Each program within the school has a specified set of requirements for the evaluation of applicants.

Master of Music in Performance Audition Requirements

Applicants must request an audition time and date from the School of Music Office of Admission and Financial Aid.

** NEW ** Request an audition through our online system

Auditions are held on campus and throughout the United States during January and February. Candidates who are not able to audition in person may instead submit a high-quality recording. All percussion auditions must be performed on campus or via recording. Please be advised that faculty members in all instrument areas may NOT be hearing auditions on every published on-campus audition date. Additionally, space may be limited on particular audition dates. Consequently, applicants should not schedule travel until it has been confirmed by the Northwestern University School of Music Admission Office that there is space on the requested date. Auditions must be requested online.

Please read the General Application and Audition Policies and Procedures (PDF) for more information on applying to a Performance Master’s degree at Northwestern.

Master of Music in Non-Performance Areas (Music Studies) Audition and Application Requirements

• Music Education
• Music Education and Piano Pedagogy
• Music Education and String Pedagogy
• Musicology
• Musicology and Library Science
• Music Technology
• Music Theory
• Master of Music in Jazz Pedagogy
• Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy
• Master of Music in String Performance and Pedagogy

Master’s and Doctoral Conducting Audition Requirements

Choral Conducting

Orchestral Conducting

Wind Conducting

Sample Schedule of Conducting Audtions (PDF) (For reference only!)

Doctor of Music Audition Requirements

Music Composition

Music Technology and New Media

Certificate in Performance & Doctor of Music in Performance Audition Requirements

Certificate in Performance & Doctor of Music in Performance audition information

Doctor of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy

Doctor of Music in Piano Performance and Collaborative Arts

Bassoon

The titles suggested illustrate the kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Applicants are free to choose a program that will best show their ability, using music from the list below, or music of comparable quality. Whenever possible, music should be selected from a variety of stylistic periods. The audition program should consist of four different compositions, or in some cases three compositions and orchestral excerpts. Instrumentalists should be prepared to play all major, harmonic minor and melodic minor scales, two octaves slurred.

• All major and minor scales to high Eb
• Bach Cello Suite in D minor – Prelude
• Mozart concerto, K. 191, complete
• Saint-Saens Sonata
• Solo of applicant’s choice
• Orchestral excerpts:
  • Bolero
  • Rite of Spring
  • Marriage of Figaro, overture
  • Tchaikovsky Symphony #4, 2nd movement
  • Shostakovich Symphony #9

[ Back to Top ]

Cello

The titles suggested illustrate the kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Applicants are free to choose a program that will best show their ability, using music from this list or music of comparable quality. Whenever possible, music should be selected from a variety of stylistic periods. The audition program should consist of four different compositions, or in some cases three compositions and orchestral excerpts. Students should be prepared to play scales in all keys.

• One étude by Popper and one caprice by Piatti, or two by either composer
• Two contrasting movements from the Bach suites for cello
• Movement from concertos by Haydn, Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Elgar, Shostakovich or similar standard concerto
• One other piece composed after 1940

[ Back to Top ]

Clarinet

Clarinetists wishing to audition must submit a preliminary recording of the following selections by December 15:

1. Two contrasting études from the Rose 32
2. Mozart Concerto, first movement
3. One prepared piece of the applicant's choice

[NOTE: The Application Deadline for Graduate Students Applying to the School of Music (Master of Music, Certificate in Performance and Doctor of Music) will likely be moved to December 15th. This is to be determined and will be posted immediately upon reaching a final decision.]

Those invited to the campus will be required to prepare the following repertoire:

• Mozart Concerto
• A minimum of two contrasting major pieces from the standard clarinet repertoire
• A selection of three or four orchestral excerpts of contrasting character

[ Back to Top ]

Double bass

• 3-octave scales and arpeggios in all keys

• One solo piece of the applicant’s choice.

• One movement of the applicant’s choice from J. S. Bach’s Suites for Violincello.

• A total of five orchestral excerpts from the standard works of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, or Strauss.  Choose no more than one excerpt per composer.

• Sight-reading not required; memorization not required.

