Strings Audition Requirements
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Strings audition requirements vary by instrument. Carefully review all undergraduate and graduate audition requirements for your selected instrument(s).
Undergraduate strings audition requirements
Be prepared to play 2-3 contrasting solo selections, standard orchestral excerpts, and major and minor scales.
Sidney King: 502-852-1844, Email
Be prepared to play 2 or 3 contrasting pieces. Suggested repertoire consists of the following:
- A movement of a concerto
- A movement of solo Bach
- An etude
- A solo piece or sonata
Paul York: 502-852-4642, Email
All prospective guitar students must display the following:
- Completion of Aaron Shearer's Classic Guitar Technique,Vol.I or a comparable classic guitar method.
- Preparation of at least 3 contrasting pieces preferably from different historical periods (i.e. Renaissance, Baroque, Classical/Romantic, 20th c./Contemporary). One of the pieces should be etudes by such composers as Aguado, Brouwer, Carcassi, Giuliani, Sor, Tárrega, or Villa-Lobos.
- Knowledge of applicable technical studies: Giuliani's 120 Right Hand Studies, Segovia's Diatonic Major and Minor Scales, Carlevaro's School of Guitar.
- Have sufficient sight-reading abilities.
- Audition repertoire must be performed from memory.
Carlos Bedoya: Email
Be prepared to play 2 or 3 contrasting pieces. Suggested repertoire consists of the following:
- One movement from the standard viola concerto literature
AND one of these:
- One movement of solo JS Bach from the Unaccompanied Cello Suites or Violin Sonatas and Partitas arr. for viola
- A solo piece or sonata movement
- An Etude (such as Mazas or Kreutzer
Note: piano accompanist not required.
Dr. Kevin Nordstrom: 502-852-5616, Email
Be prepared to perform the following:
- One movement of any Bach Solo Sonata or Partita
- One movement of any standard Violin Concerto. The first or third movement of a Romantic, Classical or 20th century concerto is recommended.
Geoffrey Herd: 502-852-5616, Email
Graduate strings audition requirements
Appropriate audition repertoire for graduate double bass applicants would typically include:
- Contrasting movements from a concerto
- One movement from a solo Bach suite
- Another solo selection of the candidate's choice (e.g. concert piece, movement of a sonata, etc.)
- 3-4 standard orchestral excerpts showing a range of styles
Sidney King: 502-852-1844, Email
Be prepared to perform 3 to 4 works. Suggested repertoire consists of the following:
- A standard concerto
- An etude (such as Popper or Piatti)
- A solo piece or sonata
Paul York: 502-852-4642, Email
- Must have completed all requirements for undergraduate study as well as an undergraduate degree recital.
- At least a 20-minute program of appropriate repertoire, which may include any of the following or comparable works:Lute Suites by J.S. Bach, larger concert works by Mauro Giuliani and Fernando Sor, Preludes and Etudes by Heitor Villa-Lobos
- Audition repertoire must be performed from memory.
Carlos Bedoya: Email
Be prepared to play 3 or 4 contrasting pieces. Suggested repertoire consists of the following:
- One movement from the standard viola concerto literature
AND one of these:
- Two movements of solo JS Bach from the Unaccompanied Cello Suites or Violin Sonatas and Partitas arr. for viola
- A solo piece or Etude (such as Mazas, Kreutzer, Rode) and Sonata Movement
Note: piano accompanist not required.
Dr. Kevin Nordstrom: 502-852-5616, Email
- A movement of any Bach Solo Sonata or Partita
- A movement of any Mozart Concerto
- A movement of any Romantic or 20th Century Violin Concerto
Geoffrey Herd: 502-852-5616, Email
How to register for an audition
You must submit an application to the University before registering for an audition. You do not have to be admitted into the University to register for an audition. An audition registration form will become available via your Application Gateway in October. Complete an undergraduate application or a graduate application to the University of Louisville.
If you are a current UofL student looking to change majors into the School of Music, please contact the School of Music admissions office at gomusic@louisville.edu to schedule an audition.
As an undergraduate applicant, in order to be considered for a music scholarship, students must complete the application and audition process by March 1.
As a graduate applicant, in order to be considered for music scholarships and assistantships, performance/pedagogy applicants must complete the application by February 15 and audition by March 1. For Graduate Music Composition, Music Theory and Music History applicants, the application, portfolio and/or writing sample must be submitted by January 15.
For more information about scholarships please visit our scholarship page.