Admission to the School of Music as a Doctor of Musical Arts student requires an audition or the submission of scholarly/creative materials. These steps are in addition to the formal application process for admission to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Information on graduate admissions can be found at www.unl.edu/gradstudies.

Auditions for performance and conducting areas are heard by the School of Music faculty and are usually 20-30 minutes in length. To assist candidates in achieving success, each area has set forth requirements for their department. Please refer to the list below in knowing how to prepare.

DMA - PERFORMANCE:

BRASS
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Euphonium :

Please consult applied instructor for audition requirements in your area.

Horn:

Please consult applied instructor for audition requirements in your area.

Bass Trombone:

Audition options include submitting a screening recording followed by a live audition (preferred) or a CD/Video. Register your audition preference by completing the Graduate Audition Form.

The screening recording should contain:

1. one slow and one fast movement from works such as Filas-Romance Concertante; Stojowski-Fantasie; Ewazen-Sonata; Ewanzen-Concerto; Filas-Sonata; Crespo-Improvisation #1; Grondahl-Concerto or equivalent (accompaniment required),
2. a solo of applicant’s choice (accompaniment required), and
3. orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire.

The live audition or CD/video recital should:
1. be 20-25 minutes in length (accompaniment required) and
2. include repertoire of major composers for the instrument and should cover a sampling of the appropriate style periods.

Tenor Trombone:

Audition options include submitting a screening recording followed by a live audition (preferred) or a CD/Video. Register your audition preference by completing the Graduate Audition Form.

The screening recording should contain:

1. one slow and one fast movement from works such as Filas-Romance Concertante; Stojowski-Fantasie; Ewazen-Sonata; Ewanzen-Concerto; Filas-Sonata; Crespo-Improvisation #1; Grondahl-Concerto or equivalent (accompaniment required),
2. a solo of applicant’s choice (accompaniment required), and
3. orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire.

The live audition or CD/video recital should:
1. be 20-25 minutes in length (accompaniment required) and
2. include repertoire of major composers for the instrument and should cover a sampling of the appropriate style periods.

Trumpet:

Please consult applied instructor for audition requirements in your area.

Tuba:

Please consult applied instructor for audition requirements in your area.

KEYBOARD
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Piano:

Three pieces in contrasting styles from memory.

Organ:

Screening CD


1. A major work by J.S. Bach (e.g., a prelude and fugue; two or more movements of a trio sonata; or a group of chorale settings)
2. A work written by a composer born between 1800 and 1900 (a single movement of a larger work is acceptable)
3. A work written by a composer born after 1900 (a single movement of a larger work is acceptable)

Live audition or CD recital (live audition preferred; CD accepted only when distance necessitates it, in consultation with the applied professor)

A program of no more than 30 minutes, consisting of:
1. A major work by J.S. Bach (e.g., a prelude and fugue; two or more movements of a trio sonata; or a group of chorale settings)
2. A work written by a composer born between 1800 and 1900 (a single movement of a larger work is acceptable)
3. A work written by a composer born after 1900 (a single movement of a larger work is acceptable)
4. EITHER a work written before 1725 by a composer other than Bach OR a work written within the last 10 years.

PERCUSSION
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Keyboard Percussion:

Please consult applied instructor for audition requirements in your area.

Snare Drum:

Please consult applied instructor for audition requirements in your area.

Timpani:

Please consult applied instructor for audition requirements in your area.

STRINGS
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Cello:

Please consult applied instructor for audition requirements in your area.

Viola:

Please consult applied instructor for audition requirements in your area.

Violin:

Please consult applied instructor for audition requirements in your area.

Bass:

The screening recording should contain:
1. One slow and one fast movement from works such as Vanhal, Concerto; Hindemith, Sonata; Koussevitzky, Concerto or other equivalent (accompaniment optional)
2. A solo movement of applicant’s choice.

The live audition or CD/video recording should:
1. be 20-25 minutes in length (accompaniment required). Include repertoire of major composers for the instrument, and
2. cover a sampling of the appropriate time periods.

VOICE
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Please consult applied instructor for audition requirements in your area.

WOODWINDS
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Preliminary audition screen CD and live audition or CD/Video taped audition requirement
Any recorded CD submission needs to be of a recent live performance.

All DMA audition recordings should include piano accompaniment as required of the repertoire.

Flute:

All applicants should prepare the following for the screening CD:

10 minutes of representative recent live performances with piano accompaniment as required of the repertoire.

All applicants should prepare the following for the live audition or CD/video recital CD:

20-25 minutes of a well-chose program demonstrating musicianship and technique in a wide variety of styles, including a movement of Bach or Mozart (single movements possible). At least one slow and one fast standard orchestral excerpt is required. Accompaniment required (and provided if a live audition).

Oboe:

All applicants should prepare the following for the screening CD:

10 minutes of representative recent live performances with piano accompaniment as required of the repertoire.

All applicants should prepare the following for the live audition or CD/video recital CD:

20-25 minutes of a well-chose program demonstrating musicianship and technique in a wide variety of styles. For example, Mozart or Strauss, Paris Conservatory, 20th-century. At least one slow and one fast standard orchestral excerpt is required. Accompaniment required (and provided if a live audition).

Clarinet:

All applicants should prepare the following for the screening CD:

10 minutes of representative recent live performances with piano accompaniment as required of the repertoire.

All applicants should prepare the following for the live audition or CD/video recital CD:

20-25 minutes of a well-chose program demonstrating musicianship and technique in a wide variety of styles and in at least two genres (i.e. Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and 20th-century). At least one slow and one fast standard orchestral excerpt is required. Accompaniment required (and provided if a live audition).

Saxophone:

All applicants should prepare the following for the screening CD:

10 minutes of representative recent live performances with piano accompaniment as required of the repertoire.

All applicants should prepare the following for the live audition or CD/video recital CD:

20 minutes of music representing the applicant's technical, melodic and interpretive abilities. Repertoire chosen should be of Grade IV or V level or higher. Please choose contrasting selections that demonstrate both your melodic ability and your technical range. Applicants may use a transcription (baroque or classical); however, at least one selection must be from the 20th-century/conservatory literature written for the saxophone. Accompaniment required (and provided if a live audition).

Bassoon:

All applicants should prepare the following for the screening CD:

10 minutes of representative recent live performances with piano accompaniment as required of the repertoire.

20-25 minutes of a well-chose program demonstrating musicianship and technique in a wide variety of styles, including the first and second movements of the Mozart or Weber Concerto and a 20th century piece of your choice. At least one slow and one fast standard orchestral excerpt is required. Accompaniment required (and provided if a live audition).

DMA - CONDUCTING:
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Choral:

Please consult instructor for audition requirements in your area.

Orchestral:

Please consult instructor for audition requirements in your area.

Wind Band:

Please consult instructor for audition requirements in your area.

DMA - COMPOSITION:

Composition:

Please consult instructor for entrance requirements in your area.