[ Back to Top ]

Euphonium

Two contrasting solo pieces demonstrating style, tone, range, rhythm, and technique. Major scales and sight reading are required.

[ Back to Top ]

Flute

The titles suggested illustrate the kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Applicants are free to choose a program that will best show their ability, using music from this list or music of comparable quality. Music should be selected from a variety of stylistic periods. The audition program should consist of four different compositions and three orchestral excerpts (piccolo excerpts can be included). Applicants should be prepared to play any major, minor, whole-tone, or chromatic scale, and arpeggios based on all four triads and the diminished and dominant 7th chords. Flutists wishing to audition on campus must submit a preliminary recording of the selections they plan to perform at the audition by December 15.

• Bach Sonata in B Minor or E Minor
• Concertos by Mozart, Ibert, and Nielsen
• Sonatas by Prokofiev, Martinu, Muczynski, and Piston
• Dutilleux Sonatine
• Frank Martin Ballade
• Schubert Introduction and Variations onTrockne Blümen
• Orchestral excerpts. 

[ Back to Top ]

Guitar

The titles suggested illustrate the kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Applicants are free to choose a program that will best show their ability, using music from this list or music of comparable quality. Whenever possible, music should be selected from a variety of stylistic periods. The audition program should consist of four different compositions, or in some cases three compositions and orchestral excerpts. Students should be prepared to play scales in all keys.

• Contrasting movements from a Bach lute suite
• Sonata, fantasy, or theme and variations by Sor, Giuliani, Mertz or Regondi
• Major work by Britten, Brouwer, Ginastera, Henze, or Walton
• One movement from a concerto by Rodrigo, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Villa-Lobos, Ponce, or equivalent repertoire

[ Back to Top ]

Harp

The titles suggested illustrate the kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Applicants are free to choose a program that will best show their ability, using music from this list or music of comparable quality. Whenever possible, music should be selected from a variety of stylistic periods. The audition program should consist of four different compositions, or in some cases three compositions and orchestral excerpts. Students should be prepared to play scales in all keys.

• First movements of Mozart Concerto for Flute and Harp, Handel Concerto, and Ginastera Concerto
• Ravel Introduction et Allegro
• Debussy Danse sacrée and Danse profane
• Orchestral excerpts:
  • Berlioz Symphonie fantastique
  • Ravel Tzigane
  • Strauss Don Juan
  • Ravel Alborada del Grazioso
  • Bartók Concerto for Orchestra
  • Debussy La Mer
• Cadenzas:
  • Nutcracker Suite, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovsky
  • La Bohème (Act III) and Madama Butterfly (Act I) by Puccini 
  • Wagner Tristan und Isolde, "Prelude" and "Liebestod"

[ Back to Top ]

Horn

Required repertoire includes:

• Two contrasting solo pieces demonstrating style, tone, range, rhythm, and technique; for example, Mozart Concerto No. 4 and Schumann Adagio and Allegro
  
  
• Orchestral excerpts: 
  • Beethoven Symphony No. 9 (fourth horn solo)
  • Brahms Symphonies Nos. 2 and 3
  • Ravel Pavane
  • Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 (low tutti section in the 1st movement)
  • Wagner short call
  • Strauss Ein Heldenleben (opening call)
    
    
• Possible sight reading.

[ Back to Top ]

Oboe

The titles suggested illustrate the kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Applicants are free to choose a program that will best show their ability, using music from this list or music of comparable quality. Whenever possible, music should be selected from a variety of stylistic periods. The audition program should consist of four different compositions, or in some cases three compositions and orchestral excerpts. Students should be prepared to play scales in all keys.

• Concertos by Cimarosa, Marcello, Handel, Mozart, Vivaldi, R. Strauss
• Sonatas by Telemann, Handel, Hindemith
• Schumann Three Romances
• Britten Six Metamorphoses

[ Back to Top ]

Percussion

The titles suggested illustrate the kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Applicants are free to choose a program that will best show their ability, using music from this list or music of comparable quality. Whenever possible, music should be selected from a variety of stylistic periods. Students should be prepared to play scales in all keys. Sight-reading required.

