MMus in Performance Audition Requirements by Instrument Type

Approximately 45 minutes of repertoire should be prepared, from which the audition panel will select, including choices from:

• At least 3 different musical styles
• At least one movement from a concerto
• At least one work to be from the baroque or classical period

Approximately 45 minutes of repertoire should be prepared, from which the audition panel will select, including choices from the following:

• At least 3 different musical styles
• At least one movement from a concerto
• Must include three movements from Bach Suite III, IV, V, or VI, or one movement or piece from the classical period

Approximately 30 minutes of repertoire should be prepared, from which the audition panel will select, and including:

• One or more movements from the Bach Unaccompanied Cello Suites I, II, or II, either in Sterling's transposed edition, or in the original keys
• The first movement of a concerto by Vanhal, Dittersdorf, Bottesini, or Koussevitsky
• One other piece or movement in a style different from Bach and your concerto choice
• The orchestral double bass part of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, 3rd movement

Approximately 45 minutes of repertoire should be prepared, from which the audition panel will select, including choices from the following:

• One composition from the 20th century or later such as a sonata by M. Ponce, Rodrigo, or Kleynjans equivalent to RCM grade 10 or ARCT level
• One of the Lute Suites by Bach
• One classical composition (Grade 10 or ARCT level equivalent)
• One additional composition should the above repertoire not add up to 45 minutes

This repertoire will offer contrast between languages and styles. One selection must be in English.

• 3 opera arias, at least one in Italian
• 1 Oratorio aria
• 3 Art Songs
• 1 Art Song composed after 1960 in addition to the above

Applicants must prepare a minimum of 20 minutes of solo piano repertoire, including:

• A complete Classical sonata or a sonata-form movement from a large-scale sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert
• One major work from the 19th century (may include Rachmaninoff)
• One additional contrasting work or étude demonstrating a high level of technical proficiency.

All repertoire must be performed from memory.

Applicants for the Master of Music in Collaborative Piano program must prepare the following repertoire for their audition:

• Duo Sonata
  • Perform the first two movements of any duo sonata by Beethoven or Brahms
  • Substitutions by other composers are not permitted.
• Art Songs
  • Perform the following four songs, each in its original key:
    • Liebesbotschaft - F. Schubert
    • Allerseelen - R. Strauss
    • Clair de lune - G. Fauré
    • Das verlassene Mägdlein - H. Wolf
• Self-Accompanied Selection
  • Perform one short art song or brief aria of your choice, accompanying yourself on the piano.
• Optional Solo Work
  • Applicants may also include one solo piano piece.
  • Memorization is encouraged where appropriate but not required. 

Candidates are required to bring their own soloists to the audition, or they may contact Dr. Sophie Roland sroland2@uwo.ca for assistance in securing soloists from Western.

Audition repertoire should reflect a variety of styles and must include one piece from each of the three categories below, the 3 excerpts below, and total no less than 40 minutes. Jurors will select pieces and excerpts. Candidates may also be asked for major and minor scales, 3 octaves on as many possible, and asked to sight-read an etude. Candidates may confirm repertoire with Prof. Starling ahead of time jstarli@uwo.ca 

• Concerto selection - first movement (e.g., Mozart, Copland through cadenza, Weber, Tomasi Concerti, etc.)
• Romantic/lyrical selection (e.g., Brahms Sonatas, Schumann Fantasy Pieces, Weber Grand Duo II, Poulenc Sonata II, etc.)
• Unaccompanied selection (Stravinsky Three Pieces, Tower Wings, Eric Mandat or W. O Smith piece, Sutermeister Capriccio, Rosza Sonatina)
• Orchestral excerpts:
  • Rimsky-Korsakov - Capriccio Espagnol (all, including cadenza)
  • Mendelssohn - Scherzo from Midsummer Night's Dream
  • Brahms - Symphony No. 3, II

• First movement of a Classical concerto, or 2 movements of a Baroque sonata or partita
• A piece from the Romantic, 20th, or 21st century
• An unaccompanied work from the 20th or 21st century.

Works must include an advanced snare drum solo, timpani solo and/or multi percussion solo, and an advanced four-mallet solo.

At least 20 minutes of music , to include three or four contrasting works from different stylistic eras.

Pre-screening video recording

A face-to-the-camera video recording of the applicant conducting in rehearsal and performance, and a brief resumé of conducting experience are required. The video recording should be approximately 15 minutes of rehearsal footage and 5 minutes of performance footage. Selections may be incomplete, and a variety of different styles is encouraged.

Live Audition

After video recordings have been reviewed, applicants may be invited to campus to complete an in-person audition with a faculty ensemble in February. Conducting excerpts and score study assignments will be assigned in advance.