Auditions Carnegie Mellon University School of Music

Brass Audition Information

Trumpet (BM)

All applicants to the trumpet studio are expected to prepare the following audition requirements.

l  Two contrasting etudes (one lyric, one technical) from etude books such as:

   Charlier, Etudes Transcendantes 

   Arban, Characteristic Studies 

   H. L. Clarke, Characteristic Studies

l  A solo of your choice such as:

   Kennan, Sonata for Trumpet and Piano 

   Hindemith, Sonata for Trumpet and Piano 

   Haydn, Concerto in E flat for Trumpet

l  Two or three orchestral excerpts of your choice such as:

   Beethoven, Leonore 2 or 3 

   Mussorgsky/Ravel, Pictures at an Exhibition –Promenade 

   Respighi, Pines of Rome – offstage solo

All performance candidates are required to complete an audition. A live audition is preferred. These auditions are scheduled on campus or at a regional site (not available for all studios). 

Recorded auditions may also be accepted but must be received by January 10. Pre-screening applicants will be notified in early January if they are granted a live audition or interview. Auditions will be confirmed at least two weeks prior to your audition date. School of Music audition materials should not be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

Note: All solo instrumental auditions are unaccompanied during the live auditions.

Trombone (BM)

All applicants to the trombone studio are expected to prepare the following audition requirements:

l  Scales: any major or minor scales as requested 

l  A technical etude 

l  A solo composition of the applicant’s choice that will demonstrate their musical and technical level of achievement 

l  Two or three orchestral excerpts of the player’s choice 

All performance candidates are required to complete an audition. A live audition is preferred. These auditions are scheduled on campus or at a regional site (not available for all studios). 

Recorded auditions may also be accepted but must be received by January 10. Pre-screening applicants will be notified in early January if they are granted a live audition or interview. Auditions will be confirmed at least two weeks prior to your audition date. School of Music audition materials should not be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

Note: All solo instrumental auditions are unaccompanied during the live auditions.

Horn (BM)

All applicants to the horn studio are expected to prepare the following audition requirements:

l  Mozart Concerto No. 2 - 1st movement, exposition and development or Strauss Concerto No. 1 - 1st & 2nd movements 

l  Perform 5 orchestral excerpts, 2 of your choice and 3 from the following: 

  Brahms Symphony No. 1: 1st horn part, 4th movement, intro calls 

  Mahler Symphony No. 1: 4th horn part, low tutti, 3rd movement 

  Strauss Till Eulenspiegel: 1st horn part, both intro calls 

  Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5: 1st horn part, 2nd movement solo 

  Wagner: Short Call

l  All major and minor scales 

l  Sight reading 

All performance candidates are required to complete an audition. A live audition is preferred. These auditions are scheduled on campus or at a regional site (not available for all studios). 

Recorded auditions may also be accepted but must be received by January 10. Pre-screening applicants will be notified in early January if they are granted a live audition or interview. Auditions will be confirmed at least two weeks prior to your audition date. School of Music audition materials should not be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

Note: All solo instrumental auditions are unaccompanied during the live auditions.

Euphonium (BM)

All applicants to the euphonium studio are expected to prepare the following audition requirements:

  l  Scales: any major or minor scales as requested 

l  A technical etude 

l  A solo composition of the applicant’s choice that will demonstrate their musical and technical level of achievement 

l  Two or three band or orchestral excerpts of the player’s choice 

All performance candidates are required to complete an audition. A live audition is preferred. These auditions are scheduled on campus or at a regional site (not available for all studios). 

Recorded auditions may also be accepted but must be received by January 10. Pre-screening applicants will be notified in early January if they are granted a live audition or interview. Auditions will be confirmed at least two weeks prior to your audition date. School of Music audition materials should not be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

Note: All solo instrumental auditions are unaccompanied during the live auditions.

Tuba (BM)

All applicants to the tuba studio are expected to prepare the following audition requirements:

l  Scales: any major or minor scales as requested 

l  Selections of contrasting styles, including:  

   A technical etude

   A solo composition of the applicant’s choice that will demonstrate their musical and technical level of achievement

   Two or three orchestral excerpts of the player’s choice

All performance candidates are required to complete an audition. A live audition is preferred. These auditions are scheduled on campus or at a regional site (not available for all studios). 

Recorded auditions may also be accepted but must be received by January 10. Pre-screening applicants will be notified in early January if they are granted a live audition or interview. Auditions will be confirmed at least two weeks prior to your audition date. School of Music audition materials should not be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

Note: All solo instrumental auditions are unaccompanied during the live auditions.

                                                                                                                                             Updated on 04/17/2019