Audition Information

Undergraduate:

• Two pieces of different periods, about 10-15 minutes of music for piano performance

Entrance into the program requires pre-screening, which includes submission of the following materials, to be received no later than December 1, 2024

• Video of the candidate conducting at least two works, preferably in both rehearsal and performance, contrasting in style, with a cumulative duration of no less than ten (10) and no greater than twenty-five (25) minutes.
• A current curriculum vitae/resume
• A letter of application that addresses two questions: 1) What are your goals as a conductor and musician, both short and long-term? 2) In what ways do you hope that the UNM orchestral or band program might help you to achieve these goals: why here?

Based on these pre-screening materials, applicants who progress to the final round will be notified of the next steps no later than January 15, 2025. For more information, or to submit pre-screening materials, contact Dr. Emily Moss, emoss@unm.edu.

Violin

Undergraduate:

• 2 scales of choice, one major, one minor, 3 octaves
• One solo etude of choice (such as Kreutzer, Fiorillo, Rode, etc.)
• One movement of a concerto, sonata or concertpiece (accompaniment preferred but not required)

Graduate:

• One solo etude of choice showing advanced technique
• 2 contrasting movements from J. S. Bach solo sonatas or partitas
• One movement of a concerto, sonata or concertpiece (accompaniment preferred but not required)

*In addition to the above audition requirements, applicants interested in the Bachelor of Music or Master of Music in String Pedagogy degrees should contact Dr. Aaron Jacobs at aaronjacobs@unm.edu to schedule a short interview.

Viola

Undergraduate:

• 2 scales of choice, one major, one minor, 3 octaves
• One solo etude of choice (such as Bruni, Campagnoli Palaschko)
• One movement of a concerto, sonata or concertpiece (accompaniment preferred but not required)

Graduate:

• One solo etude of choice showing advanced technique
• One movement from the J. S. Bach solo works for cello or violin, transcribed
• One standard orchestral excerpt
• One movement of a concerto, sonata or concertpiece (accompaniment preferred but not required)

*In addition to the above audition requirements, applicants interested in the Bachelor of Music or Master of Music in String Pedagogy degrees should contact Dr. Aaron Jacobs at aaronjacobs@unm.edu to schedule a short interview.

 

Cello

Undergraduate:

• 2 scales of choice, one major, one minor, 3 octaves
• One solo etude of choice (such as Dotzauer, Popper or Schroeder)
• One movement of a concerto, sonata or concertpiece (accompaniment preferred but not required)

Graduate:

• One solo etude of choice showing advanced technique
• One movement from the J. S. Bach solo works for cello
• One standard orchestral excerpt
• One movement of a concerto, sonata or concertpiece (accompaniment preferred but not required)

*In addition to the above audition requirements, applicants interested in the Bachelor of Music or Master of Music in String Pedagogy degrees should contact Dr. Aaron Jacobs at aaronjacobs@unm.edu to schedule a short interview.

Double Bass

Undergraduate:

• 2 scales of choice, one major, one minor, 2 octaves
• One solo etude of choice (such as Simandl)
• One movement of a concerto, sonata or concertpiece (accompaniment preferred but not required)

Graduate:

• One solo etude of choice showing advanced technique
• One movement from the J. S. Bach solo works for cello
• One movement of a concerto, sonata or concertpiece (accompaniment preferred but not required)

*In addition to the above audition requirements, applicants interested in the Bachelor of Music or Master of Music in String Pedagogy degrees should contact Dr. Aaron Jacobs at aaronjacobs@unm.edu to schedule a short interview.

Below you will find audition requirements for entrance into the University of New Mexico Percussion Studio. If you’re unable to make one of the official Department of Music audition dates, you may post videos on a private YouTube channel and send us a link.  

Audition Requirements

Students need to audition in a minimum of two of the performance areas listed below. Auditioning for a jazz studies degree requires performance in drumset, and then one other area of performance (snare, mallets, or timpani). 