Students wishing to audition on campus must submit a preliminary audition recording by January 1. [NOTE: The Application Deadline for Graduate Students Applying to the School of Music (Master of Music, Certificate in Performance and Doctor of Music) will likely be moved to December 15th. This is to be determined and will be posted immediately upon reaching a final decision.]

Recorded audition should include the following:

• Snare Drum: One orchestral style etude and one orchestral excerpt
• Timpani: One solo piece, and one orchestral excerpt
• Xylophone: One orchestral excerpt
• Marimba: One contemporary four-mallet solo piece            

Live audition should include the following:

• Snare Drum: One orchestral style etude and three orchestral excerpts
• Timpani: One solo piece, and three orchestral excerpts
• Xylophone: Three orchestral excerpts
• Glock:  Three orchestral excerpts
• Marimba: Two-mallet Bach movement, and one contemporary four-mallet solo piece
• Sight Reading

[ Back to Top ]

Piano (Performance, Performance and Collaborative Arts, Performance and Pedagogy)

Program should be memorized and must include the following:

• A contrapuntal baroque composition equivalent in difficulty to a three-voice fugue from The Well-Tempered Clavier by Bach
• A complete classical sonata, preferably by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert
• A romantic work
• A work from the impressionist or contemporary period
• An étude of virtuosity

Sight reading is required. Applicants must submit a list of repertoire studied during the previous four years.

Additional Piano Pedagogy Audition Requirements

[ Back to Top ]

Saxophone

The titles suggested illustrate the kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Applicants are free to choose a program that will best show their ability, using music from this list or music of comparable quality. Whenever possible, music should be selected from a variety of stylistic periods. The audition program should consist of four different compositions, or in some cases three compositions and orchestral excerpts. Students should be prepared to play scales in all keys.

• Sonatas by Albright, Maslanka, Harbison, Yoshimatsu, Denisov
• Concertos by Larsson, Feld, Finney, Gotovsky, Dahl, Husa, Ibert
• Compositions by Desenclos, Bolcom, Berio, Lennon or Wuorinen

[ Back to Top ]

String Performance and Pedagogy

Applicants must complete a performance audition; see appropriate instrument for details.

Applicants interested in teaching assistantships in string pedagogy (not prerequisites to admission to the degree program itself), please submit:

• a resume listing pedagogical background including significant teachers, books/methods studied, and other major influences
• a statement of short- and long-term teaching goals and how Northwestern could assist you in achieving them
• an in-depth description of prior teaching experience, listing age and ability levels of students, length of time teaching, and repertoire taught
• a video showing the teaching of a beginner and a more advanced level student

[ Back to Top ]

Trombone (Tenor)

Required repertoire (no substitutions):

• Solo piece: Martin Ballade
• Orchestral excerpts:
  • Berlioz Hungarian March (2nd trombone)
  • Mozart Requiem, "Tuba Mirum" (2nd trombone)
  • Ravel Bolero
  • Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3
  • Schumann Symphony No. 3, fourth movement
  • Wagner Ride of the Valkyries (B Major section only)
  • Strauss Also Sprach Zarathustra
  • Rossini William Tell Overture

[ Back to Top ]

Trombone (Bass)

Required repertoire (no substitutions):

• Solo pieces:
  • Spillman Concerto, first movement
  • Bach Sarabande (no repeats)
• Orchestral excerpts:
  • Berlioz Hungarian March
  • Haydn The Creation, No. 26
  • Mahler Symphony No. 7, first movement
  • Schumann Symphony No. 3, fourth movement
  • Ride of the Valkyries  (B Major section only) and Das Rheingold (last 15 bars) by Wagner
  • Rossini William Tell Overture
  • Kodály Hary Janos, “Battle and Defeat of Napoleon”

[ Back to Top ]

Trumpet

Required repertoire (no substitutions):

1. Solo: Honegger Intrada
2. Études: Charlier Études Transcendantes No. 2; Bitsch Étude.
3. Other contrasting solos and/or études of your choice.
4. Orchestral excerpts:
   • Stravinsky Petrouchka 1947
   • Mahler Symphony No. 5, first movement

5. Optional: other orchestral excerpts of your choice

[ Back to Top ]

Tuba

Two contrasting solo pieces demonstrating style, tone, range, rhythm, and technique. Major scales and sight reading are required.

