Music Scholarship Audition Dates

In-person scholarship auditions will be held on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, and Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Returning students are strongly encouraged to schedule an audition for Feb. 3.)

To apply to a Music degree program at NEIU, please complete the following steps:

  1. Apply to Northeastern Illinois University via NEIU's general admission process.
  2. Apply to the Department of Music via .
  3. To request a specific audition date and time, email Recruitment, Auditions and Scholarship Coordinator Tina Laughlin at t-laughlin@neiu.edu
  4. Refer below to the specific audition requirements for your instrument or voice so that you know what to prepare. 

We are so excited to meet you and hear you play or sing! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time. Tina Laughlin can answer your questions about the audition process in general and our distinguished faculty look forward to speaking with you about their instrumental or voice studio or fields of interest.

Thank you, and best of luck!

Audition Requirements

FLUTE

Undergraduate Audition
  • A solo at the level of Handel Flute Sonata op. 1. or harder. Etude at the level of E. Kohler op. 33 or harder. One major and one minor scale.
Graduate Audition

Choose one in each category:

  • Mozart concerti (G and D)
  • One J.S. Bach sonatas
  • Major 20th century sonata, i.e.; Hindemith, Copeland, etc.
  • Other important solos, especially French romantic solos, including Faure, St. Saens

Applied Flute Faculty: Hideko Amano-Katsma

OBOE

Undergraduate Audition
  • Two contrasting etudes (slow/fast) from Barret or Ferling etude books, or two contrasting movements from a baroque, classical or, 20th century piece from the standard repertoire at the level of Telemann, Handel or Poulenc oboe sonatas
  • Major scales
Graduate Audition
  • Two contrasting etudes (slow/fast) from Barret or Ferling etude books, or two contrasting movements from a baroque, classical, or 20th century piece from the standard repertoire. Suggested repertoire: Marcello, Mozart, Strauss oboe concertos
  • Major and minor scales

Applied Oboe Faculty: J. Ricardo Castañeda

CLARINET

Undergraduate Audition

The following repertoire is a suggestion. Applicants are welcome to perform anything, preferably with piano accompaniment, that is similar in level. Any two contrasting etudes (or excerpts from etudes) from Cyrille Rose’s 32 Etudes for Clarinet. These are available with piano accompaniment through Carl Fisher, revised and edited by Melvin Warner. Two-octave major scales in all keys.

Graduate Audition

Choose one of the following:

  • Theme and Variations by Rossini
  • Solo de Concours by Messager
  • Fantasy Piece, op. 73 by Schumann
  • Grand Duo Concertant by Weber
  • Hillandale Waltzes by Babin
  • Sonatina by Horovitz
  • Sonata for Clarinet by Poulenc
  • Concerto no. 2 by Weber

Applied Clarinet Faculty: Rose Sperrazza

SAXOPHONE

Undergraduate Audition
  • Major and natural minor scales up to four sharps and four flats, slurred and tongued, one octave
  • Performance of any selection, classical or jazz
Graduate Audition
  • All scales in diatonic fourths and fifths
  • All arpeggios and diatonic seventh chords

Choose an etude from the following workbooks:

  • Lyon 32 Etudes
  • Karg-Elert 25 Caprices
  • Douze Etudes by Bozza

Choose one of the following solos:

  • Creston Sonata
  • Glazunov Concerto
  • Ibert Concertino da Camera
  • Bach - Partita in A minor for solo flute
  • Bonneau - Caprice en Forme de Valse
  • Dubois - Concerto
  • Demersseman - Fantaisie sur un thème original
  • Maurice - Tableau de Provence
  • Muczynski - Sonata
  • Schulhoff - Hot Sonate

Applied Saxophone Faculty: Andrew Carpenter

BASSOON

Undergraduate Audition
  • Major and chromatic scales (at least two octaves)
  • Two contrasting selections from the standard repertoire. These may include etudes and/or movements from a sonata, concerto, or other solo works.
  • Sight reading
Graduate Audition
  • Major and minor scales/arpeggios and chromatic scale (full range)

Select one of the following:

  • Mozart Bassoon Concerto Movements 1 and 2
  • Weber Bassoon Concerto Movements 1 and 2
  • A contrasting work of your choice (etude or solo)
  • Sight reading

Applied Bassoon Faculty: Matthew Hogan

FRENCH HORN

Undergraduate Audition

Entering students should be able to perform an etude at the level of Kopprasch Book 1, Rubank Advanced Method Book and one movement from any Mozart concerto. Student should have a knowledge of some major scales and ensemble experience.

