A live audition is required for those who pass the prescreening round. However in special circumstances the live audition requirement may be waived for international students and for others for whom travel to the Bard campus may be prohibitive.
Please note: These are also the live audition requirements for applicants of either the undergraduate double-degree program or the Advanced Professional Studies Program.
Violin
Two contrasting movements from an unaccompanied Bach partita or sonata
A movement of a standard concerto
A movement of a sonata
A work of your choice
Flute, Oboe, Bassoon
An etude
A concerto movement
A 20th-century work
A work of your choice
Clarinet
An etude
A concerto movement
A 20th-century work
2 orchestral excerpts of your choice (example, Beethoven - Symphony No. 6, Mendelssohn - Scherzo from Midsummer Night's Dream)
A work of your choice
Viola
Two contrasting movements from an unaccompanied Bach suite (originally for cello) or partita or sonata (originally for violin)
A concerto movement or étude
A movement of a sonata
A work of your choice
Cello
Two contrasting movements from an unaccompanied Bach suite
A movement of a standard concerto
A movement of a sonata
A work of your choice
Bass
A movement of solo Bach (6 cello suites) of your choice
A solo work of your choice
Mozart Symphony #39, first movement, Allegro to letter C
Brahms Symphony #2, first movement, E to F
Horn
An étude
A concerto movement
Two of the following excerpts:
Wagner: Short Call from Siegfried's Rheinfahrt
Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte
Shostakovich: Low tutti from Symphony No. 5 (1st movement)
Brahms: Symphony No. 3 (3rd movement)
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben (opening)
Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba
An etude
A concerto or sonata movement
A 20th-century work
A work of your choice
Piano
A work by J. S. Bach
A movement of a classical sonata
A movement or work from the romantic era
A 20th-century work
A work of your choice
Harp
Two contrasting solos of the following level of difficulty: -Handel: Concerto in B-flat Major -Faure: Impromptu -Britten: Suite for Harp
Two orchestral excerpts of student's choice, such as: -Wagner: Liebestod -Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique -Ravel: Tzigane -Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra -Stravinsky: Symphony in 3 Movements, 2nd mvt
Sight reading to be provided at audition.
Percussion
Marimba:
Four mallet solo (5-12 minutes in length)
Two mallet solo (transcription of J.S. Bach or other substantial work)
Two mallet sight-reading may be asked at live audition
Timpani:
An étude of choice. The following are recommended: Elliott Carter Eight Pieces for Solo Timpani, Richard Hochrainer Etuden Für Timpani, Jacques Delecluse Vingt Etudes
Interval knowledge and basic tuning may be examined
Snare Drum:
An étude of choice. The following are recommended: Cirone Portraits in Rhythm, Delecluse Douze Etudes, Smith Publications' The Noble Snare Collection
Sight-reading may be asked
Chamber Music:
Candidate will be asked to sight-read an excerpt from the chamber music repertoire with members of the percussion faculty. Music and instruments will be provided
Something Else (optional): Please feel welcome to bring in something else that makes you a unique musician. Possibilities could include orchestra excerpts, steel drum playing, multiple percussion solo, drumset, even another instrument.
