Please review and prepare all requirements thoroughly. Auditions are held in person at the NIU School of Music in February unless otherwise determined. Please register for an audition date.
If you are unable to attend our official audition days, contact our music admissions coordinator for permission to schedule an independent audition or obtain approval to submit an unedited video audition. Please bring copies of your music for the adjudication panel. Undergraduates 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.
Flute
All audition requirements are available at International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP).
Undergraduates
Alternative repertoire in place of Mozart or Debussy may be acceptable. Please contact our flute professor to inquire about substitutions.
- Two-octave major scales and three-octave chromatic scale, slurred at a moderate tempo
- One étude by Ernesto Kohler, Op. 33 or Op. 66
- One étude by Karg-Elert, 30 Caprices for solo flute, Op. 107
- Exposition of the first movement of W. A. Mozart's Concerto in G or D major
- Debussy, Syrinx
Graduates
- Two or three contrasting orchestral excerpts of the applicant’s choice
- One étude by Berbiguier, Op. 18
- One étude by Joachim Andersen, Op. 15, 30 or 33
- One movement from a standard repertoire concerto
- One movement from a standard repertoire sonata
Oboe
Undergraduates
- Major scales, two octaves or to the full range of the student’s ability
- Etude: one etude from the Barret Oboe Method or Ferling 48 Famous Studies
- Solo: two pieces or movements of contrasting styles from the standard or contemporary oboe solo repertoire.
See below for list of appropriate solo repertoire. If a piece has multiple movements, applicants can choose to play a single movement.
Graduates
- Scales: all major and minor scales, at least two octaves and demonstrating the applicant’s full range
- Etude: two contrasting etudes from the Barret Oboe Method or Ferling 48 Famous Studies
- Solo works: two selections of contrasting style
- One movement from a standard concerto
- A piece written in the 20th or 21st century
- Excerpts: two contrasting standard orchestral excerpts
Suggested Solo Selections
Music from the 21st century and music of underrepresented composers is encouraged. All selections should demonstrate the student’s tone quality, rhythmic accuracy, technical proficiency, and musical expression.
- Concerto by Cimarosa, Haydn, Marcello, Mozart, Vaughan Williams, or Vivaldi
- Sonata by Handel, Hindemith, Poulenc, Saint-Saëns or Telemann
- Britten – Six Metamorphoses
- Mozart – Quartet in F, K. 370
- Paladilhe – Solo Pour Hautbois
- Schumann – Three Romances
- Works by: Madeline Dring, William Grant Still, Alyssa Morris
Clarinet
If interested in auditioning on bass clarinet, please contact our clarinet professor. All students will be expected to study soprano clarinet in lessons.
Undergraduates
- Major and chromatic scales (at least 2 octaves), slurred at a moderate tempo (2-3 scales will be chosen in the audition).
- Two études (one fast, one slow).
- Select from Rose 32 or 40 Etudes
- Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, first movement, exposition only (m. 57-155) OR comparable selection of solo repertoire.
- The Mozart Concerto may be played on a Bb clarinet if an A clarinet is not available—play as written, do not transpose.
- Examples of other selections include Weber’s Concertino, a piece from H. Voxman’s Concert and Contest Collection, Saint-Saëns' Clarinet Sonata, etc.
- Optional selection of your choice in any style (classical or otherwise).
Graduates
- Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, first movement, exposition only (mm. 57-155) or comparable selection of standard solo repertoire.
- One solo work from the 20th or 21st century.
- Two or three contrasting orchestral excerpts of the applicant’s choice.
- Optional selection of your choice in any style (classical or otherwise).
Bassoon
Undergraduates
- All Major scales and arpeggios and chromatic scale, slurred at a moderate tempo, full range
- Two études from the Weissenborn 50 bassoon studies, Op.8 (one fast, one slow)
- One movement of a solo from standard repertoire
- Suggested literature: Weber - Concerto in F major; any Vivaldi Concerto; Telemann – Sonata in F minor, Hindemith Sonata, Mozart Concerto in B♭ major
Graduates
- All major and minor scales, arpeggios and chromatic scale, full range
- One Milde Concert Study, Op.26
- Two solo works from standard repertoire
- Perform one movement from each work
- Each movement must be a contrasting style and era
- Two orchestral excerpts from standard repertoire
Saxophone
Undergraduates
- Major and chromatic scales, full range, slurred at moderate tempo
- Two études (one fast, one slow)
- Select from Ferling 48 Famous Studies.
- One solo of your choice from the following (or one of comparable scope and difficulty):
- Paul Creston – Sonata
- Alexander Glazunov – Concerto
- Paule Maurice – Tableaux de Provence
- Jacques Ibert – Concertino da Camera
- Bernhard Heiden – Sonata
- Alfred Desenclos – Prelude, Cadence, et Finale
Graduates
- Scales
- All major and minor scales
- All major and minor scales in broken thirds
- Chromatic scale
- Two solos of your choice from the follow (or two of comparable scope and difficulty)
- William Albright – Sonata
- Fernande Decruck – Sonata
- Ingolf Dahl – Concerto
- Ida Gotkovsky – Variations Pathetiques
- Florent Schmitt – Legende
- Henri Tomasi – Concerto