Keyboard audition information
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 Jan. 1.
Undergraduate piano + harpsichord
Undergraduate application instructions
Graduate application instructions
Note: All graduate piano performance and piano pedagogy applicants must also apply for the Graduate Assistantship in Accompanying + Teaching. Submit this form by Jan. 1.
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.
Applicants may choose to audition in-person or remotely. To audition remotely, applicants must complete both of the following:
- Submit a recording
- Register for a Zoom interview with faculty.
More information about the audition process and recording specifications can be found here.
Essay prompt
A short music essay is required with your application. Upload the essay on your status page. Please choose one of the following prompts:
- Tell us why you would like to be a music major, describe your most powerful musical experience and list your future goals as a musician. Comment on your musical background and share anything else you would like us to know.
- “Music lets you rediscover your humanity, and your connection to humanity.” -Hans Zimmer. In what ways do you believe music can or should connect people across difference?
Undergraduate application instructions
Graduate application instructions
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).
Applicants may choose to audition in-person or remotely. To audition remotely, applicants must complete both of the following:
- Submit a recording
- Register for a Zoom interview with faculty.
Essay prompt
A short music essay is required with your application. Upload the essay on your status page. Please choose one of the following prompts:
- Tell us why you would like to be a music major, describe your most powerful musical experience and list your future goals as a musician. Comment on your musical background and share anything else you would like us to know.
- “Music lets you rediscover your humanity, and your connection to humanity.” -Hans Zimmer. In what ways do you believe music can or should connect people across difference?
Degree sheets
Graduate piano + keyboard
2025 Piano audition date: Feb. 1, 2025
For pre-screening videos, MM applicants should prepare a program of at least 45 minutes. DMA applicants should prepare a program of at least 60 minutes. For both degrees, the program should consist of three or more contrasting works representative of a variety of styles. The repertoire presented for pre-screening 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
Requirements for Early Keyboard—Harpsichord Performance applicants
Master of Music (MM)
Audition (20 minutes)
- 1 English pavan and galliard–Byrd, Bull or Gibbons
- 1 toccata–Girolamo Frescobaldi
- 1 17th/18th-century French suite constituted by the applicant–L. Couperin, D’Anglebert, F. Couperin or Rameau
- 1 Prelude and fugue (WTC I or II)–J.S. Bach
In addition to the required resume, personal statement, transcript, and letters of recommendation, applicants to the MM in early keyboard must also submit a writing sample that is an academic paper demonstrating research and writing skills.
Writing sample: An academic paper demonstrating ability in critical thinking, research techniques and skill in the cogent use of English.
Requirements for harpsichord applicants
Master of Music (MM)
Audition (20 minutes):
- 1 English pavan and galliard–Byrd, Bull or Gibbons
- 1 toccata–Girolamo Frescobaldi
- 1 17th/18th-century French suite constituted by the applicant–L. Couperin, D’Anglebert, F. Couperin or Rameau
- 1 Prelude and fugue (WTC I or II)–J.S. Bach
- A sight reading with 10 min of preparation of a solo piece and a basso continuo piece
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
- 1 Fantasia or plainchant variation set–Byrd, Bull or Gibbons
- 1 Toccata–Girolamo Frescobaldi or JJ Froberger
- 1 17/18th century French suite constituted by the applicant and including an unmeasured prelude
- Either: 1 prelude & fugue (WTC I or II) OR 3 movements from a Partita including the opening movement OR the Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue
- 1 Scarlatti sonata
- 1 prepared basso continuo score–we will communicate with you about accompaniment
- 1 sight reading with 10 min of preparation
Live auditions are strongly preferred. Applicants are encouraged to visit our campus for your audition, allowing you to take inspiration from our beautiful location. A recorded audition or live performance (completed remotely) may be submitted in place of a live audition when a live audition is not possible. Please see the Recorded (Video) Audition Guidelines for information on submitting a video. You are strongly encouraged to contact Assistant Professor of Harpsichord Gordis before submitting your application at lillian.gordis@colorado.edu.
2025 piano audition date: Feb. 1, 2025
For pre-screening videos, applicants should prepare a program of at least 45 minutes, consisting of three or more contrasting works representative of a variety of styles. The repertoire presented for pre-screening 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 Dec. 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 Dec. 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
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
- 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.