PhD applicants will interview with at least one PhD faculty member via Zoom after submitting application materials.

Applicants must prepare the following:

• Two complete major solo works from the standard repertoire of contrasting stylistic periods
• Ten orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire which must include the following: Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, mvt. 2, horn 1; Strauss' Till Eulenspiegel, opening calls, horn 1; Mahler's Symphony No. 5, scherzo, horn obbligato, 8 measures after rehearsal #10-#11; Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5, mvt. 2, low tutti passage; Wagner's Siegfried's Rhine Journey, short call, horn 1; and Strauss' Ein Heldenleben, opening passage, horn 1

Submit Video Recording and Scholarly Paper

• A concerto, sonata, or solo piece from the Classical, Romantic, or Impressionistic period
• A concerto, sonata, or solo piece from the 20th Century
• Excerpts from the standard orchestral repertoire
• All works except sonatas should be memorized

The video recording may contain representative movements of the audition material and the majority of the material must have been recorded within the last 12 months. Video recordings of accompanied works must have a piano or orchestral accompaniment.

Submit Video Recording and Scholarly Paper

• Two contrasting movements from a Bach unaccompanied suite
• A major concerto such as Koussevitzky, Bottesini, Capuzzi, or Dittersdorf
• A sonata or similar work of contrasting period/style from the concerto (Classical or 20th-Century if the concerto is Romantic; Romantic or Classical if the concerto is 20th-Century)
• A virtuoso composition such as Bottesini, Simandl, Paganini, etc.

The video recording may contain representative movements of the audition material and the majority of the material must have been recorded within the last 12 months. Video recordings of accompanied works must have a piano or orchestral accompaniment.

Submit Video Recording and Scholarly Paper

• A Bach unaccompanied suite (complete)
• A major concerto such as Dvorak, Shostakovich, Lalo, Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations, Haydn, or Schumann
• A sonata of contrasting period/style from the concerto (Classical period if the concerto is Romantic; Romantic if the concerto is Classical)
• A virtuoso composition such as At the Fountain, Elfentanz or Weber Adagio & Rondo

The video recording may contain representative movements of the audition material and the majority of the material must have been recorded within the last 12 months. Video recordings of accompanied works must have a piano or orchestral accompaniment.

Submit Video Recording and Scholarly Paper

• A sonata or solo from the Baroque period, i.e. Sonata in G Major by C.P.E. Bach
• A major concerto, i.e. Concerto by Ginastera, Danse Sacree and Profane by Debussy
• A sonata or major solo from the Romantic or Impressionist Period, i.e. Sonatine by Tournier, Suite by Britten
• A representative 20th century work, preferably written after 1950
• 4 orchestral excerpts and/or cadenzas

Submit Video Recording and Scholarly Paper

Applicants should prepare roughly 30 to 45 minutes of music to be presented in live recital format. The program should be creative and demonstrate a wide of range of percussive ability. At minimum, the program must include at least one work for snare drum, one for mixed/multi-percussion, and two contrasting works for keyboard (marimba and/or vibraphone). Beyond that the applicant may choose what repertoire they wish to present, including additional works for percussion and keyboard, or works for electronics/mixed media/timpani/hand percussion. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate skills on drumset and also prepare four orchestral excerpts on all symphonic percussion instruments (timpani, snare drum, xylophone, glock, tambourine, cymbals, bass drum, triangle). An interview with the percussion faculty will be required as part of the application process. Please contact Professor O’Banion directly with any questions ([click-for-email]).

The video recording may contain representative movements of the audition material and the majority of the material must have been recorded within the last 12 months. Video recordings of accompanied works must have a piano or orchestral accompaniment.

Submit Video Recording and Scholarly Paper

• Two contrasting movements from a Bach unaccompanied sonata or partita. (The Chaconne is acceptable on its own.)
• One of the following: Mozart Concerto: K. 216 in G Major, K. 218 in D Major,  K. 219 in A Major
• One Major concerto such as Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Sibelius, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Bruch, Prokofiev, Bartok, or Shostakovich
• One sonata of contrasting period/style from the concerto (Classical period if the concerto is Romantic; Romantic if the concerto is Classical)
• One virtuoso composition such as Paganini, Wieniawski, Sarasate, etc.

The video recording may contain representative movements of the audition material and the majority of the material must have been recorded within the last 12 months. Video recordings of accompanied works must have a piano or orchestral accompaniment.

Submit Video Recording and Scholarly Paper

• Two contrasting movements from a Bach unaccompanied suite
• A major concerto such as Walton, Bartok, Hindemith, Stamitz or Hoffmeister
• A sonata or similar work of contrasting period/style from the concerto (Classical or 20th-Century if the concerto is Romantic; Romantic or Classical if the concerto is 20th-Century)
• A virtuoso composition such as Allegro di molto from Haydn’s Divertimento in D, Paganini, Hummel or Rolla

Submit Video Recording and Scholarly Paper

• A concerto, sonata, or solo piece from the Classical, Romantic, or Impressionistic period
• A concerto, sonata, or solo piece from the 20th-Century
• Excerpts from the standard orchestral repertoire
• All works except sonatas should be memorized

•  Bach sonata or Partita, complete
• Mozart concerto in G or D, complete with cadenzas
• Three contrasting pieces, at least one from the 20th or 21st centuries, at least one for unaccompanied flute (at least one piece performed by memory).
• Seven orchestral excerpts: Beethoven, Leonore Overture #3, measures 328-360; Brahms, Symphony #4 in E Minor,  Op. 98, movement IV. Allegro energico e passionato, measures 93-105; Debussy, Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, beginning to rehearsal 3; Hindemith, Symphonic Metamorphoses, movement III. Andantino, five measures before rehearsal C to the end; Mendelssohn, Scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream, 2 measures before rehearsal P to the end, plus two excerpts of applicant's choice showing expressive and technical range.

Submit Video Recording and Scholarly Paper

• A major work from each of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Impressionistic periods
• A representative 20th-Century work (Bartok, Prokofiev, Hindemith, Barber, Copland, etc.)
• All works should be memorized
• The video recording may contain representative movements of the above works

*We are not accepting applications for this program for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

• Repertory representing at least three different styles, chosen from German, French, Italian, English or Iberian works composed prior to 1800
• Applicants will be asked to realize a simple basso continuo line at sight
• Memorization is not required
• The video recording may contain representative portions of the above works

Submit Your Recording and Scholarly Paper (Deadline: February 1st)

• Two major works in a major performance medium; two standard or popular songs, sung with own piano accompaniment.
• Two standard or popular songs sung with own guitar accompaniment.
• Sight-sing and sight-harmonize tunes from a fake book, using both piano and guitar for accompaniment, and to sight-read simple piano pieces.

• One recitative and aria from an opera.

• One recitative and aria from an oratorio.

• Four songs or arias, selecting one each from among the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, or Contemporary periods. Each selection also must be in a different language (English, German, French, or Italian).

All selections must be memorized. 

Please follow the Vocal Arts video audition guidelines.