Auditioning for the Department of Music
Photographer: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
The University at Buffalo’s Department of Music welcomes talented musicians to audition for our undergraduate programs (MusB and BA), performance minors and Master of Music (MM) in Performance. Auditions are held throughout the academic year for both fall and spring semester enrollments.
Current UB students
Auditions are held during the first week of fall and spring semesters for students who want to:
- Declare a music major or performance minor
- Take studio lessons for credit (non-major)
Audition date: Friday, August 29, from 2–5 p.m.
Location: Baird Recital Hall (250 Baird Hall)
Prospective students:
Auditions are offered later in the fall and spring semesters for prospective students like:
- High schoolers
- Transfer students applying to UB
Audition date: Friday, November 7, from 3–5 p.m.
Location: Baird Recital Hall (250 Baird Hall)
We want to hear your best, so review our suggested repertoire (audition requirements see below) to guide your preparation.
- Voice auditions will be accompanied. Please contact Michael Serio before your scheduled time to coordinate.
- Instrumental auditions do not require accompaniment.
- Video auditions are accepted for prospective music majors and MM applicants. Just include a link to your performance when submitting your department or graduate application.
🎥 Note: Video submissions are for prospective majors only—not for studio lessons or minor auditions.
Apply for a Music Performance Major
Follow these steps to begin your musical journey at UB:
Step 1: Apply to the Graduate School
- Complete your application to the University at Buffalo’s Graduate School.
- For more information on deadlines and criteria, visit the Graduate Admissions page.
Step 2: Department of Music Application
- Submit the Graduate Student Audition Request Form to request an audition date.
- Choose between a spring audition or a video submission.
Step 3: Audition
Auditions are required for all MM in Performance applicants. Candidates may audition in person or submit a video audition if in-person attendance is not possible.
Graduate Audition Requirements by Instrument:
Violin
- Two movements from the Bach “Unaccompanied Sonatas and Partitas” (e.g., a B minor movement and its double together count as one).
- A movement from a standard concerto.
- A contemporary work.
- An additional work such as a showpiece, Paganini caprice, or a sonata movement.
Viola
- All major and minor scales and arpeggios.
- An etude by Kreutzer, Campagnoli, or Rode.
- Two contrasting movements from a Bach “Suite for Unaccompanied Cello.”
- One movement of a sonata from the Romantic or Contemporary repertoire.
- A concerto movement by Bartók, Hindemith, or Walton.
Cello
- All major and minor scales/arpeggios (4 octaves), scales in broken 3rds, 6ths, and octaves.
- Prepare three of the following (two works must be complete):
- An 18th-century sonata (Italian, French, or German).
- A solo suite by Bach, Reger, or Hindemith.
- A sonata by Beethoven, Brahms, Shostakovich, Kabalevsky, or Martinu.
- A concerto (e.g., Lalo, Haydn, Dvořák, Elgar, Hindemith, Boccherini, Saint-Saëns, or Tchaikovsky’s “Rococo Variations”).
- Sight-reading.
Double Bass
- Two or three octave scales with tonic arpeggios in all keys.
- An etude from “Storch-Hrabe Etudes, Book 1.”
- Two movements from Bach’s “Suite No. 1 for Violoncello” (transcribed by S. Sterling) or Capuzzi Concerto.
- Sight-reading.
- A 15-minute program representing major periods of solo vocal literature (Baroque to Contemporary).
- Include at least one Romantic lied and one operatic aria.
- Perform in at least two foreign languages.
Flute
- Major, minor, whole-tone, and chromatic scales with arpeggios (2–3 octaves).
- J.S. Bach “Partita in A minor” or a similar sonata.
- First movement of a Mozart concerto (G Major or D Major).
- A 5–7 minute unaccompanied contemporary work or a virtuoso etude.
- Standard orchestral excerpts (e.g., “Afternoon of a Faun, Daphnis et Chloé, Petrouchka”).
- Sight-reading.
Oboe
- A complete Baroque sonata or concerto.
- A Classical or Romantic work (e.g., Haydn, Mozart, or Schumann).
- A contemporary piece demonstrating extended techniques (e.g., Strauss, Hindemith, or Schuller).
Clarinet
- Play one complete composition from:
- Viennese Classical and Early Romantic repertoire (Mozart, Weber, or Spohr).
- Late Romantic and Twentieth Century repertoire (Debussy, Poulenc, Nielsen, or Brahms).
Saxophone
- A Baroque or Classical transcription (e.g., Rascher or Mule arrangements).
- A 20th-century composition (e.g., Creston, Glazounov, or Ibert).
Brass Instruments
- Prepare works as outlined for your instrument, showcasing Baroque, Classical, and 20th-century repertoire.
Prepare one solo work from each of the following:
- Multiple Percussion
- Keyboard Percussion
- Timpani
- Three contrasting works from the 18th to 20th centuries.
- Two pieces must be memorized.
- Sight-reading required.
- A Prelude and Fugue by Bach.
- A Romantic or 20th-century work.
- Sight-reading.
- Three to four contrasting works.
- Knowledge of major/minor scales and arpeggios recommended.
For information on auditioning for ensembles (open to UB students and Buffalo community members), visit the specific ensemble pages. Popular ensembles include:
The Chamber Singers.
- Non-majors, including graduate students, can request lessons with UB faculty.
- Beginners are encouraged to take group beginner courses in piano or guitar.
The Department of Music gladly accepts video auditions, though in-person auditions are preferred when possible.
Steps to submit a video audition
- Select an Audition Date: When scheduling your audition, choose a date even if you intend to submit a video.
- Record Your Audition: Follow the guidelines provided for your specific instrument or voice.
- Submit Your Video: Send the completed audition video to Mary McCarthy by the audition date you selected.
Video audition recording tips
- Equipment: Use a smartphone or tablet for high-quality recording.
- Framing: Film horizontally, ensuring full visibility of the performer.
- Lighting: Place a light source in front of you.
- Sound: Position the microphone unobstructed in a central location.
- File Sharing: Large files can be uploaded to the UBbox, Google Drive or Dropbox.