[ Back to Top ]

Viola

Program should include:

• one or two movements from a Bach Suite
• a movement from a concerto by Bartók, Hindemith, or Walton
• other pieces from standard repertoire

[ Back to Top ]

Violin

Memorization required. Program should include:

• a full standard concerto
• contrasting movements from a Bach sonata
• a 20th-century composition

[ Back to Top ]

Voice

Vocalists who wish to audition on campus must submit a preliminary audition recording by December 15. To be competitively considered, on-campus auditions are strongly recommended.

• Four memorized selections from the art song/aria repertoire
• At least one selection in Italian
• At least one selection in English
• One in either French or German

Arias must be performed in original keys and languages.

An accompanist is provided for “on-campus” auditions.  Those auditioning at regional locations must provide their own accompanist.

[ Back to Top ]

Master of Music in Non-Performance Areas (Music Studies)

Music Education Application Requirements

Applicants must submit an admission essay and a videotape or DVD to demonstrate the quality of the applicant’s teaching and musicianship as described below. Applications will be reviewed after all items have been received. Those applicants wishing to have private applied instruction must audition. Please see audition requirements for your primary instrument.

Admission Essay
Submit an essay as evidence of your scholarly writing ability. Choose one of the following topics to answer thoroughly in three to four double-spaced pages:

• From your perspective as a specialist in instrumental, choral, or general music, what are the goals of your curriculum? How do you plan curriculum, instruction, and assessment to foster students’ lifelong engagement and involvement in music?
  
  
• What do you consider to be the most pressing problems facing music education today? How do you see yourself contributing to the solution of some of these problems?

Documentation of Teaching and Musicianship
Submit a videotape or DVD that demonstrates your teaching ability and musicianship. Although videotapes of musical performances are helpful, we are most interested in seeing how you work with students in daily classroom and rehearsal settings. For this reason, you may want to send a sample of several representative clips of your teaching. The entire recording should be no longer than 30 minutes.

During at least one of these teaching episodes, demonstrate your musicianship by using your primary instrument or voice to model for students. This musical example should be lengthy enough to convey the quality of your musicianship.

Attach a brief description of the setting and your goals for each teaching episode. Be sure to mark all videotapes or DVDs with your name.

Interview
An interview is required either in person (most desirable) or by telephone. If you plan to visit Northwestern, contact the Office of Music Admission and Financial Aid to arrange a meeting with Dr. Janet Barrett. If your plans do not include a visit, e-mail Dr. Barrett to arrange a phone interview.

Resume
Please submit a resume reflecting your professional accomplishments to date (degrees, positions, additional teaching activities, counseling or other leadership experience).

Letters of Recommendation
Submit two letters of recommendation that speak directly to your teaching ability. These letters might come from a principal, superintendent, music supervisor, practice teaching coordinator/advisor, mentor or other professional who has had an opportunity to observe your work with students directly. Letters addressing your ability to succeed in rigorous graduate level studies would also be helpful.

Audition
An audition is not required for admission to the masters program in music education. However, if you wish to include private instruction as part of your program of study, an audition is required. This audition can be scheduled after your admission to the music education program. Admission to any area of applied study is at the discretion of the applied faculty member.

[ Back to Top ]

Music Education and Piano Pedagogy

Applicants must fulfill all admission and audition requirements for both Music Education and Piano Performance and Pedagogy.

[ Back to Top ]

Music Education and String Pedagogy

This degree is intended for applicants who have already earned public school teaching certification.  It is possible to earn certification as part of the degree program, but in that case completing all requirements will likely involve more than two academic years.  You may also obtain certification through the two-year master’s program in music education, which includes the opportunity for electives in string pedagogy.

Applicants must fulfill all admission and audition requirements for both Music Education and String Performance and Pedagogy.

