Admissions & Auditions
Step 1: Applications
- First, all applicants must apply to the University of Arkansas Graduate School for admission to the University.
- Second, applicants fill out a supplemental portfolio within the applicant portal for the Department of Music. The portfolio includes: an application, pre-screening material, a resume, a written statement of interest, and provide up to five names and contacts for letters of recommendation.
- Do I need to take the GRE? The GRE is not required for admission to graduate studies in music except for those applying to the Music Theory program. The graduate school may require a standardized test score if your GPA is below 3.0.
Step 2: Pre-Screening and Auditions/Interviews
Applicants should prepare for pre-screening and auditions based on the following suggestions based on instrument and degree focus. Required pre-screening materials are detailed below for initial consideration. Faculty have the option to use the uploaded materials in student portals as the applicants audition.
Contact Professor Garrett Jones
Selected two-octave scales
Perform two works of contrasting styles that best represent the student's highest technical and musical achievement – for example:
- a movement from a Baroque sonata or suite (by composers who composed before 1750, such as Eccles, Marcello or Bach, for example) is recommended
- a movement from a concerto, sonata, or a short solo piece (or etude) from a later time (after 1750, from the classical, romantic, or modern periods) is recommended
Accompaniments are encouraged, but not required.
Contact Dr. Rachel Frederiksen
The audition is approximately 20 minutes long. An accompanist is not required but may be used if the candidate wishes.
Solo Repertoire:
Two contrasting movements/pieces from the bassoon repertoire; examples would be :
- Colored Stones, Jennifer Brandon
- Swan Song, Katherine Murdock
- Sonata, Camille Saint-Saens Concerto, Mozart, Hummel or Weber
- 16 Valsas, Francisco Mignone
- Suite Argenta, Noelia Escalzo
- Tansman, Sonatina or Suite
- Elegy, Jeffrey Scott
- Suite Argentina para Jugar con Andrea, Jorge Mockert
- Solo for Bassoon Alone, Nicole DeMaio
- Dance Suite for Solo Bassoon, Jacqui Wilson
- Concertos and Sonatas, Antonio Vivaldi
- Sarabande et Cortège, Dutilleux
(among others)
Orchestral Excerpts:
Three excerpts to be chosen by applicant
APPLICATIONS DUE BY OCTOBER 15
Applicants submit either performance videos or scholarly writing samples as pre-screening material.
Performance-based applicants must upload performance videos of approximately 15 minutes. This may include a combination of single or multiple performances and may include both solo and ensemble material.
Academic-focused applicants must upload scholarly writing samples that highlight the student’s potential as a scholar.
Select candidates will be invited to campus for an in-person interview. File upload (PDFs) or links to online services (e.g., YouTube) are preferred, but please do not share cloud drives.
3 octave scales and arpeggios as requested
Two contrasting movements from the Cello Suites by J.S. Bach BWV 1007-1012.
A complete concerto or concert piece
An additional piece of the applicant’s choice, contrasting in style to Bach and the concerto. The audition program must consist of three different stylistic periods.
CHORAL CONDUCTING
Applicants submit video recordings of themselves conducting two contrasting pieces. Performance footage preferred.
The Director of Choral Studies reviews submitted materials and makes recommendations regarding an on-campus audition. If selected for an on-campus audition/interview, the applicant will be invited to rehearse and conduct one of the major level choral ensembles for approximately 15 minutes in two or three stylistically and historically varied choral pieces selected by the Director of Choral Studies
Additionally, the applicant will be required to sing one solo vocal piece for the choral faculty and demonstrate proficiency in sight-reading, ear training, and keyboard skills.
INSTRUMENTAL CONDUCTING
Applicants submit video recordings of themselves conducting two contrasting pieces. Performance footage preferred.
Select applicants will be invited to campus for interviews and to conduct one of the UA bands in rehearsal.
Contact Dr. Nophachai Cholthitchanta
Two solo movements of contrasting styles from the major concerto, sonata, or solo repertoire.
Students must submit a portfolio consisting of at least three works in notated form, with accompanying recordings. Students may submit electronic or electro‐acoustic works in lieu of one of the notated works. Students should also submit a list of works with performance dates.
Contact Professor Catalina Ortega
Two pieces of contrasting style from major repertoire, which may include movements from concerti, sonatas, and solo repertoire. Additonally, applicants should prepare all major and minor scales. Sight‐reading is included in the audition process.
Two solo selections, sight‐reading in treble clef.
Guitar students will choose to focus on either classical guitar or jazz guitar style of playing in their studies. Those who focus on classical guitar will also be expected to perform a piece of music by Carcassi, Sor, Bach or Tarrega in their audition.