Graduate Audition

Choose contrasting etudes from the following workbooks:

  • Maxime-Alphone’s Book 5
  • Pottag 335 Studies for French Horn (book 2)

Choose from the following solos:

  • Mozart concertos 2 and 4
  • Strauss first concerto
  • Hindemith sonatas
  • Choose one excerpt from Strauss or Wagner

Applied French Horn Faculty: Anna Mayne

TRUMPET

Undergraduate Audition

For Music majors who wish to specialize in the trumpet, the initial audition will consist of major scales, chromatic scale from low C to demonstrate range, a prepared lyrical etude/solo/orchestral excerpt on the level of a Concone, Arban (theme) or off-stage II. Mvt. from Respighi Pines of Rome etc., and a technical etude/solo/excerpt on the level of Clarke, Arban (Variations or Characteristic Study). Sight-reading will be included.

Graduate Audition
  • Choose contrasting etudes from the books of Charlier, Bitsch and Smith.

Choose a solo from the following:

  • Concertino by Bozza
  • Kennan Sonata
  • Peeters Sonata
  • Suite by Presser

Applied Trumpet Faculty: Travis Heath

TROMBONE

Undergraduate Audition

Trombone students applying for admission into the Music program should have knowledge of major scales and be able to perform an etude at the level of the Rubank Advanced Method for Trombone. Acceptable audition solos include works by Marcello and Galliard, or others demonstrating comparable technical/lyrical skills. Jazz students should perform a standard with play-along accompaniment.

Graduate Audition
  • Choose two contrasting etudes from the Kopprasch 60 Selected studies and the Bordogni (Rochut) Vocalises, or from comparable material.
  • Choose a solo from this list, or a comparable solo: Morceau Symphonique (Guilmant), Hindemith Sonata, Martin Ballade, Gordon Jacob Concerto

Applied Trombone Faculty: Steven Duncan

EUPHONIUM

Undergraduate Audition

Euphonium students applying for admission into the Music program should be prepared to demonstrate a good sense of tone quality and valve technique suitable to perform selections from Voxman’s Concert and Contest Collection for Baritone/Euphonium..

Graduate Audition
  • Choose two contrasting excerpts focusing on wind ensemble and orchestral oriented materials

Choose a solo from the following:

  • Morceau Symphonique by Guilmant
  • Six Studies in English Folksong by Vaughan-Williams
  • Variations by Jerry Owen

Applied Euphonium Faculty: William Russell

TUBA

Undergraduate Audition

Applicants for admission into the Music program should prepare pieces through which they can exhibit good technique and a sense of phrasing. Appropriate pieces might be etudes by Blazevich, Kopprash or Bordogni, and solos such as Air and Boureé, Bach; Suite for Tuba, Haddad or other pieces of a similar caliber.

Graduate Audition
  • Choose two contrasting excerpts from the standard orchestral repertoire including works by Wagner, Tchaikovsky Strauss and Prokofiev.

Solo work:

  • Concerto by Vaughan-Williams

Applied Tuba Faculty: William Russell

PERCUSSION

Undergraduate Audition

Students must audition on three instruments. Students are required to perform the following:

  1. Any of the 26 rudiments
  2. Snare drum solo (rudimental or orchestral style, ex. "Portraits in Rhythm" by Anthony Cirone)
  3. Marimba scales - major and natural minor in key of C, F, Bb, Eb, G, and D
  4. Marimba, xylophone or vibes solo, two or four mallets Grade 3 or above
  5. Timpani solo Grade 3 or above (ex. "The Solo Timpanist" by Vic Firth
  6. Drum set:
    1. Swing
    2. Bossa nova
    3. Trading fours
Graduate Audition

