String Audition Requirements

Please review and prepare all requirements thoroughly. Auditions are held in person at NIU in February, unless otherwise determined. Please register for your audition date.

If you are unable to attend our formal audition days, contact our music admissions coordinator for permission to schedule an independent audition or obtain approval to submit an unedited video audition and complete a virtual interview. Please bring copies of your music for the adjudication panel.

Undergraduate students will complete an aural skills assessment at the time of audition. Sight reading exercises may be given at the time of audition for all applicants. Music Minor applicants are encouraged to follow the audition guidelines for the Major but are welcome to contact the appropriate faculty for approval of an alternative audition program.

Violin

Undergraduate students

  • One study piece (i.e. Mazas, Fiorillo, Gavinies, Kreutzer, Dont, Rode)
  • Two contrasting movements of differing styles from two separate works (i.e. a concerto, solo work, and/or sonata)

Graduate students

  • Advanced Caprice (i.e. Paganini, Dont, Rode)
  • Movement of a major concerto
  • One or more movements of solo Bach

Viola

Undergraduate Students

Prepare a selection from each of the following two categories:

  • A concerto movement, a sonata movement or a recital work
  • One or two movements of solo Bach, or other unaccompanied work

Graduate Students

Prepare a selection from each of the following three categories:

  • A concerto movement
  • A sonata movement or recital work 
  • One or two movements of solo Bach, or other unaccompanied work

Cello

Undergraduate Students

  • Two 3-octave scales
  • Two selections contrasting in style from the standard repertoire (i.e. concerto, solo work, showpiece, or sonata)
  • An étude (i.e. Popper or Duport)

Graduate Students

  • A movement of a major concerto
  • Two contrasting movement of a solo Bach Suite
  • An étude (i.e. Popper or Piatti)

Double Bass

Undergraduate Students

  • Two 2-octave scales – major and minor
  • Two studies from an étude book (i.e. Simandl, Billè, Storch, Slama)
  • Two movements or pieces of differing styles selected from bass literature

Graduate Students

  • Two 3-octave scales – major and minor
  • Two studies from an étude book (i.e. Simandl, Billè, Storch, Slama)
  • Two movements or pieces of differing styles selected from bass literature
  • A movement from a Bach Suite

Harp

Undergraduate Students

  • Major scales, arpeggios, and tonic glissandos (demonstrate at least one from each category)
  • One étude from the following:
    • Conditioning Exercises, Carlos Salzedo; Method for Harp, Carlos Salzedo; Preludes Intimes, Carlos Salzedo; Études, Bochsa
  • One each from the following categories:
    • Ballet Excerpt: Waltz of the Flowers cadenza, The Nutcracker;
    • Orchestral Excerpt: Capriccio Espagnole, Rimsky-Korsakov; Scottish Fantasy, Bruch
    • Opera Excerpt: Madama Butterfly, Puccini; any other standard excerpt from a Wagner opera
  • One solo from the following:
    • Concerto in B-Flat, mvt. 1, Handel; Suite of Eight Dances, Salzedo; Sonatine, Tournier or Dussek; Colorado Trail, M Grandjany; Sonata in C minor, Persichetti

Graduate Students

Graduate students should have at least three solos memorized.

  • One Baroque period piece
  • One work by Handel, Dussek, or Persichetti
  • One 20th century solo by Salzedo, Grandjany, Ravel, Faure, Hindemith, or other pertinent composer
  • One orchestral excerpt of your choice

Classical Guitar

Memorization is required for all auditionees.

Undergraduate Students

  • One major and one minor scale
  • One étude by Carcassi, Carulli, Sor, Villa-Lobos, or equivalent
  • Two pieces in contrasting styles

Graduate Students

  • An étude by Villa-Lobos
  • Two contrasting movements by J.S. Bach or equivalent
  • A piece by 19th century composers such as Sor, Giuliani, Coste, Mertz or equivalent
  • A 20th century work by Albeniz, Barrios, Brouwer, Falla, Ponce, Rodrigo, Torroba, Turina, Walton or equivalent

Contact

Austyn V. Menk
Music Admissions Coordinator
815-753-6306
avmenk@niu.edu