Those focusing on jazz guitar will be asked to play various modes and scales in a variety of positions on the fingerboard. They will also be expected to know how to play Major 7th, minor 7th, and dominant 7th seventh chords in 3 or 4 forms around the fingerboard. They will also be expected to know the location of various notes across the fingerboard. They will also be asked to improvise over a blues or other basic jazz progression.
Two contrasting solos or movements demonstrating the player's range, musicality, and techincal skill.
One etude from either George Barboteus' Classique Etudes or Henri Kling's 40 Characteristic Etudes for Horn.
Total time of repertory should equal 20 minutes of music.
All major and minor scales in two or three octaves (three octaes preferred).
One concerto movement from a composer such as Vaughan Williams, Mozart, Marcello, Bellini, etc.
One work or sonata movement from a composer such as Hindemith, Saint Saens, Jacob, Bozza, etc.
All major and minor scales
Sight‐reading is included in the audition process
Contact Professor Chalon Ragsdale
Students should be able to perform an etude that demonstrates their level of musical and technical ability on snare drum (rudimental and concert style), keyboard percussion (2 and 4 mallet marimba), and timpani (four drums).
Solo Piano Performance
Three pieces (at least), each representing a different style; one must be a complete, substantial multi-movement work
45 Minutes total, memorization required
Possible Selections
- Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109 by L. van Beethoven
- Romance No. 1 in A minor by C. Schumann
- 5 Vision Fugitives by Prokofiev
- Fantasia in C minor, K. 475 by Mozart
- 2 Nocturnes, Op. 62 by Chopin
- Sonata in E minor by Florence Price
- Partita in C minor, BWV 826, by J.S. Bach
- Thème et variations by L. Boulanger
- 3 Impromptus, Op. 68, by L. Liebermann
Collaborative Piano
- One instrumental work originally written for piano, preferably the first or last movement of a standard instrumental sonata
- One instrumental or operatic orchestral reduction (a movement of a concerto or an aria)
- Three art songs of contrasting style
- Sight Reading
30-40 Minutes total; You may bring your own partners to collaborate with for the audition or, alternatively, we will provide partners for you
Prescreening:
Record a 10 to 20 minute program with or without piano accompaniment demonstrating your programming and artistic values. Submitting seperate recordings of movements/works is allowed.
For full consideration of admission to the saxophone studio, applications to the Graduate School and the Department of Music (including pre-screen materials) should be submitted on or before December 1st.
Live Audition:
Present a varied 20 minute program of works that demonstrate your programming and artistic values. Performing with piano is not required.
Perform all major and minor scales, as well as major thirds, full range.
Pre-screening repertoire requirement: Either one full-length solo (need not be longer than eight minutes) or a single movement of a concerto or sonata.
Audition repertoire requirements:
- Perform two solo selections of contrasting styles, one of which must be a movement of a standard concerto or sonata.
- Perform two orchestral excerpts of your choice in addition to the following:
- TENORS – “Tuba Mirum” from Mozart’s Requiem and “Hungarian March” from Berlioz’s Damnation of Faust
- BASSES – Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” and Haydn’s Creation
A major concerto or sonata from the trumpet repertoire, demonstrating all aspects of musical and technical proficiency. The applicant may bring their own accompanist or will be provided with a list of local accompanists for hire at their expense.
Etudes number 1 and 2 from "Trente‐six Etudes Transcendantes" by Theo Charlier.
NOTE: If the applicant is applying for a trumpet studio graduate assistantship, a live audition is required and will include additional elements.
Two or more contrasting solo pieces of your choice
Three band or orchestral excerpts of your choice
All major scales, 2 octaves
3-octave scales and arpeggios
First movement of a 20th or 21st century concerto from memory (Bartok, Hindemith, Walton, etc.)
One movement of a sonata written after 1830
Two contrasting movements from an unaccompanied Bach suite, partita, or solo sonata
3 octave scales and arpeggios as requested
Two contrasting movements from an unaccompanied Bach sonata or partita
A complete concerto or concert piece
An additional piece of the applicant’s choice, contrasting in style to Bach and the concerto. The audition program must consist of three different stylistic periods.
Contact Professor Lauren Clare
A twenty‐minute program displaying different styles and languages.
Academic Degree Plans
All applicants should have an undergraduate degree in music education and at least one year of teaching experience is preferred. A video of recent classroom teaching experience is required. An interview will be schedule for applicants.
All applicants must submit a writing sample representative of their work, as well as scores for the Graduate Record Exam.
All applicants must submit a writing sample representative of their work, as well as scores for the Graduate Record Exam.
Once your application is received, you will be connected with faculty members and area coordinators for your field of study. Feel free to contact Director of Admissions Dr. Justin Hunter at any time in the process for help.
