Doctor of Musical Arts

For all Doctor of Musical Arts applicants, a completed admissions file (application, fee, transcripts, graduate examination scores and letters of recommendation) should be received by the Graduate School at least three weeks prior to the on-campus audition and interview.

Pre-Audition Requirements for ALL Applicants
The first step for DMA applicants is to submit a pre-audition recording. This will be used to determine if that student has the sufficient skill and proficiency to be invited to campus for a live audition and interview. This should be a well recorded CD, cassette tape, DVD, or VHS tape. These recordings will not be returned. For information regarding the contents of the pre-audition recording, please consult the major professor. The pre-audition recording, along with the Pre-Audition Request form, should be sent to the Associate Dean.

The pre-audition recording will be evaluated by a faculty committee. If the performance is of sufficient quality, that student will be invited to campus for a live audition and interview. The student and major professor will determine the best date for the campus visit, and the student will then complete the Request for Graduate Audition form and send it to the Associate Dean. The on-campus auditions rarely take place during the five scheduled audition Saturdays, which are usually reserved for undergraduates and Master’s students.

Audition Requirements for Keyboard and Orchestral Instruments
The applicant will prepare a full recital, with appropriate literature in each style period, from which a 20- to 30-minute audition will be performed. Accompanists are required for all auditions, except those in percussion, keyboard, and conducting. Although it is recommended that the applicant provides his/her own accompanist, the School of Music can supply one if requested (see Request for Graduate Audition form). At the time of the on-campus audition, a list of prepared pieces should be presented from which the audition committee will select representative pieces to be performed.

Audition Requirements for Vocal Performance
The applicant will prepare a full recital, with appropriate literature in each style period, from which a 20- to 30-minute audition will be performed. Accompanists are required for all auditions. Although it is recommended that the applicant provides his/her own accompanist, the School of Music can supply one if requested (see

form). At the time of the on-campus audition, a list of prepared pieces should be presented from which the audition committee will select representative pieces to be performed. The audition must include selections from the following areas:

• At least one Art song in English, French, and German.
• An aria from an opera and one from an oratorio.
• A 20th-Century piece for voice with piano or chamber ensemble.
• At least one selection must be in Italian.

Audition Requirements for Accompanying and Chamber Music
The applicant will prepare a full recital, with appropriate literature taken from both instrumental and vocal repertoire, from which a 20 to 30 minute audition will be performed. It is recommended that the applicant provide his/her own partners. Should it not be feasible for the applicant to bring their partners to the audition because of distance or other extenuating circumstances, UNC Greensboro will endeavor to provide vocal and instrumental partners to play the selected repertoire. 

Applicants for the DMA in Accompanying and Chamber Music should contact Dr. Andrew Harley, Director of the accompanying program, approximately one month prior to the submission of the pre-audition CD, to discuss repertoire.   

At the time of the on-campus audition, a list of prepared works should be presented from which the audition committee will make selections. This list is in addition to the complete repertoire lists, required of all applicants.

Audition Requirements for Choral Conducting
The pre-audition materials should include:

• Videotapes as described above in "Pre-Audition Requirements for all Applicants."
• A repertory list of significant compositions conducted in the past five years, including the name of the ensemble(s) and date(s) of performance. (This may be included with the repertory list submitted with the pre-audition tape)

Applicants who successfully pass the pre-audition will receive an invitation for the on-campus audition. At that time, the applicant should contact Dr. Welborn Young to schedule the time and repertoire for the audition.  During the on-campus audition and interview, the applicant will conduct a rehearsal with at least one UNCG choral ensemble no later than two months before the end of the spring or fall semester. At minimum, after consultation with Dr. Welborn Young , the applicant will rehearse/teach: (1) a piece already known to the group and (2) a piece, or segment of a piece, which is not already known to the group. In this rehearsal applicant will be expected to demonstrate the following:

• Conducting technique at the doctoral level of performance.
• Skillful teaching procedures and easy rapport with the group.
• Sensitive response to the sound of the group.
• Understanding of the style of the music.
• Proficient use of the voice.

Vocal and keyboard auditions are also required.  In the vocal audition, the applicant will be asked to sing the appropriate voice part in excerpts from representative works of various styles. In the keyboard audition, the applicant will demonstrate the ability to reduce vocal parts at the level of difficulty of Haydn's "The Heavens are Telling" and instrumental parts at the level of difficulty of Dello Joio's "To Saint Cecilia."

Audition Requirements for Instrumental Conducting
The pre-audition materials should include:

1. An audio tape containing a representative sampling of the applicant conducting an instrumental ensemble. The quality of the performance and the repertoire conducted are important considerations.
2. VHS videotapes of the applicant conducting an instrumental ensemble in a rehearsal and in a performance. The videotape of a rehearsal must be recorded from the player's perspective, camera facing the conductor. The videotape performance may be recorded from either the player's perspective or the audience's perspective.
3. A repertory list of significant compositions conducted in the past five years, including the names of the ensembles and dates of performances.
4. A list of all formal conducting training including each academic course (institution, teacher, academic credit, text-books, etc.) as well as workshops or institutes attended.

Applicants who successfully pass the pre-audition will receive an invitation for the on-campus audition. At that time, the applicant should contact the Director of Bands or the Director of Orchestras to schedule the time and repertoire for the audition. During the audition, the applicant will conduct a rehearsal with at least one UNCG instrumental ensemble no later than two months before the end of the fall or spring semester. The audition will be on a minimum of two compositions. During the audition, the audition committee will determine the order and length of work on a specific piece and will evaluate the ensemble part of the audition..

In the audition, the applicant will demonstrate:

1. Ability to communicate musical ideas with conviction through conducting and rehearsal techniques.
2. Ability to evaluate and respond to the sound of an instrumental ensemble.

Arrangements for this audition should be made directly with either Dr. John Locke, Director of Bands or Professor Robert Gutter, Director of Orchestras.  The audition will take place during normal rehearsal times, NOT during one of the scheduled Saturday audition days.