least five standard orchestral excerpts, to include:
• - Wagner's Die Meistersinger Overture, complete
• - Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries
• - Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, complete
• - The third movement of Mahler's Symphony No. 1

The applicant may be asked to play all major and minor scales and to read additional orchestral excerpts at sight. It is strongly recommended that the applicant be proficient on both contrabass and bass tuba.

                                                                                                                                               Updated on 04/11/2019