Snare Drum

1. A concert or rudimental style written solo or etude. Acceptable etudes/solos could come from one of the following:
2. Portraits in Rhythm by Anthony Cirone
3. The Solo Snare Drummer by Vic Firth
4. Intermediate Studies (Etudes 21-32) or Advanced Studies for Snare Drum by Mitchell Peters
5. 14 Modern Contest Solos by William Pratt
6. The All-American Drummer by Charles Wilcoxon (any full-page solo)
7. Ability to sight-read intermediate snare drum literature.
8. PAS International Drum Rudiments. Be able to play 4-5 rudiments of your choice.

Mallet Keyboard Percussion

1. All 12 Major Scales – 2 octaves.
2. Ability to read intermediate mallet literature.
3. Perform a two and/or four-mallet solo/etude. Suggested repertoire:

1. Koshinski: Any solo from Two: A Collection of Concert Pieces for Two-Mallet Marimba Solo
2. Mayazumi: Concertino for Xylophone (Allegro or Presto movent)
3. George Hamilton Greens Xylophone Rags
4. Goldenberg: Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba, and Vibraphone. Appropriate Etudes would be #5-9,12-26,28-39.
5. Musser: Etude in Ab, Op. 6, No. 2
6. Peters: Yellow After The Rain
7. Musser: Etude in C Major, Op. 6, No. 10
8. Smadbeck: Rhythm Song
9. Stout: Two Mexican Dances
10. Abe: Michi
11. Molenhof: Vibe Songs
12. Glentworth: Blues for Gilbert

Timpani 

1. Ability to match pitch and tune pitches on the drums.
2. Concert etude or solo piece using 3-4 drums. Repertoire could come from: Mitchell Peters: Fundamental Method for Timpani, Saul Goodman: Modern Method for Timpani, John Beck: Sonata For Timpani (1st movement), John Bergamo: Four Movements For Timpani (1st movement).

Drum Set

1. Demonstration of basic styles: swing, jazz brush playing, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, rock, and funk.
2. Ability to read intermediate level drumset charts.
3. Play over the form of a jazz tune such as a 12-bar blues or 32 bar AABA tune.  
4. Trade 4 or 8 measure solos with yourself – this might include 4 measures of a swing time feel followed by a four-measure solo – repeating this numerous times.

Suggested repertoire:

“Simple Etudes” by Leo Brouwer
“25 Melodious Studies” by Matteo Carcassi.
“20 Studies of Fernando Sor” Segovia edition.
“24 Preludes, op. 114” by Fernando Carulli.
“Preludes” (any) by Villa-Lobos.

Please contact Ben Silva for other repertoire options.

In addition, students are expected to know from memory “Modes for Guitar”

Students should also know how to pluck the strings with good sound and technique as described in my “Lesson 1”

Undergraduate Voice Audition Requirements:

To audition as an undergraduate student for applied vocal lessons in the vocal area you must:

• Prepare 2 contrasting selections in English, Italian, German, French, and/or Spanish. Styles may include classical (preferred), musical theater, and folk songs.
• Bring a clean copy of your music double-sided, in a three-ring binder or on an iPad for your collaborative pianist (provided).
• Sight-reading: there will be a short selection to sight read.
• Contact Mikal Thompson at hallowho@unm.edu to schedule an audition. Contact Dr. Olga Perez Flora at oflora@unm.edu for further questions.

Graduate Vocal:

The Graduate Voice Entrance Audition to the University of New Mexico consists of several portions (prepared music, a “quick learn” recitative, and cold-reading the major singing languages) in addition to a brief interview.

PREPARED SELECTIONS – total of 5 (five) pieces
Candidates are to prepare four (4) pieces from memory, one in each of the major singing languages (English, French, German and Italian). This can be a combination of art songs and arias. Within this package of four pieces, both art songs and arias must be represented. These are to be presented from memory. A candidate may present possible cuts (or be ready to sing only one verse, or part of a da-capo aria) depending on the overall length of the selections.

