Graduate Piano Audition Requirements

KeyboardAuds.jpg

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ALL GRADUATE PIANO AUDITIONS

UPDATED September 2024 for Fall 2025 Applicants

We anticipate that most graduate auditions will be held in person for Fall 2025 applicants. Applicants are encouraged to consider a live, in-person audition as it affords a better opportunity to get to know the piano faculty, the School of Music, and the city of Athens. Video auditions will be accepted for those applicants unable to travel. Scroll to the bottom of this page for more information about video auditions. 

  • Regardless of chosen audition format, a prescreening round is required for all graduate piano programs.
  • Prescreening materials are due by December 1. Results will be communicated by December 20.
  • Applicants should follow UGA’s three-step application process and submit all required materials as requested by the application.
  • Additionally, all graduate piano applicants are asked to submit prescreening videos (scroll down for repertoire requirements) and a repertoire list.

*Note: Late applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis. However, only applicants who submit their materials by December 1 will be considered for teaching assistantships and other financial support.

LIVE AUDITION DATES

Candidates who successfully pass the prescreening round will be invited to audition live on campus. Our 2025 live audition dates are Saturdays, January 25 and February 1, and Sunday, February 2, 2025.

REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS

PRESCREENING REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS

*All solo performances must be memorized (collaborative repertoire is the one exception). Recordings should have been made within the past two years.

  • MM in Performance: 20 minutes; must include at least three different solo selections.
  • MM in Performance and Pedagogy: 20 minutes; must include at least two different solo selections.
  • MM in Collaborative Piano: 20 minutes; must include at least three different selections.
    • Ideally, one selection should be with an instrumental partner, one with a singer, and one solo. If a candidate is unable to organize this, substitutions are fine as long as at least one selection is recorded with a partner, vocal or instrumental. The remaining two selections can be solo or collaborative repertoire performed without a partner.
  • DMA in Piano Performance: 30 minutes; must include at least three different solo selections.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
  • Single movements are acceptable in prescreening recordings as long as the minimum time limit is met. 
  • No editing is permitted within a single movement. However, different selections can be recorded at different times and either combined into a single video file or separated by selection.
  • Prescreening recordings should be recent and accurately reflect your current level of playing.
FINAL ROUND REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS

*All solo performances must be memorized (collaborative repertoire is the one exception).

  • MM in Performance: Prepare a memorized program of not less than 40 minutes that includes contrasting works from at least three different style periods. Sight-reading will also be evaluated.
  • MM in Collaborative Piano:
    • A memorized work for solo piano from the standard repertoire which best demonstrates the applicant's musicianship and keyboard technique. 
    • A group of three vocal works from the standard art song and/or aria repertoire.
    • Two contrasting movements from an instrumental sonata, selected from the Classical or Romantic period. Either two movements from the same sonata or from two different sonatas are acceptable.
      • Sight-reading will also be evaluated. Depending on repertoire, a collaborative partner may be provided for the live audition. Recorded auditions should be with a partner. Contact Dr. Liza Stepanova at lstepan@uga.edu if you wish to request any exceptions.
  • MM in Performance and Pedagogy: Prepare a memorized program of no less than 30 minutes that includes contrasting works from at least three different style periods. 
    • Sight-reading will also be evaluated. With any questions regarding the MM Pedagogy degree and audition, please contact Dr. Grace Huang, grace.huang@uga.edu
  • DMA in Piano Performance: Prepare a memorized program of not less than 50 minutes that includes contrasting works from at least three different style periods. Sight-reading will also be evaluated.

Teaching Assistantships

All graduate applicants are automatically considered for teaching assistantships in the piano area. Several assistantships are open for Fall 2025. To be eligible for piano area assistantships (Class Piano and/or Accompanying) as well as opportunities in other areas (Aural Skills and Theory), complete applications must be submitted by the December 1, 2024 deadline. Applicants are encouraged to include relevant teaching and/or accompanying experience on their resume and be prepared to discuss this experience during final round interviews. 

Special audition requirements for the assistantship in the opera department only (there are no further requirements for other available assistantships): 

  • La Bohème Act II from Musetta's entrance to the end of the act OR Le Nozze di Figaro Act II finale.
  • Anne Truelove's Aria from The Rake's Progress by Stravinsky or an aria of equal complexity. 
  • Other repertoire substitutions can be considered if they are of equal difficulty. 

VIDEO AUDITIONS

While in-person auditions are strongly encouraged, applicants who successfully pass the prescreening round may choose to submit a prerecorded video in place of a live audition.

  • Videos are due by February 1. 
  • Videos should be recent (made no earlier than during the previous academic year -- August 1, 2023).
  • Additional online interviews for assistantship consideration will be scheduled in early to mid-February
  • Candidates should be prepared to sight-read as part of the interview.

 

GUIDELINES FOR VIDEO RECORDINGS
  • Your camera should remain in a fixed point, and please check that you are in focus. No panning techniques should be used.  
  • Your hands and fingers must be visible. 
  • We recommend the use of an external microphone to ensure good quality sound.  
  • The piano should be in good condition (in tune and well-maintained). 

CONTACT

With questions about the Acceptd and Graduate School applications, contact the School of Music Graduate Office, musicgrad@uga.edu

With piano audition and repertoire questions, contact the piano area chair Dr. Evgeny Rivkin, erivkin@uga.edu

With questions about collaborative piano, contact Dr. Liza Stepanova, lstepan@uga.edu

Questions about the MM Pedagogy degree and application should be directed to Dr. Grace Huang, grace.huang@uga.edu

All graduate applicants are welcome and encouraged to reach out to a prospective teacher.

 

Support us

We appreciate your financial support. Your gift is important to us and helps support critical opportunities for students and faculty alike, including lectures, travel support, and any number of educational events that augment the classroom experience. Click here to learn more about giving.

Every dollar given has a direct impact upon our students and faculty.