Master of Music in Performance

Accompanying
Students should be prepared to present the following:

1. A 10-15 minute program of representative vocal selections including both French and German art song literature as well as an Italian aria. Applicants should be prepared to give poetic and word-for-word translations of the offered repertoire.

2. A 15-minute program of instrumental works plus a complete orchestral introduction to the first movement of a Mozart or Beethoven concerto.

3. One solo work of approximately 5 minutes in length.

4. Applicants will be asked to sight-read.

Applicants should contact Dr. Andrew Harley, Coordinator of the Accompanying degree program, approximately one month prior to the requested audition date.   Ideally, the applicant can bring their partners to the audition. Should this not be possible, the School of Music will endeavor to provide vocalists and instrumentalists to perform the selected repertoire.

Piano Performance
Students should be prepared to present the following minimum repertoire, preferably from memory:

1. A composition by J.S. Bach, such as a Prelude and Fugue from The Well Tempered Clavier, a Suite, or Toccata.
2. One of the more demanding Sonatas or sets of Variations by a classical composer (e.g., Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert).
3. Two advanced compositions by Romantic and/or 20th-century composers. 

Piano Pedagogy
The applicant should prepare about 20 minutes of music representing at least three historical periods. 

1. The difficulty level should be comparable to undergraduate piano study at the senior level. 
2. At least two selections should be memorized. 
3. The applicant will also be asked to sight-read intermediate level repertoire and demonstrate a basic knowledge of keyboard harmony.

Early Keyboard Instruments
For a major in harpsichord (to be played on the harpsichord):

1. A composition by J.S. Bach, such as a prelude and fugue from the Well Tempered Clavier, a suite, or a toccata.
2. A composition by François Couperin.
3. A composition by Byrd, Sweelinck, Frescobaldi, or Froberger.
4. A short 20th-Century harpsichord composition.

For a major in fortepiano (to be played on the fortepiano):

1. A composition by J.S. Bach, W.F. Bach, or C.P.E. Bach.
2. A composition of advanced difficulty by Haydn, Mozart, or Clementi.
3. A complete sonata by Beethoven, selected from works up to and including Op. 31.

Organ
Applicants should be prepared to perform the following:

1. A moderately difficult composition by a pre-Bach composer.
2. Bach: One movement from a Trio Sonata and a major Prelude and Fugue.
3. One moderately difficult composition by a post-Bach composer.
4. A 20th-Century organ work.

NOTE: One of the above compositions should be performed from memory.

Instrumental Conducting
Submission of pre-audition materials (see Graduate Pre-Audition Request) is required.  These 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. Video recording of the applicant conducting an instrumental ensemble in a rehearsal and in a performance. The rehearsal recording must be taken from the player's perspective, camera facing the conductor. The 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 and submit the Graduate Audition Request with the audition date indicated. 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 Dr. John Locke, Director of Bands, or  Prof. Robert Gutter, Director of Orchestras.  The audition will take place during normal rehearsal times, NOT during one of the scheduled Saturday audition days.

Choral Conducting
Applicants will conduct a 30-minute rehearsal with one of the University choral groups.   The audition will take place during normal rehearsal times, NOT during one of the scheduled Saturday audition days.  Contact Dr. Welborn Young to arrange the audition.   During this rehearsal the applicant will conduct:

1. A piece already known to the group.
2. A piece, or segment of a piece, which is not already known to the group.

During the rehearsal, the applicant should demonstrate conducting technique above the average of the undergraduate student, sensitive response to the sound of the group, and the ability to elicit a musical response from the group.

In addition, the applicant will audition for placement in voice and in a keyboard instrument. The level of one of these should be at the graduate entry level; that of the other should be at least at a minimum undergraduate proficiency.

Stringed Instruments
Students should be prepared to present three or four compositions which demonstrate technical and musical proficiency necessary for advanced study, including:

1. The first movement from a major Classical, Romantic, or 20th-Century concerto.
2. A sonata of significant scope and contrasting in style to your first selection.

Wind and Percussion Instruments
Students should be prepared to present three or four compositions which demonstrate technical and musical proficiency necessary for advanced study.

1. One composition that demonstrates technique and articulation.
2. One composition that demonstrates phrasing and tone quality.
3. One composition that contains contemporary techniques.
4. Percussionists should demonstrate their abilities in four basic areas: snare drum, mallet/keyboard, timpani, and multiple percussion.

Woodwinds Concentration
Students will audition on both their primary instrument and their secondary instrument. Principal and secondary instruments must be non-alike. Students should contact both the primary and secondary teachers to make sure there is space available in both studios. Auditions on both instruments should adhere to the following audition requirements.

1. One composition that demonstrates technique and articulation.
2. One composition that demonstrates phrasing and tone quality.
3. One composition that contains contemporary techniques.

Vocal Performance/Pedagogy
Students should be prepared to present the following:

1. Four pieces representing a variety of styles and languages, performed from memory.
2. At least one of the pieces should be an operatic or oratorio aria. 

An accompanist will be provided.