Horn 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.

For information on applying for our ensembles, visit the Ensembles section.

Audition requirements

Where possible, you are encouraged to include works by historically underrepresented composers in your audition repertoire. Find compendiums and resources from the League of American Orchestras, Juilliard and CU Boulder’s very own American Music Research Center.

  1. Mozart concerto of choice (K. 412, K. 417, K. 447 or K.495), mvmt. 1 exposition
  2. Contrasting solo work of choice
  3. Orchestral excerpts (please choose three excerpts from the list below. Excerpts may be downloaded from the International Horn Society website):
    • Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, Mvmt. 3 Trio, Hn. 2 
    • Beethoven: Symphony No. 7, Mvmt. 1
    • Brahms: Symphony No. 3, Mvmt. 3 Hn. 1
    • Mussorgsky/Ravel: Pictures at an Exhibition, Promenade, Hn. 1
    • Price: Symphony No. 1, Mvmt. 3 (Juba Dance) Hn. 1
    • Ravel: Pavane for a Dead Princess, Hn. 1
    • Shostakovich: Symphony 5, Mvmt. 1 Hn. 1
    • R. Strauss: Don Juan, Hn. 1 
    • Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4, Mvmt. 1 Hn. 1 and 2
    • Williams: Star Wars Suite: 2.  Princess Leia’s Theme

If you choose to submit a recorded audition, please complete the requirements for the live audition above. Each component of the recording should be unedited, but the final recording may be a compilation of your best version of each requirement.

Degree sheets

Horn studio
Brass + percussion

Graduate horn applicant requirements

A pre-screening recording is required for all graduate horn applicants 

Pre-screening recording requirements

Repertoire

  • Mozart Concerto K.419 or K.495 (exposition only)
  • A 60-90 second premade video in the style of TikTok Video or Instagram Reel. This video should be a performance of transcribed material (for any instrument and in any genre). The video should demonstrate (through musical performance, text and hashtags) the applicant’s most valued assets and artistic ideals. 
  • The following orchestral excerpts:    
    • Brahms—Symphony 3, mvmt. 3, horn 1
    • Shostakovich—Symphony 5, mvmt., horn 1 - low tutti
    • R. Strauss—Till Eulenspiegel, opening horn 1

Note: Each component of the recording should be without edit, but the final recording may be a compilation of your best version of each requirement

Live auditions

Materials from pre-screening may be replicated for the live audition.

Repertoire

  • Mozart Concerto of your choice (movement 1). Please be prepared to explain a connection between your Mozart selection and your solo work of choice. 
  • A contrasting solo work of the applicant’s choice
  • The following excerpts:
    • Beethoven Symphony 6, movement 3, horn 1
    • Brahms Symphony 3, movement 3, horn 1
    • Shostakovich - Symphony 5, mvmt. 1 (horn 1 - low tutti) 
    • R. Strauss Ein Heldenleben, opening, horn 1
    • Three additional excerpts of the applicant’s choosing from the orchestral, film and television, chamber ensemble (wind/brass quintet, etc.) or wind ensemble repertoire

Where possible, you are encouraged to include works by historically underrepresented composers in your audition repertoire. Find compendiums and resources from the League of American Orchestras, Juilliard and CU Boulder’s very own American Music Research Center.

Recorded auditions


Live auditions are strongly preferred. A recorded audition (live performance or studio recording) may be submitted in place of a live audition. Please visit the recorded audition guidelines for information on submitting a recording.

A live audition is required to qualify for Teaching Assistantships. Applicants unable to travel for a live audition should contact their respective faculty member directly. Requirements for a recorded audition are identical to a live audition. Editing within a movement is prohibited. Any indication of editing may disqualify the candidate from admission. The recording (audio/video) must be in a digital format with high quality audio. 
Please note that while recorded auditions will be given full consideration, the best demonstration of your musical ability is through a live audition.

Graduate degree sheets

Horn studio     
Brass + percussion

Applications for Artist Diploma in solo instrumental performance are only accepted in percussion (marimba/vibraphone), strings (violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, harp), jazz and woodwinds (bassoon, clarinet, flute, oboe, saxophone). 

Artist Diploma in solo instrumental performance

Applications for Artist Diploma in chamber music performance are only accepted in strings (violin, viola, cello, bass).​

Applications for Artist Diploma in orchestral performance are only accepted in brass (trumpet, trombone, horn, tuba), strings (violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, harp) and woodwinds (bassoon, clarinet, oboe).

Artist Diploma in orchestral performance