[ Back to Top ]

Musicology Application Requirements

Applicants must submit a lengthy sample of their writing on music, preferably a recent paper presenting results of musical analysis, bibliographic investigation, or other appropriate work.

[ Back to Top ]

Musicology and Library Science Application Requirements

Applicants to this program must also apply to Dominican University’s Master of Library and Information Science program. If accepted to both programs, applicants will complete one year of study at Dominican University followed by one year of study at Northwestern University.

[ Back to Top ]

Music Technology Application Requirements

Applicants should submit examples of computer programs, compositions, or other applicable materials demonstrating their work in applying technology to music.

Applications are currently not being accepted to the DM in Music Technology.

[ Back to Top ]

Music Theory Application Requirements

Applicants must present evidence of analytical and research ability in the form of a paper, prepared either in an undergraduate course or specifically for the admission committee. Composition tapes and/or scores may also be submitted if appropriate.

[ Back to Top ]

Master of Music in Performance and Pedagogy / Master of Music in Jazz Pedagogy Application Requirements

Jazz Pedagogy (Application not available for 2008-2009)

Applicants must submit an essay of interest and an audio and/or VHS video audition tape exhibiting evidence of the applicant’s competence in jazz improvisation, jazz composition and arranging, or jazz pedagogy.  A personal interview-audition is recommended, consisting of a performance audition and either a teaching demonstration or a rehearsal of one of the candidate’s arrangements or compositions.

[ Back to Top ]

Piano Performance and Pedagogy

Applicants must complete a performance audition. They must also submit an outline of their pedagogical background and a list of materials/literature used in their teaching. Candidates with teaching experience, either professional or in a pedagogy course, should submit a DVD of their skills in either of the following contexts:

• A 20-minute private lesson with a pre-college student of the elementary or intermediate level
• A 20-minute segment from a piano class or group teaching situation

Applicants whose teaching on the DVD is in a language other than English must add a segment to the DVD on which they discuss their teaching and interest in a graduate degree. This should follow the teaching demonstration, and the candidate must speak in English.

Doctor of Music applicants should submit, in addition to the above, a paper (approximately two pages in length) describing their career and other pedagogical interests.

[ Back to Top ]

String Performance and Pedagogy

Applicants must complete a performance audition. See appropriate instrument for details.  Applicants interested in teaching assistantships in String Pedagogy (not prerequisites to admission to the degree program itself), please submit:

• A resume listing pedagogical background including significant teachers, books/methods studies, and other major influences
• A statement of short- and long-term teaching goals and how Northwestern University could assist you in achieving them
• An in-depth description of prior teaching experience, listing age and ability levels of students, length of time teaching, and repertoire taught
• A video showing the teaching of a beginner and a more advanced level student

[ Back to Top ]

Master’s and Doctoral Conducting Audition and Application Requirements

Applicants must submit, along with all other required application materials, a screening VHS videotape or DVD by December 15 showing their conducting skills in both rehearsal and performance situations. Audio tapes or CDs of performances may be submitted as well, especially if the audio quality of the videotape is not superior.  Candidates whose screening tapes are favorably reviewed will be invited to an on-campus audition, to take place in February or March.  The on-campus audition will consist of the following:

Conducting Audition
Each candidate should obtain the score(s) for the audition work(s) to be sent with the invitation and be prepared to conduct and rehearse all or any part of the required score(s) requested.  Scores may be marked in any way.  The audition will consist of 8-12 minutes on the podium with one of the University’s major performing ensembles.  Both “rehearsal” and “performance” conducting will be tested.

Essay
Candidates should write an analysis of the required audition pieces and be prepared to submit the document during the audition.

Interview
Candidates will meet most of the faculty in the Conducting Program, including their prospective primary professor and advisor, and then will be interviewed by several faculty members.  The purpose of the interview is to ascertain applicant goals, ambitions, and needs; to allow faculty to assess ability to communicate and projection of personality, and to evaluate the strength of applicant motivation to pursue a degree and career in conducting.

Aural Skills Test
Each applicant should review aural skills in the areas of melodic dictation, two-part dictation, harmonic dictation, pitch discrimination, and pitch recognition at wide intervals.  Soprano and bass “feelings” and recognition of chord qualities will be covered as well.  Pre-test practice is highly recommended.

