Breadcrumb
All undergraduate applicants must apply to the University of Colorado and complete a College of Music admission application. Applications may be obtained online through the Admissions section. Undergraduate auditions will not be scheduled until both applications have been received. Graduate students need only complete the graduate application.
Note: All graduate piano performance and piano pedagogy applicants must also apply for the Graduate Assistantship in Accompanying and Teaching. Submit this form by January 1.
Undergraduate piano + keyboard
Audition requirements
Applicants should be prepared to play 15 minutes of music consisting of three or more contrasting pieces. Applicants are strongly encouraged to include repertoire by composers from historically underrepresented groups (including women), and to demonstrate their personal strengths and interests in their repertoire choices.
- Students applying for a BM degree (other than composition):
- A work by J.S. Bach, at the level of a suite or prelude and fugue
- A sonata-allegro form movement from a Classical period sonata
- One or two pieces of your choice
- At least two works must be memorized
- The audition committee is looking for well-prepared, technically sound, confident, musical, and stylistically appropriate performances
- Students applying for a BM-Composition, BME or BA degree:
- Three works, two of which must be classical genre representing two different periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Contemporary).
- The third work is free choice, including: an original composition, an improvisation, a work in a non-classical genre, or another classical work.
- At least one of the classical works must be performed from memory.
If you choose to perform a virtual live audition, you must have access to a piano and be able to run Zoom through a laptop with a wired internet (not wifi) connection using an external microphone. If you do not have access to this setup, you will submit a video recorded audition and schedule a virtual interview to take place on Feb 11. All video recorded auditions must be submitted by Feb. 1.
If you plan to submit a recorded audition, then you may submit either one unedited file or multiple files (unedited within each file). Please see the recorded audition guidelines for specific information on submitting a recording.
Review degree sheets >>
Audition requirements
Applicants for a BM in harpsichord performance should be prepared to play 15 minutes of music consisting of three or more contrasting pieces. Memorization is not required. One of the selections should be a work by J.S. Bach, at the level of a suite or prelude and fugue. The audition committee is looking for well-prepared, technically sound, confident, musical, and stylistically appropriate performances. Students can submit either one unedited file or multiple files (unedited within each file).
Please see the recorded audition guidelines for specific information on submitting a recording. Please note that in addition to recorded auditions, virtual live auditions are strongly encouraged.
Review degree sheets >>
Contact the organ + harpsichord program Visit the keyboard page
Graduate piano + keyboard
2023 Piano audition date: Jan. 28
Pre-screening videos should follow the same guidelines as the audition requirements. However, the repertoire presented does not need to be exactly the same as that offered for the audition.
Master of Music
Applicants should prepare a program of at least 45 minutes, consisting of three or more contrasting works representative of a variety of styles. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate their personal strengths and interests in their repertoire choices, and to include repertoire by composers from historically underrepresented groups.
Doctor of Musical Arts
Applicants should prepare a program of at least 60 minutes, consisting of four or more contrasting works representative of a variety of styles. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate their personal strengths and interests in their repertoire choices, and to include repertoire by composers from historically underrepresented groups.
Graduate Degree Sheets
2023 piano audition date: Jan. 28
Pre-screening videos should follow the same guidelines as the audition requirements. However, the repertoire presented does not need to be exactly the same as that offered for the audition.
Master of Music
Applicants should prepare a program of at least 45 minutes, consisting of three or more contrasting works representative of a variety of styles. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate their personal strengths and interests in their repertoire choices, and to include repertoire by composers from historically underrepresented groups.
Additionally, applicants are requested to submit 20-30 minutes of video-recorded teaching samples in the form of two or three 10-minute lesson segments with different students in different levels. Include a document with information about the lessons and the students in the samples, including their ages and levels, how long you have worked with the students, the materials you currently use and have used in their lessons, the lesson goals in the included samples and your general assessment of the student (musically, technically, etc). Also include a self-assessment of the lesson samples (e.g., things that went well, things you would have done differently, etc.). As well, examples of writing samples (e.g., class papers), if available, are also encouraged.
Graduate Degree Sheets
Requirements for Collaborative Piano Applicants
- Pre-screening: Required; due Dec. 1 (repertoire below)
- Audition: Required
Please reach out to collaborativepiano@colorado.edu with questions.
Pre-Screening Recording
Pre-screening recordings are required for all graduate collaborative piano (including Vocal Coaching) applicants. Recordings will not be reviewed until the online application and supporting materials have been received. Live auditions will be granted to applicants chosen from these recordings. Applicants will be notified of the faculty decision no later than December 15.
