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Brass Audition Requirements

All applicants will submit the following application materials based on their desired degree program. For instrument-specific audition requirements, please scroll down or use these buttons to navigate to the appropriate instrument.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

  • Complete the UNC Undergraduate Application
  • After submitting your application, upload and complete the following School of Music Checklist Items in your Bear App Portal
    • Supplementary Music Application
      • Audition and Interview Scheduling
      • Musical Experience
      • Contact information for 2 music recommenders
    • Statement of Goals - a brief statement about your career aspirations. Please upload a .pdf document.
    • Video Audition (if you've selected "Video and Virtual Audition" in the Supplementary Music Application)
      • PLEASE NOTE: all audition videos must be upload to the portfolio section of your portal at the same time. After saving your submission, you will no longer have access to the portfolio. If at any time you need to edit your portfolio contents, please email pva@unco.edu

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

  • Complete all Graduate School Application Requirements for your degree program and the UNC Application
  • After submitting your application, upload and complete the following School of Music Checklist Items in your Graduate School Admissions Portal:
    • School of Music Form - Includes scheduling a live audition or a synchronous interview with video audition, uploading audition videos (if applicable), musical experience, and past teachers.
    • Resume - a complete listing of your performing and work experience. Please upload a .pdf document.
    • Statement of Goals - a brief statement about your career aspirations. Please upload a .pdf document.
    • Assistantship Letter of Experience (optional but strongly recommended) - a brief statement about your teaching or professional experience as it relates to music. Please upload a .pdf document.

Note: Accompanists are not required, but the applicant may provide one.


Trumpet

Audition Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees

  • All major scales – two octaves when possible (knowledge of all minor scales is preferred but not required)
  • One etude of the applicant’s choice that demonstrates the applicant’s musical and technical abilitied. Etudes from Concone: “Lyrical Studies” or Snedecor: “Lyrical Etudes” are preferred.
  • At least one movement from one of the following pieces (multiple pieces may be selected if desired).
    An applicant may substitute a different solo work from the standard repertoire only with prior approval from Dr. Adler.
    • Haydn Concerto in Eb
    • Hummel Concerto in Eb
    • Arutunian Concerto (any large section)
    • Hindemith Sonata
    • Kennan Sonata
  • Sight-reading

Audition Requirements for Master of Music, Doctor of Arts, and Graduate Performance Certificate

  • Choose one of the following etudes from Charlier Transcendental Etudes: #2, #4, #6.
  • Two contrasting major solo works of the applicant’s choice that demonstrate the applicant’s complete musical and technical abilities
  • At least three standard orchestral excerpts
  • Sight-reading

Contact:

John Adler at John.Adler@unco.edu


Trombone

THE FOLLOWING IS SUGGESTED AUDITION REPERTOIRE. STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PERFORM REPERTOIRE THAT SHOWCASES THEIR ABILITY. 

Audition Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees

  • One lyrical etude, such as one from "Melodious Etudes for Trombone" by Bordogni/Rochut.
  • One technical etude, such as one from "Selected Studies for Trombone" by Voxman, or "40 Progressive Studies for Trombone" by Tyrell.
  • One solo of your choice, such as "Morceau Symphonique" by Guilmant, or "Andante et Allegro" by Barat.

Audition Requirements for Master of Music and Graduate Performance Certificate

  • A minimum of two contrasting solos or movements from the standard solo repertoire.
  • Two to four orchestral excerpts from the standard orchestral audition repertoire.

Audition Requirements for Doctor of Arts

  • A minimum of three contrasting solos or movements from the standard solo repertoire.
  • Four to six orchestral excerpts from the standard orchestral audition repertoire.

Contact:

Nat Wickham at Nat.Wickham@unco.edu


Bass Trombone

THE FOLLOWING IS SUGGESTED AUDITION REPERTOIRE. STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PERFORM REPERTOIRE THAT SHOWCASES THEIR ABILITY.

Audition Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees

  • One lyrical etude, such as one from “Melodious Etudes for Bass Trombone” by Bordogni/Ostrander, or “Low Range Studies for Trombone” by Blazhevich.
  • One technical etude, such as one from “Method for Bass Trombone” by Ostrander
  • One solo of your choice, such as “Cameos” by Gordon Jacob, or “Sonata for Bass Trombone” by Patrick McCarty.

Audition Requirements for Master of Music and Graduate Performance Certificate

  • A minimum of two contrasting solos or movements from the standard solo repertoire.
  • Two to four orchestral excerpts from the standard orchestral audition repertoire.

