Pre-Screening
Pre-screening is required for all applicants. Applications to these programs must be submitted by the priority deadline of December 1st.
Pre-screening materials must be submitted online using Acceptd. Please see below for specific details regarding the prescreening recordings. Selected applicants will be invited for a live on-site audition.
Violin graduate pre-screening (MM & DMA)
Unedited video of two contrasting works. One should be from an advanced concerto and the other from unaccompanied Bach. Video from a live performance is acceptable.
Viola graduate pre-screening (MM & DMA)
Un-edited video of two contrasting works or movements from two different pieces, preferably one from a concerto and one from unaccompanied Bach. Video from a live performance is acceptable.
Cello graduate pre-screening (MM & DMA)
Un-edited video of two contrasting works or movements from two different pieces, preferably one from a concerto and one from unaccompanied Bach. Video from a live performance is acceptable.
Double bass graduate pre-screening (MM & DMA)
Two pieces of contrasting styles.
Guitar graduate pre-screening (MM & DMA)
Un-edited video of two contrasting works or movements from two different pieces, preferably one from a sonata/sonatina and one from a Bach Suite. Video from a live performance is acceptable.
Auditions
Live Audition dates for admission for Fall 2025:
- February 1: violin, viola, cello, guitar
- February 8: violin, viola, cello
- February 15: violin, cello, double bass, guitar
Others will be scheduled according to the auditioner’s availability.
Violin graduate auditions (MM)
- An advanced etude or caprice
- A movement of a standard advanced concerto.
- A movement from unaccompanied Bach
- A movement from a standard sonata or virtuoso work
Either the concerto or Bach must be performed from memory. Variation from this repertoire list will be considered with advance notice and agreement from the entire violin area.
Violin graduate auditions (DMA)
- Approximately 40 minutes of music including:
◦ At least one movement of a standard concerto
◦ Two movements of unaccompanied Bach
◦ A movement from a standard sonata or unaccompanied work
◦ An additional selection can be chosen from showpiece, unaccompanied, or modern repertoire
Bach and Concerto repertoire shall be performed from memory. Memorization of other repertoire is at the discretion of the candidate. Variation from this repertoire list will be considered with advance notice and agreement from the entire violin area.
Viola graduate auditions (MM)
- A movement of a standard advanced concerto (Bartok, Walton, Hindemith, etc.)
- A selection from unaccompanied Bach
- A movement from a standard sonata or unaccompanied viola work. Applicants are also encouraged to include a work by composers from underrepresented groups in this category, if applicable.
Either the concerto or Bach must be performed from memory. Variation from this repertoire list will be considered with advance notice; applicants are encouraged to discuss the repertoire list with Professor Snyder.
Viola graduate auditions (DMA)
- Approximately 40 minutes of music including:
◦ At least one movement of a standard concerto (Bartok, Walton, Hindemith, etc.)
◦ Two movements of unaccompanied Bach
◦ A movement from a standard sonata or unaccompanied viola work
◦ An additional selection can be chosen from showpiece, unaccompanied, or modern repertoire
Bach and Concerto repertoire shall be performed from memory. Variation from this repertoire list will be considered with advance notice; applicants are encouraged to discuss the repertoire list with Professor Snyder.
Cello graduate auditions (MM)
- An etude such as those by Popper, Duport, or Piatti
- A movement of a standard concerto (Dvorák, Shostakovich, Lalo, Haydn, Saint-Saëns, Schumann, etc.)
- A selection from the Bach Suites of at least five minutes length
Either the concerto or Bach must be played from memory; preferably both. The above requirements are flexible. Please inform Professor Kim of your selections.
Cello graduate auditions (DMA)
- Approximately 40 minutes of music including:
◦ At least one movement of a standard concerto (Dvorák, Shostakovich, Lalo, Haydn, Saint-Saëns, Schumann, etc.)
◦ At least two movements from the Bach Suites
◦ Contrasting sonata movement(s) or solo piece(s)
Both the concerto and Bach must be played from memory. The above requirements are flexible. Please inform Professor Kim of your selections.
Double bass graduate auditions (MM)
- A movement of a concerto (Bottesini, Koussevitzky, Vanhal etc)
- Two additional works of contrasting styles.
Contact Professor Masciadri if you need further information on repertoire.
Double bass graduate auditions (DMA)
- At least 45 minutes of music including:
◦ Works of the standard advanced repertoire from the Bottesini
◦ A standard bass concerto and sonata such as Schubert, Miscek, Hindemith, etc.
◦ Some movements of a cello suite by Bach or Hans Fryba are recommended.
Part of the performance will have to be performed by memory. Contact Professor Masciadri if you need further information on repertoire.
Guitar graduate auditions (MM)
- One or more movements from a major Bach work (Lute or Cello Suites, Violin Partitas or Sonatas)
- A work or movement by a major guitar composer (Ponce, Torroba, Rodrigo, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Villa-Lobos, etc.) or a modern composer (Walton, Britten, Takemitsu, Brouwer, etc.)
- One advanced etude by Sor, Carcassi, or Villa-Lobos
At least one of these selections must be performed from memory. Variation from this repertoire list will be considered with advance notice; applicants are encouraged to discuss the repertoire list with Dr. Bolshoy.
Guitar graduate auditions (DMA)
- Approximately 30-40 minutes of music including:
◦ Two Baroque movements or pieces (such as works by Bach, Scarlatti, Weiss, etc.)
◦ At least one movement of a standard sonata or a large-scale piece (Ponce, Torroba, Rodrigo, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Sor, Giuliani, etc.)
◦ One or two contrasting pieces of the student’s choice.
At least two works must be performed from memory. Variation from this repertoire list will be considered with advance notice; applicants are encouraged to discuss the repertoire list with Dr. Bolshoy.
For clarification and further information, please contact the appropriate applied faculty:
Levon Ambartsumian, violin
Shakhida Azimkhodjaeva, violin
Monica Hargrave, harp
Michael Heald, violin
Milton Masciadri, double bass
Maggie Snyder, viola
Daniel Bolshoy, guitar
James Kim, violoncello