Students are required to perform the following:

  1. Xylophone excerpts:
    1. Porgy and Bess
    2. Polka from Golden Age ballet - Shostakovich
    3. Colas Breugnon - Kabalevsky
  2. Snare drum excerpts:
    1. Scheherazade
    2. Schumann's 3rd Symphony
  3. Mallet solo Grade 4 or above
  4. Timpani solo Grade 4 or above
  5. Vibes solo Grade 4 or above
  6. Bells excerpt, The Magic Flute - Mozart
  7. Multiple Percussion solo

Applied Percussion Faculty: Tina Laughlin

VOICE

Undergraduate Audition

For admission to the Bachelor of Music in Music Education or Performance degrees; Bachelor of Arts in Music degree:

Two contrasting pieces from the solo vocal repertoire. Composers listed are only guidelines. Memorization is strongly preferred. Sight reading will be done at the audition. Bring your music in a three-ring binder, using double-sided copies. Music must be in the key you will sing; the pianist will not transpose. It is not necessary to provide copies for the audition committee.

  1. One art song in English from any time period by composers such as Purcell, Quilter, Britten, Beach, Laitman, Price, or others.

    a. This selection may also be from the musical theater or jazz standards repertoire. Rock or other pop styles should not be used.
  2. One art song from any time period in a language other than English, which may include German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian or others.

    a. This selection may include an aria from an opera or oratorio, but this is not required.
Graduate Audition

For admission to the Master of Arts in Applied Pedagogy program:

Three contrasting pieces from the solo vocal repertoire. Composers listed are only guidelines. Memorization is required. Bring your music in a three-ring binder, using double-sided copies. Music must be in the key you will sing; the pianist will not transpose. It is not necessary to provide copies for the audition committee.

  1. One art song in English from any time period by composers such as Purcell, Quilter, Britten, Beach, Laitman, Price, or others.

    a. This selection may also be from the musical theater or jazz standards repertoire. Rock or other pop styles should not be used.
  2. One art song from any time period in a language other than English, which may include German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian or others.
  3. An aria from an opera or oratorio.

    a. A second art song in a different language may be substituted for the aria.

Head of the Voice Area: Katherine Petersen

Choral Conductor: Christopher Owen

Musical Theatre and Opera Director: Claire DiVizio

PIANO

Initial Audition

For undergraduate admission (Music Ed, Performance, Bachelor of Arts): 

Two contrasting pieces from the solo piano repertoire, comparable in difficulty to these minimum levels, works listed are ONLY guidelines. (Memorization preferred but not required.)

  1. A work from the baroque era: Any prelude and fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier, or a sonata by Scarlatti; selections from French/English suites, partitas, or inventions
  2. A movement from a classical era sonata/sonatina: Clementi, Kuhlau, Haydn, Schubert, Beethoven or Mozart, or a set of variations
  3. A work from the romantic era: Chopin preludes, nocturnes, mazurkas, etudes, ballades, scherzi; Brahms waltzes, intermezzi or rhapsodies; Liszt Consolations, Liebesträume, Années de pèlerinage; Tchaikovsky Seasons; Grieg Lyric Pieces; Mendelssohn Songs without Words; Schubert Impromptus; Schumann Fantasiestücke, Papillons, Abegg Variations
  4. A work from the 20th century to the present: Debussy Preludes, Children's Corner, Suite Bergamasque; Bartok Allegro Barbaro, Suite Op. 14, Mikrokosmos; Gershwin Preludes; Prokofiev Visions Fugitives; Rachmaninoff Preludes; Adams China Gate
Graduate Audition

For graduate admission (M.A. Piano Pedagogy)

Choose 2-3 from the following (memorization required):

  1. Baroque – J.S. Bach: any Prelude and Fugue from The Well-Tempered Clavier, or other comparable work
  2. Classical – any sonata by Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart or Schubert, etc.
  3. Romantic – any substantial work by Chopin, Brahms, Liszt, Schumann or Mendelssohn, etc.
  4. 20th/21st century – any major work by Bartók, Ginastera, Schönberg, Liebermann, Prokofiev, Rzewski, Crumb, Webern, Carter, etc.