Written Examination
The written examination is designed to test knowledge of conducting procedures, instrumental and choral repertoire, orchestration, and ability to analyze and read scores quickly and accurately.  Certain questions will deal with theory, music history, and form.  To review for this exam, practice score reading, transposition, and analysis to increase speed and accuracy.  Spend time reconciling the printed score with sounds that are heard.  Foreign language terminology for instruments, expressions, time, and technical instructions should be reviewed.  Candidates, regardless of area of interest, should be well acquainted with all conducting areas (wind/band, choral, and orchestral).

2008 Conducting Audition Schedule (PDF download)

Master of Music Conducting Audition Repertoire

• Choral (Auditions February 25 and 26, 2008)
  • Bach: Magnificat in D (Barenreiter edition)
    • No. 4 “Omnes generationes”  
    • No. 7 “Fecit potentiam,”
      
  • Bruckner: Christus factus est
    Available at Choral Public Domain Library
    
    
  • Clausen: Ubi Caritas
    Mark Foster MF 2156
    
    
    
• Orchestral (Auditions March 4, 2008)
  • Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4, “Italian Symphony”
    
    
• Wind/Band (Auditions March 4, 2008)
  • Percy Grainger: Lincolnshire Posy (arr. by F. Fennell) (Ludwig)

Doctor of Music Conducting Audition Repertoire

• Choral (Auditions February 25 and 26, 2008)
  • Poulenc: Salve Regina (Editions Salabert)
    
    
  • Greg Jasperse: Voice Dance (Shawnee Press)
    
    
  • Copland: In the Beginning (pages 2-27 only) (Boosey and Hawkes)
    
• Orchestral (Auditions March 3, 2008)
  • Wagner: Gotterdammerung
    “Sunrise and Siegfried’s Rhine Journey,”
    Start 3 meas. before fig.14; cut from 9th meas.
    of  fig.16 to 9th meas. of fig. 26
    
• Wind/Band (Auditions March 3, 2008)
  • Strauss: Serenade in E-flat, Op.7 (Kalmus)
    
    
  • Stravinsky: Octet (Boosey & Hawkes)
    Mvmt. 1

Conducting Audition Contact Information

Dr. Mallory Thompson, Director of Bands
Northwestern University School of Music
1965 South Campus Drive
Evanston, IL 60208
Telephone: 847-491-3412
m-thompson2@northwestern.edu

Dr. Robert Harris, Director of Choral Organizations
Northwestern University School of Music
711 Elgin Road
Evanston, IL 60208-1200
Telephone: 847-491-3498
robahar@northwestern.edu

Victory Yampolsky, Director of Orchestras
Pick-Staiger Concert Hall
1977 South Campus Drive
Evanston, IL 60208
Telephone: 847-491-7303
v-yampolsky@northwestern.edu

[ Back to Top ]

Certificate in Performance, Doctor of Music in Performance Audition Requirements

Applicants must submit a completed application and a preliminary screening recording by December 15. The tape should contain 45 to 60 minutes of music representing diverse styles and historical periods. Additionally, applicants must submit a list of performance-ready works they have prepared for the live audition, a resumé, and a repertoire list of all pieces they have studied or performed. Applicants will not be invited to campus for an audition without completing all of the above requirements.

Applicants whose preliminary screening tapes are reviewed favorably will be invited to campus to audition for a faculty jury and to interview with faculty. For the on campus audition, candidates must prepare 60 minutes of music (45 minutes for piano performance and pedagogy candidates and for collaborative arts candidates) representative of a Certificate in Performance or Doctoral level. The audition material should consist of various styles and historical periods within their instrument’s standard repertoire. Auditions typically last 30 minutes. The pieces performed will be selected by the faculty jury from the list of performance-ready repertoire provided in the application. Non-keyboard applicants may bring their own accompanist or must pay for the services of a local accompanist (names will be provided upon request) for the campus audition.

