DMA Audition Requirements by Instrument

Pre-screening video recording

Applicants must submit a 20-minute video recording of solo repertoire that includes:

• At least two works or excerpts representing different musical styles
• One étude of virtuosity, at a level comparable to of those by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Debussy, Bartok, Stravinsky or Ligeti.

The repertoire should demonstrate a high degree of musical, artistic, and technical proficiency, equivalent in standard to a Master of Music degree recital.

All audition videos must be recorded within 9 months prior to the application date.

Live Audition

Applicants must prepare a 60-minute program of memorized music representing at least four contrasting styles, from which approximately 20 minutes will be heard by the audition panel. The program must include:

• At least one substantial work
• The étude of virtuosity performed for the pre-screening audition. 

The repertoire should demonstrate a high level of musical, artistic, and technical proficiency, equivalent to to that expected of a Master of Music degree recital.

Pre-screening video recording

Applicants should submit approximately 20 minutes of music, consisting of equal portions of instrumental chamber music (including duos) and vocal works for voice and piano.

All audition videos must be recorded within 9 months prior to the application date.

Live Audition

Applicants to the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Collaborative Piano program must prepare a 60-minute audition program.

Approximately 20 minutes of the program will be heard by the audition panel during the live audition.

Repertoire Requirements

• Duo Sonata
  • Perform two contrasting movements from a duo sonata by Beethoven or Brahms
  • Substitutions by other composers are not permitted.
• Chamber Music Work
  • Incude one chamber work from the the 20th or 21st century, performed with a minimum of three musicians.
  • Duo compositions are not accepted as substitutes.
• Art Songs
  • Present at least five art songs, including at least one each by the following composers:
    • F. Schubert
    • H. Wolf
    • C. Debussy
• Self-Accompanied selection
  • • Perform one short art song or brief aria of your choice, accomapnying yourself on the piano.

Candidates are required to bring their own soloists to the audition, or they may contact Dr. Sophie Roland sroland2@uwo.ca for assistance in securing soloists from Western.

Pre-screening video recording

• 20 minutes of repertoire, representing at least three languages and three contrasting styles
• The recording should be unedited, and created within the preceding 6 months.

Live Audition

• 30 minutes of memorized music, of which 20 minutes will be heard; must include eight contrasting selections representing:
  • At least one composition sung in each of French, German, Italian, and English (Other languages welcome, but must include these four)
  • One, but not more than two operatic arias
  • One work composed after 1960
  • A variety of periods, styles, and tempi
  • Balanced recital program.
• Applicants will choose the first work to be sung and the audition panel will choose successive works as time permits.
• Candidates should be prepared to respond to questions regarding works performed, style and structure of the piece, technical challenges presented, the programmatic and historical background and the composition's relationship to other works of the same composer, period or genre.
• Successful candidates will exhibit advanced technical and interpretive ability.

Applicants must bring their own pianist. A list of professional accompanists will be provided upon request.

The performance should reflect a high degree of musical, artistic and technical proficiency.

Pre-screening video recording

• 20 minutes of repertoire to be chosen from the live audition repertoire
• Include at least two contrasting works

Live Audition

Approximately 60 minutes of repertoire should be prepared, from which the audition panel will select; featuring at least 3 different musical styles, including:

• at least one movement from a Mozart Concerto   
• one work from the contemporary repertoire
• at least one movement from a concerto other than Mozart.          

Applicants must bring their own pianist. A list of professional accompanists will be provided upon request.

The performance should reflect a high degree of musical, artistic and technical proficiency.

Pre-screening video recording

• 20 minutes of repertoire to be chosen from the live audition repertoire
• Include at least two contrasting works

Live Audition

Approximately 60 minutes of repertoire should be prepared, from which the audition panel will select; featuring at least 3 different musical styles, including:

• at least one movement from a major concerto such as Bartok, Walton, Schnittke, Hindemith
• one work from the contemporary repertoire
• at least 3 contrasting movements from a Bach Suite.         

Applicants must bring their own pianist. A list of professional accompanists will be provided upon request.

The performance should reflect a high degree of musical, artistic and technical proficiency

Pre-screening video recording

• 20 minutes of repertoire to be chosen from the live audition repertoire
• Include at least two contrasting works

Live Audition

Approximately 60 minutes of repertoire should be prepared, from which the audition panel will select; featuring at least 3 different musical styles, including:

• 3 contrasting movements from Bach Suite IV, V or VI
• one work from the contemporary repertoire
• the first or last movement from a concerto by Haydn, Schumann or Dvorak.