Applied Piano Faculty: Susan Tang

Collaborative Piano: Kay Kim

VIOLIN

Undergraduate Audition

A concerto at the level of Bach Concerto No.1 in a minor or more difficult. An etude at the level of Mazas op.36 or more difficult. Three octave major scales in two keys.

Graduate Audition
  • Scales, arpeggios, thirds, sixths and octaves in all keys.

Choose two of the following:

  • Wieniawski op.22
  • Lalo Symphonie Espagnole op.21
  • Bach sonatas and partitas
  • Sonatas of Brahms
  • Sonatas of Franck

Applied Violin Faculty: Jaime Gorgojo

VIOLA

Undergraduate Audition
  • Two different three-octaves Major Scales: Galamian, Ivan. Scale System for Viola, Arranged and Edited by Karen Olson, or Flesch, Carl. Scale System for Viola, Arranged by Charlotte Karman.
  • An etude in the level of: Kreutzer, Rudolph: 42 Etudes (transcribed for viola by L Pagels) or Palaschko: 12 Etudes, Op. 55.
  • A movement from a concerto in the level of Telemann Concerto in G.
Graduate Audition
  • Technique: All three Octaves Scales and Arpeggios (Galamian or Flesch)
  • Double stops: Galamian (Scale System Vol 2)

Etudes (Choose one):

  • Kreutzer, Palaschko Op. 36
  • Rolla, Esercizio ed Arpeggi
  • Rode, 20 Caprices for Violin (Transcribed for viola)
  • Campagnoli 41 Caprices Op. 22

Choose one of the Bach Cello Suites

Repertoire (Choose one):

  • Enesco (Concertpiece)
  • Vieuxtemps (Capriccio for Solo Viola)
  • Schumann (Marchenbilder)
  • Rebecca Clarke (Sonata)
  • Hindemith (Sonata Op. 11 in F Major)
  • Mozart (Sinfonia Concertante)
  • Berlioz (Harold in Italy)

Applied Viola Faculty: Jaime Gorgojo

CELLO

Undergraduate Audition
  • Three octave major scales in two keys. Etudes such as Duport or Popper. Solo piece with contrasting movements.
Graduate Audition

Choose two contrasting works from the following:

  • A Bach Suite
  • Concerti by Haydn (C major), Saint-Saens, Boccherini, Elgar, Lalo
  • Sonatas by Martinu, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, Prokofiev

Applied Cello Faculty: Leah Hagel

STRING BASS

Undergraduate Audition

Ability to identify and play one major and one minor scale, major and minor triads on string bass and/or electric bass guitar. Ability to identify basic rhythms and note names in written music in bass and/or treble clefs.

Graduate Audition
  • Three octave modes and altered scales, and corresponding arpeggios
  • Choose one substantial orchestral excerpt (ie. Simandl, Bille, Petracci)
  • Choose one solo work (ie, major concerti, unaccompanied Bach Cello Suites)

Applied Double Bass Faculty: Matt Ulery

GUITAR

Undergraduate Audition

Recommended repertoire includes solo classical guitar pieces at a technical and musical level similar to Carcassi's études (Op. 60) or Tarrega's miniatures. Sight-reading and scale study will be evaluated.

Graduate Audition

Major and melodic minor scales in all keys.

Choose two contrasting pieces from the following:

  • Transcriptions of renaissance lute works by Dowland and da Milano
  • Baroque guitar pieces by Sanz, Logy, and de Murcia
  • 19th century concert works by Sor, Giuliani, Coste, and Mertz
  • Advanced etudes by Villa-Lobos
  • Repertoire composed for Segovia

Applied Guitar Faculty: Brian Torosian

Dance Scholarship AuditionS

Please visit the Dance Scholarship Auditions page for more detailed information. For information on dance scholarships email Interim Dance Program Facilitator Rachel Burton at r-burton@neiu.edu or call (773) 442-5941.