Applicants for the doctor of music degree program will be required to complete a three-part diagnostic examination that will be used to assess their scholarly writing and their specific knowledge of music history and music theory. The examination will require the construction of essays on three questions provided at the time of the exam. In general the questions pertain to, but are not limited to, theory, history, composers, repertoire, and scholarship associated with the applicant's area of performance. The exam will also require analysis of a score and/or synthesis of schools of thought, in addition to calling for information on broad historic movements within the allied arts and society. This is not a placement examination; exam results are an important component of the overall admissions decision. Applicants must attend the exam at their assigned time. No laptops, notes, or dictionaries are permitted during the exam, which has a two-hour time limit.

[ Back to Top ]

Doctor of Music in Piano Performance and Collaborative Arts Application and Audition Requirements

Applicants for the doctor of music program in piano performance and collaborative arts must submit the following by December 15:

• A completed application
  
  
• A repertoire list of pieces studied or performed
  
  
• A complete list of performance-ready works
  
  
• A resumé
  
  
• A preliminary CD. This recording should contain 45 minutes of music representing four stylistic periods, as follows:
  • 15 minutes of memorized solo piano literature representing at least TWO different historical periods.
  • 30 minutes of collaborative instrumental and/or vocal repertoire chosen from any three historical periods. The historical periods for the collaborative repertoire MAY overlap with the solo repertoire as long as four stylistic periods are represented on the complete CD. Applicants will not be invited to campus for an audition without completing all of the above requirements.

Applicants whose recordings are reviewed favorably will be invited for an on-campus audition, interview, and entrance examination. Applicants must prepare 45 minutes of music for the on-campus audition, which typically lasts 20 to 30 minutes and includes performance of works selected by faculty members from the prepared 45-minute program. This program must include 15 minutes of memorized solo repertoire representing TWO different historical periods and 30 minutes of collaborative repertoire representing any three historical periods, with at least one piece being contemporary. 

• Instrumental works may be performed with one or more partners.
  
  
• Vocal repertoire must be chosen from songs by Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, or Wolf; songs by a French composer; songs by an American or British composer; and operatic arias in Italian and/or German.

Important note: The repertoire on the preliminary CD does not have to conform to repertoire prepared for the on-campus audition should the candidate be chosen. This repertoire must, however, conform to the historical periods outlined above.

Applicants may bring their own instrumentalists and singers for the audition; if, however, the assistance of a Chicago-area musician is needed, the applicant must contact the coordinator of collaborative arts at least one month prior to the on-campus audition (or as soon as possible after receiving the invitation to audition). Northwestern will provide one singer and/or one instrumentalist, and the repertoire will be chosen in collaboration with the coordinator of collaborative arts. The candidate must arrange rehearsal time with the singer and/or instrumentalist. Contact information will be provided.

For further information, please contact Elizabeth Buccheri at e–buccheri@northwestern.edu or the Office of Music Admission and Financial Aid.

[ Back to Top ]

Doctor of Music in Composition Application and Audition Requirements

Note: Applicants must apply directly to the Doctor of Music program following the completion of an undergraduate or master's degree in music.

Applicants must submit a portfolio consisting of scores (and preferably audiotapes or CDs) of three to five representative compositions by December 15. Compositions should incorporate a variety of media and show familiarity with current trends. Applicants must also include a complete list of works and composition performances, an analysis of a musical work composed no earlier than 1950, and a second analytical or music history paper. Based on a preliminary review of the composition portfolio, candidates may be invited to campus for an interview with faculty and an entrance examination. Candidates will not be invited to campus until all required materials are received. 

[ Back to Top ]

Doctor of Music in Music Technology and New Media Application and Audition Requirements (Application not available for 2007-2008)

Each applicant must have a fully completed application on file, including transcripts, letters of reference, and a portfolio of creative works. The GRE is recommended but not required.

Qualifications: Applicants may be admitted with a Bachelor’s degree for a three-year program or with a master's degree for a two-year program. The student’s previous course work should demonstrate an extensive commitment to creativity with digital media even if the degrees do not bear a similar name. The student must also demonstrate an extensive academic background in music.

[ Back to Top ]