Useful Links
Undergraduate Audition Requirements - Brass
Classical Brass audition requirements on this page. For Jazz, please see Jazz Instruments/Voice
Horn (French Horn)
Professor Joshua Michal, jmichal@music.umass.edu
Live Audition Requirements
Repertoire
- A fast and a slow movement chosen from works such as the Mozart horn concertos, the Haydn concertos, the Strauss Concerto Op. 11, the Beethoven Sonata, the Dukas Villanelle, and the Bernard Heiden Sonata.
- An etude such as those by Gallay, Kopprasch and Kling.
Technique
- Demonstration of major and chromatic scales throughout the practical range of the instrument. The faculty will select scales for the applicant to perform.
Remote Audition Requirements
All Remote Auditions require faculty approval. Please see the Note Concerning Remote Auditions for further information.
Please prepare the pieces outlined in the Live Audition Requirements for an audition held live via Zoom. Email Prof. Michal at jmichal@music.umass.edu to set up a date and time.
Trumpet
Professor Eric Berlin, berlin@music.umass.edu, Trumpet Studio website
For Jazz Trumpet, also please see Jazz Brass webpage.
Please note that these requirements are for ALL trumpet applicants. Jazz Trumpet applicants will also need to submit materials found at the link above.
Audition Requirements
1. Etude 1 from Vassily Brandt's 34 Etudes; play from the beginning to the downbeat of bar 54. (For clarification and purchase of the required material for this step, see: https://www.amazon.com/Etudes-Trumpet-Orchestra-Last/dp/0793536189)
2. Two contrasting movements (in their entirety) from ONE of the following:
a. Kent Kennan Sonata
b. Paul Hindemith Sonata
c. Flor Peeters Sonata
d. Halsey Stevens Sonata
e. Eric Ewazen Sonata
f. Alexander Arutiunian Concerto (play beginning to letter L)
g. Franz Joseph Haydn Concerto in Eb
h. Johann Nepomuk Hummel Concerto in E or Eb
3. Scales
a. Major scales up to 4 sharps and 4 flats. Two octaves up to high C.
b. Two octave C Chromatic Scale (slurred in triplets, quarter note = 100)
Trombone
Professor Greg Spiridopoulos, gspiro@music.umass.edu
Live Audition Requirements
- One legato etude from Bordogni's (Rochut) Melodius Etudes Vol. 1
- One technical etude from either: Blazhevich Clef Studies OR Kopprasch 60 Studies for Trombone
- 3-5 minutes of two contrasting movements from a standard solo work OR a single solo work with contrasting material. Examples include:
- Barat, Andante & Allegro - complete
- Guilmant, Morceau Symphonique - complete
- David, Concertino - movements 1 and 2
- Saint-Saens, Cavatine - complete
- Grondahl, Concerto - movements 1 and 2 - Be prepared to present all major scales in 2 octaves
Remote Audition Requirements
All Remote Auditions require faculty approval. Please see the Note Concerning Remote Auditions for further information.
- Please prepare a video and provide the link with the submission of the Music Application.
- The video should include all aspects of the live audition, with one exception: instead of presenting all major scales, applicants should demonstrate major scales (2 octaves) in E, Db, and two others of their own choice.
- YouTube is the recommended video platform, though any medium that smoothly provides both video and audio is permitted.
- Raw video files are not accepted.
- An interview/lesson via Zoom may be required after video submission as part of a remote audition. The trombone faculty will contact the applicant in this instance to discuss a date and time following submission and review of the video.
Euphonium
Professor John Bottomley, jbottoml@music.umass.edu
Live Audition Requirements
1. Two contrasting movements or single work with contrasting material from standard repertoire. Examples:
- Barat- Andante & Allegro
- Galliard- Sonatas
- Ropartz- Andante & Allegro
- Guilmant- Morceau Symphonique
2. One etude from:
- Bordogni (Rochut)- Melodius Etudes Vol. 1
3. Scales
- All Major scales in two octaves; scales are selected by the faculty during the audition.