Audition Requirements for Doctor of Arts

  • A minimum of three contrasting solos or movements from the standard solo repertoire.
  • Four to six orchestral excerpts from the standard orchestral audition repertoire.

Contact:

Nat Wickham at Nat.Wickham@unco.edu


Euphonium

THE FOLLOWING IS SUGGESTED AUDITION REPERTOIRE. STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PERFORM REPERTOIRE THAT SHOWCASES THEIR ABILITY.

Audition Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees

  • All major scales – two octaves when possible (knowledge of all minor scales is preferred but not required) 
  • One lyrical etude, such as one from "Melodious Etudes for Trombone" by Bordogni/Rochut. 
  • One technical etude, such as one from "Selected Studies for Baritone" by Voxman, or "40 Progressive Studies for Trombone" by Tyrell. 
  • Select one of the following solos:
    • Barat – Andante and Allegro
    • Capuzzi - Andante and Rondo   
    • Curnow – Rhapsody for Euphonium 
    • Guilmant  - Morceau Symphonique
    • Rüedi - Three Pieces for Euphonium (pick 1-2 movements from the same “piece”)

Audition Requirements for Master of Music and Graduate Performance Certificate

  • A minimum of two contrasting solos or movements from the standard solo repertoire.
  • Two to six band or orchestral excerpts from the standard band and orchestral audition repertoire.

Audition Requirements for Doctor of Arts

  • A minimum of three contrasting solos or movements from the standard solo repertoire.
  • Four to six band or orchestral excerpts from the standard band and orchestral audition repertoire.

Contact:

Nat Wickham at Nat.Wickham@unco.edu


Horn

Audition Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees

  • Two or three contrasting works totaling approximately 10 minutes of music. Applicants should choose examples that demonstrate both technical and lyrical strengths. Possible repertoire choices:
    • Mozart, Wolfgang A.: any concerto movement 1 or 2
    • Strauss, Richard: Concerto #1 or Concerto #2
    • Strauss, Franz: Concerto Op. 8
    • Saint-Saëns, Camille: Morceau de Concert
  • Two octave major scales with arpeggios for Bachelor of Music and two octave with arpeggios when range permits for Bachelor of Music Education 
  • Sight reading

Audition Requirements for Master of Music, Doctor of Arts, and Graduate Performance Certificate

  • Sight-reading and major & minor scales, with arpeggios in two octaves
  • Two movements or works from contrasting style periods that are of comparable difficulty to the following:
    • Dukas: Villanelle
    • Gliere: Concerto
    • Hindemith: Sonata
    • Jacob: Concerto
    • Mozart: Concerto #2 or Concerto #4
    • Schumann: Adagio and Allegro
    • R. Strauss: Concerto #1
  • Five orchestral excerpts from among the following:
    • J.S. Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No 1. – Horn 1
    • Beethoven – Symphony No. 3 – Horn 2
    • Beethoven – Symphony No. 6 – Horn 1
    • Beethoven – Symphony No. 9 – 3rd mvt.: 4th horn solo
    • Brahms- Symphony #3 first horn solo
    • Mendelssohn – Nocturne from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
    • Tchaikovsky – Sym. #5 1st horn solo from 2nd mvt.
    • R. Strauss - Ein Heldenleben - Ist horn
    • R. Strauss - Till Eulenspiegel – Ist horn
    • Wagner – Short Call from “Gotterdammerung”

Contact:

Lauren Varley, Lauren.Varley@unco.edu


Tuba

Audition Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees

  • All major scales – two octaves when possible (knowledge of all minor scales is preferred but not required) 
  • One lyrical etude, such as one from "Complete Vocalises for Tuba" by Bordogni (ed. Wes Jacobs preferred). 
  • One technical etude, such as one from "60 Selected Studies for Tuba" by Kopprasch, or "40 Advanced Studies for Tuba" by Tyrell. 
  • Select one of the following solos: 
    ◦  Capuzzi - Andante and Rondo   
    ◦  Gregson - Concerto, movement 1   
    ◦  Haddad - Suite   
    ◦  Hartley- Suite for Unaccompanied Tuba 
    ◦  Marcello - Sonata in F Major 

Audition Requirements for Master of Music, Doctor of Arts, and Graduate Performance Certificate

  • A minimum of two contrasting solos or movements from the standard solo repertoire. 
  • Two to six band or orchestral excerpts from the standard band and orchestral audition repertoire. 

Contact:

Steven Vaughn at Steven.Vaughn@unco.edu