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Violin Audition Material

Doctor of Musical Arts

Applicants are required to submit prescreening recordings by December 1. Upload the videos to the Digital Portfolio section of the College of Music Supplemental Application. You will be given access to the Digital Portfolio after the College of Music Supplemental Application is submitted. Recording quality and literature must be sufficient to make a reasonable judgment of ability.  Although specific literature for the prescreening phase is not strictly defined, plan to choose literature similar to what is required for the live audition (see below).  Limit your total recording length to 20 minutes.  Recordings will be reviewed by a committee from the string area beginning the week following the December 1 deadline. You will be notified via email as to whether or not you have been invited for a live audition.

Live Audition:

  • A complete solo sonata or partita by Bach
  • A Paganini caprice
  • A major concerto
  • A virtuoso piece
  • A twenty-minute performance from the recital program above
  • A ten-minute lecture on the music performed
  • Follow performance audition details

DMA Performance Audition Details

  • All domestic applicants must audition in person. (The area must approve any exceptions.)
  • International applicants applying for scholarships and assistantships must audition in person. (The area must approve any exceptions.)
    All other international applicants may submit a recording for provisional acceptance and audition in person in the first semester in residence.
  • Applicants who do not pass an audition the first time may audition one more time the following semester.
  • A second failed audition precludes any further consideration for admission into the DMA program.
  • Applicants will be notified of audition results by the end of March.

The audition consists of:

  • A twenty-minute performance from the recital program
  • A ten-minute lecture on the music
  • The program should be varied in regard to different periods, styles, and tempi of music.
  • The applicant will begin the audition with a selection of her/his choice.
  • The audition committee will choose the other selections from the program.
  • The applicant should be prepared to lecture on any work on the recital program.
  • Possible topics might include the formal structure and style of a piece; its compositional techniques and devices; its relationship to other works of the same composer, period, or genre; technical problems; the dramatic setting of an aria; or the historical background of an opera.

Piano accompaniment is required for voice auditions only. Applicants should bring their own pianist to the audition. (If this is not possible, the College of Music will attempt to put you in contact with pianists who are interested in playing for doctoral auditions.)

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