Guitar Audition Requirements
Undergraduate requirements (BM)
• A minimum of two works representing different historical periods. At least one work should be from the 20th or 21st century (e.g., Brouwer, Moreno-Torroba, Villa-Lobos, Cardoso, Ponce, Dyens, etc.).
• An etude by Sor, Carcassi, Carulli, Tárrega, Villa-Lobos, Brouwer, or equivalent.
• A non-classical piece of choice from rock, fusion, metal, country, folk, world music, etc.
Guitar applicants are encouraged to perform works from memory. Etudes do not have to be performed from memory.
Undergraduate applicants who would like to submit a recorded audition should follow the steps outlined here. All students who submit a recorded audition will have a virtual interview with the faculty. Applicants can select their date preference on their supplemental music form.
Graduate requirements (MM, DMA)
Section 1 (6 to 8 mins):
Two contrasting movements by J. S. Bach taken from suites, sonatas, or partitas for lute, cello or violin.
or two contrasting movements by S. L. Weiss chosen from his sonatas (a.k.a suites).
Section 2 (8 to 10 mins):
One concert piece (i.e. Theme and Variations, Sonata, Fantaisie) by Mauro Giuliani, Fernando Sor, Niccolo Paganini, or Dionisio Aguado.
Section 3 (10 to 15 mins):
A 20th century work to select from (or similar pieces):
Manuel de Falla: Homage pour le tombeau de Debussy
Federico Moreno-Torroba: Sonatina, Castillos de España
Joaquín Rodrigo: Tres piezas españolas, Invocación y danza, En los trigales
Eduardo Sáinz De La Maza: Campanas del alba
Antonio José: Sonata
Frank Martin: Quatre pieces breves
Heitor Villa-Lobos: Suite populaire bresilienne, 5 Preludes, 12 Etudes
Manuel Ponce: Sonata III, Sonatina meridional, Theme varie et finale
Alexandre Tansman: Cavatina
Astor Piazzolla: Cinco piezas
Leo Brouwer: Sonata, El decameron negro, Elogio de la danza, Rito de los orishas
Alberto Ginastera: Sonata
Hans Werner Henze: Drei Tientos
Roland Dyens: Libra sonatine
John Duarte: English Suite, Americana
Benjamin Britten: Nocturnal
Lennox Berkeley: Sonatina
William Walton: Five Bagatelles
Toru Takemitsu: All in Twilight, Folios
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Capriccio diabólico, Sonata
Jorge Cardoso: Tangoleada
Abel Carlevaro: Preludios americanos
Section 4 (5 to 7 mins):
A non-classical piece of your choice from rock, fusion, metal, country, folk, world music, etc.
Graduate applicants who would like to submit a recorded audition should upload the audition directly to their Graduate College application. Graduate applicants who submit a recorded audition will also register for a virtual interview with the faculty. Applicants can register for their interview after submitting the Graduate College application.