Recordings must be made with instrumental and vocal partners. If invited for a live audition, applicants may choose to present the repertoire previously submitted for pre-screening consideration.
Pre-Screening Recording Requirements
The recording should feature the following repertoire:
- Two contrasting movements of a standard sonata for violin or cello and piano, such as Franck, Brahms, Beethoven or Prokofiev
- Two art songs of contrasting styles and character, one French and the other German (this repertoire may include - but is not limited to - the list of recommended vocal repertoire)
Applicants are required to submit their pre-screening recordings to the Graduate Application. The deadline for submission is December 1.
Live Auditions
Applicants should prepare a program comprising all elements listed below. All auditions must be presented with partners; applicants may bring their own partners when possible. Otherwise, partners will be arranged locally and applicants will have the opportunity to rehearse once with their instrumental colleagues prior to the audition. All vocal selections will be performed unrehearsed.
In addition to performance of the prepared repertoire, there will be a sight-reading component as well as an interview during the audition process. Applicants should bring a current repertoire list with them to the audition.
Master of Music repertoire requirements
- One complete standard sonata for stringed instrument and piano, such as Franck, Brahms, Beethoven, or Prokofiev
- The first movement of one of the following Mozart concerti:
- Violin: K. 216 in G major, K. 218 in D major, or K. 219 in A major
- Flute: K. 313/285c in G major
- Oboe: K. 314/271k in C major
- Clarinet: K. 622 in A major
- Bassoon: K. 191/186e in B-flat major
- Horn: K. 217, K. 447, or K. 495 in E-flat major
- A group of six art songs of contrasting styles and character, representing the French, German and English languages. See recommendation list below.
Doctor of Musical Arts repertoire requirements
- Two complete standard sonatas for instrument and piano, such as Franck, Brahms, Beethoven, or Prokofiev. One sonata must be for a stringed instrument and piano, the other for a wind/brass instrument and piano
- The first movement of one of the Mozart concerti listed above
- A group of six art songs of contrasting styles and character, representing the French, German and English languages. See recommendation list below.
Applicants should indicate their repertoire selections using the online Audition Repertoire Form before Jan. 1.
Questions regarding the collaborative piano program and the audition requirements can be sent to: collaborativepiano@colorado.edu.
Recommended vocal repertoire
Applicants may select art songs from the standard repertoire, and every effort will be made to partner the chosen pieces. A list of recommended repertoire follows:
German
J. Brahms Botschaft
F. Schubert Ganymed
or Gretchen am Spinnrade
R. Schumann Waldesgespräch or Mondnacht
R. Strauss Allerseelen or Ständchen
H. Wolf Er ists
French
C. Debussy Il pleure dans mon coeur or C’est l’extase
H. Duparc Phidylé or Chanson triste
G. Faure Mandoline or Clair de lune
English
S. Barber St. Ita’s Vision
or The Monk and His Cat
A. Copland
Heart! We Will Forget Him!
R. Vaughan Williams The Vagabond or The Roadside Fire
Graduate Degree Sheets
Contact the Collaborative Piano Program Visit the Keyboard page
Requirements for Vocal Coaching Applicants
-
Pre-screening: Required; due Dec. 1 (repertoire below)
-
Audition: Required
Please reach out to collaborativepiano@colorado.edu with questions.
Pre-Screening Recording Requirements:
One aria and one art song of contrasting styles performed with a singer.
Applicants are required to submit their pre-screening recordings to the Graduate Application. The deadline for submission is Dec. 1.
Live Auditions:
- Choose one of the following Mozart arias to play and sing (substitutions upon request):
- “Hai già vinta la causa” from Le nozze di Figaro
- “Temerari, sortite fuori di questo loco... Come scoglio” from Così fan tutte
- Choose one of the following arias to play. A singer will be provided at the audition.
- “No word from Tom” from Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress (complete)
- “Sein wir wieder gut” from Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos
- Choose one ensemble to play with a conductor. Be prepared to provide basic cues.
- “Bella figlia dell’amore” quartet from Verdi’s Rigoletto
- Quartet from the 3rd act of Puccini’s La bohème
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Choose 3 art songs to play – one each in English, German, and French. A singer will be provided. Be prepared to coach any of these songs in your audition.
-
Choose the first movement of a standard string sonata to play. An instrumentalist will be provided.
Applicants should indicate their repertoire selections using the online Audition Repertoire Form before Jan. 1. Questions regarding the collaborative piano program and the audition requirements can be sent to: collaborativepiano@colorado.edu.