- Two octave chromatic scale
Remote Audition Requirements
All Remote Auditions require faculty approval. Please see the Note Concerning Remote Auditions for further information.
- Prepare a video of the Live Audition Requirements listed above, with the following exception:
- For the major scale demonstration, the applicant must select 2 sharp scales and 2 flat scales of their choice to demonstrate. One of the chosen scales must include at least 4 accidentals.
- Submit a link to your video with your Audition Request Form submission. YouTube is the recommended video platform, though any medium that smoothly provides both video and audio is permitted.
- Raw video files are not accepted.
Tuba
Professor John Bottomley, jbottoml@music.umass.edu
Live Audition Requirements
1. Two contrasting movements from the standard repertoire. Examples:
- Hindemith- Sonata
- B. Marcelo- Sonatas
- Haddad- Suite for Tuba
- Barat- Introduction and Dance
2. One etude from either:
- Bordogni- 43 Bel Canto Studies (Robert King)
- Blazhevich- 70 Studies for Tuba (Robert King)
3. Scales
- All Major scales in two octaves; scales are selected by the faculty during the audition.
- Chromatic scale in two octaves starting on low Bb
Remote Audition Requirements
All Remote Auditions require faculty approval. Please see the Note Concerning Remote Auditions for further information.
- Prepare a video of the Live Audition Requirements listed above, with the following exception:
- For the major scale demonstration, the applicant must select 2 sharp scales and 2 flat scales of their choice to demonstrate. One of the chosen scales must include at least 4 accidentals.
- Submit a link to your video with your Music Application submission. YouTube is the recommended video platform, though any medium that smoothly provides both video and audio is permitted.
- Raw video files are not accepted.
Horn (French Horn) | Trumpet | Trombone | Euphonium | Tuba
Horn (French Horn)
Professor Joshua Michal, jmichal@music.umass.edu
Live Audition Requirements
Repertoire
- A fast and a slow movement chosen from works such as the Mozart horn concertos, the Haydn concertos, the Strauss Concerto Op. 11, the Beethoven Sonata, the Dukas Villanelle, and the Bernard Heiden Sonata.
- An etude such as those by Gallay, Kopprasch and Kling.
Technique
- Demonstration of major and chromatic scales throughout the practical range of the instrument. The faculty will select scales for the applicant to perform.
Remote Audition Requirements
All Remote Auditions require faculty approval. Please see the Note Concerning Remote Auditions for further information.
Please prepare the pieces outlined in the Live Audition Requirements for an audition held live via Zoom. Email Prof. Michal at jmichal@music.umass.edu to set up a date and time.
Horn (French Horn) | Trumpet | Trombone | Euphonium | Tuba | All
Trumpet
Professor Eric Berlin, berlin@music.umass.edu, Trumpet Studio website
For Jazz Trumpet, please see Jazz Brass webpage.
Please note that these requirements are for ALL trumpet applicants. Jazz Trumpet applicants will also need to submit materials found at the link above.
Audition Requirements
1. Etude 1 from Vassily Brandt's 34 Etudes; play from the beginning to the downbeat of bar 54. (For clarification and purchase of the required material for this step, see: https://www.amazon.com/Etudes-Trumpet-Orchestra-Last/dp/0793536189)
2. Two contrasting movements (in their entirety - with or without accompaniment) from one of the following:
a. Kent Kennan Sonata
b. Paul Hindemith Sonata
c. Flor Peeters Sonata
d. Halsey Stevens Sonata
e. Eric Ewazen Sonata
f. Alexander Arutiunian Concerto (play beginning to letter L)
g. Franz Joseph Haydn Concerto in Eb
h. Johann Nepomuk Hummel Concerto in E or Eb
3. Scales
a. Major scales up to 4 sharps and 4 flats. Two octaves up to high C.
