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 January 1, 2022:

• Video of the candidate conducting at least two works, in either rehearsal or 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 
• 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 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 10, 2022. For more information, or to submit pre-screening materials, contact Dr. Matthew Forte at forte@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)

*Applicants interested in the MM String Pedagogy degree should prepare one solo etude, one movement from Bach Sonatas or Partitas and the first movement of Mozart Concerto 4 or 5

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)

* Applicants interested in the MM String Pedagogy degree must submit a supplemental violin recording demonstrating a professional competency level. Please contact Susan Kempter for more information: susankempter@gmail.com

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)

Doublebass

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)

Undergraduate:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and limited access to percussion instruments, students wishing to be considered for a music scholarship or entrance into the percussion studio will be asked to play the requirements in only one of the four areas below. Students are encouraged to play requirements in more than one area if they have access to equipment. Email Professor Scott Ney at LSNey@unm.edu if you have questions.

Snare Drum

1. Ability to read intermediate snare drum literature
2. Play several Percussive Arts Society International Drum Rudiments at a medium to fast tempo:
   

   #4 – Multiple Bounce Roll

   #6 – Double Stroke Open Roll

   #16 – Paradiddle

   #21 – Flam Accent

   #38 – Single Ratamacue
   

   **Rudiments can be found at https://www.pas.org/resources/rudiments

3. Play a concert or rudimental snare drum etude or solo (Firth, Delecluse, Peters, Cirone, etc)

Mallet-Keyboard Percussion

1. Ability to read intermediate mallet-keyboard literature
2. Play 12 major scales – two octaves
3. Play a two or four-mallet solo/etude (Goldenberg, Bach, Stout, Friedman, Green, etc)

Timpani

1. Ability to read intermediate timpani literature
2. Ability to correctly tune the instrument
3. Play an etude or solo piece (Peters, Firth, Hochrainer, Carter, Bergamo, etc)

Drum Set 

1. Ability to read intermediate level jazz ensemble charts
2. Demonstration of styles: medium and up-tempo swing, jazz brush playing, Afro-Caribbean, funk, and rock
3. Ability to play jazz time and solo. Do this in the following format: play 4 bars of time, play 4 bars of solo, 4 bars of time, 4 bars of solo, etc.

 

Graduate:

Applicants should demonstrate proficiency in a few of the following areas of performance:

• Concert snare drum (ex. etudes from Delecluse, Peters, or Cirone)
• Orchestral snare drum (ex. excerpts from Prokofiev, Rimsky-Korsakov, or Neilson)
• Two or four-mallet marimba/vibraphone solo performance (ex. Abe, Ewazen, Tanaka, Stout, Burritt)
• Orchestral mallet-percussion (ex. excerpts from Bernstein, Dukas, Gershwin, Messiaen, or Kodaly)
• Solo timpani performance or orchestral repertoire performance (ex. Carter, Houllif, Bergamo)
• Multiple-Percussion solo and/or advanced chamber ensemble literature
• Drumset – *see undergraduate drumset requirements
• Demonstration of world percussion styles (ex. Afro-Cuban, steel drum, Brazilian, African, etc.)

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.

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

Recommendation letters (two, including high school music teacher)

GPA, SAT/ACT

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 The deadline for Scholarship Auditions ar February 21 & 26, 2022.

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

Send Materials: 1) Cover letter indicating your interest in the Music Education scholarships, date of completed or intended Department of Music audition, GPA, and SAT/ACT scores; 2) two recommendation letters, and 3) essay on music teaching. Emailed submissions (pdf if possible) are preferred: otucker@unm.edu or gnicholson@unm.edu

Hardcopies:

Music Education

MSC04 2570

University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM 87131

The deadline to register is February 16, 2023.

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 or other university units.

Additional Scholarships are available for students majoring in music education.  Please contact Dr. Olivia Tucker otucker@unm.edu or Dr. George Nicholson gnicholson@unm.edu for more details.