Undergraduate Applicants should prepare the following material for an audition:
Solo pieces:
Two contrasting pieces of the applicant’s choice from two different stylistic periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionist, Contemporary). The chosen literature should demonstrate the student’s present skill level.
Optional third solo (or etude) that represents the applicant's musical interests and/or skills. This could be a non-classical piece (e.g. a selection of jazz, folk, traditional, or other type of non-classical music), or the applicant’s own composition. This is optional and is not a requirement.
Note: Please be advised that auditions are scheduled within a 15-minute time slot. Time may not permit entire works or concerto movements to be performed and applicants will be asked to play selections from the works they have prepared.
Scales and Arpeggios:
A two-handed, three-octave scale of the applicant’s choice.
A 5-octave arpeggio of the applicant’s choice.
Sight Reading:
Music reading skills are critical to a student’s success as a harpist. Applicants will be given a short passage to sight read in the audition that is comparable to early-intermediate level repertoire.
Bachelor of Music in Performance (Harp) only:
Orchestra excerpt: Applicants intending to pursue a degree in Harp Performance should also prepare one of the following orchestral excerpts:
Bizet: L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2, Mvt 3, Menuet (m.1 - m.42)
Britten: Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, cadenza
Rimsky-Korsakov, Capriccio Espagnol, cadenza
Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker, Cadenza from Waltz of the Flowers.
For questions about repertoire, degree programs, or any other concern about harp auditions, please contact Prof. Amber Joy Koeppen.
(updated September, 2023)