b. Two octave C Chromatic Scale (slurred in triplets, quarter note = 100)
Horn (French Horn) | Trumpet | Trombone | Euphonium | Tuba | All
Trombone
Professor Greg Spiridopoulos, gspiro@music.umass.edu
Live Audition Requirements
- One legato etude from Bordogni's (Rochut) Melodius Etudes Vol. 1
- One technical etude from either: Blazhevich Clef Studies OR Kopprasch 60 Studies for Trombone
- 3-5 minutes of two contrasting movements from a standard solo work OR a single solo work with contrasting material. Examples include:
- Barat, Andante & Allegro - complete
- Guilmant, Morceau Symphonique - complete
- David, Concertino - movements 1 and 2
- Saint-Saens, Cavatine - complete
- Grondahl, Concerto - movements 1 and 2 - Be prepared to present all major scales in 2 octaves.
Remote Audition Requirements
All Remote Auditions require faculty approval. Please see the Note Concerning Remote Auditions for further information.
- Please prepare a video and provide the link with the submission of the Music Application.
- The video should include all aspects of the live audition, with one exception: instead of presenting all major scales, applicants should demonstrate major scales (2 octaves) in E, Db, and two others of their own choice.
- YouTube is the recommended video platform, though any medium that smoothly provides both video and audio is permitted.
- Raw video files are not accepted.
- An interview/lesson via Zoom may be required after video submission as part of a remote audition. The trombone faculty will contact the applicant in this instance to discuss a date and time following submission and review of the video.
Horn (French Horn) | Trumpet | Trombone | Euphonium | Tuba | All
Euphonium
Professor John Bottomley, jbottoml@music.umass.edu
Live Audition Requirements
1. Two contrasting movements or single work with contrasting material from standard repertoire. Examples:
- Barat- Andante & Allegro
- Galliard- Sonatas
- Ropartz- Andante & Allegro
- Guilmant- Morceau Symphonique
2. One etude from:
- Bordogni (Rochut)- Melodius Etudes Vol. 1
3. Scales
- All Major scales in two octaves; scales are selected by the faculty during the audition.
- Two octave chromatic scale
Remote Audition Requirements
All Remote Auditions require faculty approval. Please see the Note Concerning Remote Auditions for further information.
- Prepare a video of the Live Audition Requirements listed above, with the following exception:
- For the major scale demonstration, the applicant must select 2 sharp scales and 2 flat scales of their choice to demonstrate. One of the chosen scales must include at least 4 accidentals.
- Submit a link to your video with your Music Application submission. YouTube is the recommended video platform, though any medium that smoothly provides both video and audio is permitted.
- Raw video files are not accepted.
Horn (French Horn) | Trumpet | Trombone | Euphonium | Tuba | All
Tuba
Professor John Bottomley, jbottoml@music.umass.edu
Live Audition Requirements
1. Two contrasting movements from the standard repertoire. Examples:
- Hindemith- Sonata
- B. Marcelo- Sonatas
- Haddad- Suite for Tuba
- Barat- Introduction and Dance
2. One etude from either:
- Bordogni- 43 Bel Canto Studies (Robert King)
- Blazhevich- 70 Studies for Tuba (Robert King)
3. Scales
- All Major scales in two octaves; scales are selected by the faculty during the audition.
- Chromatic scale in two octaves starting on low Bb
Remote Audition Requirements
All Remote Auditions require faculty approval. Please see the Note Concerning Remote Auditions for further information.
- Prepare a video of the Live Audition Requirements listed above, with the following exception:
- For the major scale demonstration, the applicant must select 2 sharp scales and 2 flat scales of their choice to demonstrate. One of the chosen scales must include at least 4 accidentals.
- Submit a link to your video with your Music Application submission. YouTube is the recommended video platform, though any medium that smoothly provides both video and audio is permitted.
- Raw video files are not accepted.
Horn (French Horn) | Trumpet | Trombone | Euphonium | Tuba | All