Applicants must bring their own pianist. A list of professional accompanists will be provided upon request.

Pre-screening video recording

• 20 minutes of music from a studio recording and/or live performance; must include:
  • one or two movements of a standard piece and contrasting musical styles

Live Audition

• Prepare 50 minutes of music, of which 20 minutes will be heard: 
  
  • One or two movements of a standard early work for classical (e.g., Mozart, Devienne, Weber)
  • One or two movements of a Romantic era work (e.g., Brahms, Schumann)
  • A 20th/21st century works with piano accompaniment (e.g., Berg, Penderecki, Poulenc,Muczynski)
  • A 20th/21st century unaccompanied work (e.g., Stravinsky, Ran, Mandat, Martino)
  • The following orchestral excerpts:
    • Kodaly, Dances of Galanta (solo on first page)
    • Mendelssohn, "Scherzo" from Mid-Summer Nights Dream (dotted quarter = 84)
    • Rimsky-Korsakov, Capriccio Espagnol
    • a slow excerpt of your choice.

  Applicants must bring their own pianist. A list of professional accompanists will be provided upon request.

Pre-screening video recording

• 20 minutes of music selected from the guidelines below

Live Audition

• 30 minutes of prepared music, of which 20 minutes will be heard; must include: 
  •  A major étude from one of the following books:
    • Charlier, 36 Etudes Transcendantes
    • Bitsch, 20 Etudes
    • Arban, 14 Characteristic Studies
    • Bach/Piper, The Well-Tempered Player
    • Curnow, ed., Advanced Concert Studies
    • Vannetelbosch, 24 Studies
    • A major sonata or concerto (complete)
    • Three orchestral excerpts
    • Bb and C trumpet and either piccolo or Eb trumpet
  • Sight reading

Applicants must bring their own pianist. A list of professional accompanists will be provided upon request.

Pre-screening video recording

A face-to-the-camera video recording is required of the applicant conducting a rehearsal and interacting with an ensemble they regularly conduct, and a brief resumé of conducting experience. The musical portion of the recording should be approximately 20-30 minutes and include literature of the applicant's choice. Selections may be incomplete, and a variety of different styles is encouraged. An example of the applicant conducting in performance is desirable but not required. The recording should also include the applicant speaking about the following:

• Speak briefly about yourself and your musical background.
• Describe the conductor's role in rehearsal and in concert.
• Describe your goals in pursuing studies in conducting.
• A brief descrition of your foreign language study and background, if any.

Live Audition

In February, after video recordings have been reviewed, applicants may be invited to campus to do a short rehearsal, and/or they may be invited to a Zoom interview. Conducting excerpts and score study assignments will be assigned in advance.

Pre-screening video recording

• 20 minutes of music that best represent the applicant’s interests and recent work
• Include at least two contrasting compositions.

Live Audition

• Prepare 50 minutes of music from which the audition committee will choose a 20-minute audition program 
• Selections should include compositions written in various styles and include at least one work written in the late 20th or early 21st century
• Candidates may review repertoire selections with Prof. Thompson ahead of time: bthomp24@uwo.ca

Applicants must bring their own pianist. A list of professional accompanists will be provided upon request.

Pre-screening video recording

• 20 minutes of music selected from the guidelines below.

Live Audition

• 45 minutes of prepared music, of which 25 minutes will be heard; must include:

Tenor Trombone candidates:

• A major étude from one of the following books:
  • Bordogni/Rochut - Vocalises
  • Bitsch, 15 Rhythmic Studies
  • Blazhevitch, Clef Studies
• 2 contrasting major solo works (complete)
• 3 contrasting orchestral excerpts
• A short example of candidate's proficiency on alto trombone and/or bass trombone (pre-screening video only)
• Sight reading (live audition only)

Bass Trombone candidates:

• A major étude from one of the following books:
  • Bordogni/Rochut - Vocalises (8vb possible)
  • H.W. Tyrell, 40 Advanced Studies for Bb Bass
  • Blazhevitch, 70 Studies for BBb Tuba 
• 2 contrasting major solo works (complete)
• 3 contrasting orchestral excerpts
• A short example of candidate's proficiency on tenor trombone, and/or contrabass trombone, and/or tuba (pre-screening video only)
• Sight reading (live audition only)

Applicants must bring their own pianist. A list of professional accompanists will be provided upon request.