In addition, for the fifth prepared selection, the candidate will bring an oratorio selection. This can be sung using music.

Within the five selections mentioned above, the candidate must show a minimum of three major musical styles.

RECITATIVE – given one week in advance
Candidates will receive a brief Italian recitative excerpt to learn and perform. The PDF of the selection will be sent exactly one week prior to the audition. During the pre-audition coachings with Dr. Ditlow, she will not coach this piece. Admission is not contingent on this exercise, but it can help with scholarship or assistantship consideration with those who do well on this portion. Memorization is NOT required but is optional.

COLD-READING – given in the audition
Candidates will be given four lines (each) of Italian, French and German. This is to help the faculty assess placement and also to assist with making recommendations during the graduate program in terms of diction and language classes. Admission is not contingent on this exercise, but it can help with scholarship or assistantship consideration with those who do well on this portion.

BRIEF INTERVIEW
Candidates will be asked to discuss their backgrounds and experiences in teaching and performing, as well as why they seek to get a masters’ degree at this time.

No prescreen is required.

Please contact Dr. Olga Flora for more information.

Horn
Undergraduate – Two contrasting solo work or etudes, and all major scales.
Graduate – solo work of choice, six orchestra/band excerpts, and one etude from 48 Etudes for Horn by Verne Reynolds

Trumpet
Undergraduate – Two contrasting solo works or etudes, and all major scales.
Graduate – Two contrasting solo works or movements, 6-8 orchestral/band excerpts, and one etude from either 36 Études Transcendantes by Theo Charlier, or 12 Studies in Classical and Modern Style by Paolo Longinotti.

*If the applicant can demonstrate the ability to play piccolo trumpet, either on solo work or excerpt, that would be preferred but is not required.

Trombone
Undergraduate—two contrasting etudes or movements from solo works, and all major scales.
Graduate—Two contrasting solo works or movements and at least one item from the list below:

Five orchestral/band excerpts
Two contrasting advanced etudes
A jazz standard with improvising

*Demonstration of the ability to play alto trombone on any of the above for tenor trombone applicants is preferred but not required.

Euphonium
Undergraduate/Graduate – Two contrasting solo works, two contrasting etudes, and 6-8 orchestral/band excerpts.

Tuba
Undergraduate/Graduate – Two contrasting solo works, two contrasting etudes, and 6-8 orchestral/band excerpts.

Students are expected to play a solo of their choice. Piano accompaniment is not required for the scholarship audition. For specific repertoire recommendations please contact the instructor of your instrument.

NUMBER OF AWARDS
Six to ten scholarships per year for incoming freshmen or transfer students

AMOUNT OF AWARDS
$400-$800 per year

RENEWABILITY
Guaranteed renewable for eight semesters for students making satisfactory progress through the Bachelor of Music Education degree program

SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA
Musicianship, desire to teach, communication skill, intellectual ability, leadership potential, self-initiative, mature judgment

HOW MEASURED
Department of Music Audition

2 Letters of Recommendation (including high school music teacher)

GPA

Essay on music teaching (500-800 words) describing your: 1)experience in music, teaching, and leadership; 2) reasons for wanting to teach; and 3) personal and professional goals

TO APPLY

Audition and Interview for UNM Faculty. Department of Music Scholarship Audition dates are Monday, Feb. 17 and Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.

To request an audition on primary instrument and an interview for music education, e-mail hallowho@unm.edu. 

Send Materials:

1. Cover letter indicating your interested in Music Education; Date of completed or intended audition; GPA
2. Two recommendation letters
3. Essay on Music Teaching

Email Submissions in PDFs are preferred and be sent to: Dr. Melissa Ryan at melissaryan@unm.edu

Deadline for receiving applications is Monday, February 10, 2025. 

Consideration for these scholarships will be separate from other awards. Meritorious students frequently combine music education scholarships with other forms of financial aid through the Department of Music and/or other university units.

For further information, contact Dr. Melissa Ryan at melissaryan@unm.edu.