• 10-minute audition
• Two selections in contrasting style
• A major and minor scale of your choice.
• Piano accompaniment is optional and must be provided by candidate.
• Clarinet
  • 2 octave major scales and arpeggios through 4 sharps and 4 flats
  • E, F#, F, and G (3 octaves)
  • tongue up and slur down in eighth notes (tempo range 90-100)
  • chromatic scale Low E to high G slur in eighth notes (tempo range 90-100)
  • Rose 32 etude book No. 8 and No. 11
  • Sightreading
• Saxophone
  • Major scales in the full range of the instrument at 80-100bpm in 8th notes. The recommended handout for full range scales can be found here. Scales will be called by faculty.
  • Two selections in contrasting style (two etudes, two movements of a major concerto/sonata, or two contrasting smaller works).
  • Sight-reading is required.

• 10-minute audition
• Two selections in contrasting style
• A major and minor scale of your choice. For harp, scales are not required. Memorization is strongly encouraged. Piano accompaniment is optional and must be provided by candidate.

• Percussion: please note that auditions will only be held on the January 24, 2026 date. Please email Music Admissions (admissions@music.utah.edu), if you need to make other arrangements.
• 15-minute audition
  
  1. Snare Drum Solo or Etude of choice (orchestral or rudimental):
     • Examples: Pieces by Cirone, Delecluse, Peters, Pratt, Jeff Queen, Matt Savage,  All-State Etudes or equivalent.
  2. Two Mallet Keyboard Solo or Etude of choice (marimba, xylophone, vibraphone):
     • Two Mallet Examples: George Hamilton Green  Xylophone Rags, Gottlieb Masterworks for Mallets, All-State Etudes or equivalent.
  3. Four Mallet Keyboard Solo of choice (marimba or vibraphone):
     • Four Mallet Examples: Pieces by Abe, Burton, Burritt, Friedman, Ford, Glentworth, Kopetzki, Metzger, Musser, Peters, Smadbeck, Schmitt, Sammutt, Stout, Zivkovic, All State Etudes or equivalent.

CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

1. Timpani Solo or Etude of student choice (performed at in-person audition):
   • Examples: Pieces by Carter, Delecluse, Vic Firth, Nick Woud or equivalent.
OR
2. Drum set: a sample of your time / style playing/ soloing in the following styles: up-tempo swing, funk and Latin/ Afro-Cuban (choose 1: bossa nova, samba, mambo, 12/8 Afro-Cuban). Can also send any live performances on drumset: jazz band (school), other gigs. Please submit these via video recording. Video submission through YouTube link(s). Email to: mike.sammons@utah.edu

EQUIPMENT PROVIDED LIST

• 10-minute audition
• Prospective students are expected to prepare 1 classical vocal selection (selected from art song, folk song, opera, or oratorio literature).
• Song selection must be sung from memory. You are welcome to bring a pianist you have worked with, but a collaborative pianist will be provided.
• You may choose your own repertoire, or you may choose from the suggested songs. If you choose to sing one of the suggested pieces, we have provided vocal and accompaniment rehearsal tracks in the link below.
• A brief interview with the audition panel will follow the audition.

If you would like to schedule a 15-minute Zoom coaching before your audition, please email one of the faculty members listed below. In your email, please suggest three possible meeting times to expedite the scheduling process. Per university policy, we are not allowed to engage in one-on-one email communication with minors. Therefore, please copy a parent/guardian on the email before you submit. 

Julie Wright-Costa, Professor, Soprano ~ julie.wrightcosta@utah.edu

Kirstin Chávez, Professor, Mezzo-Soprano, Artist in Residence, Voice Area Coordinator ~ K.Chavez@utah.edu

Seth Keeton, Associate Professor, Bass-Baritone ~ seth.keeton@utah.edu

Emily Mercado, Associate Professor, Mezzo-Soprano, Choral Music Education ~ Emily.Mercado@utah.edu

• Jazz: please note that auditions will only be held on the January 31, 2026 date. Please email Music Admissions (admissions@music.utah.edu), if you need to make other arrangements.
• 15-minute audition
• Play or sing one major, one melodic minor, and one harmonic minor scale (key centers chosen by the faculty).
• Perform or sing a prepared jazz solo transcription and/or a short jazz etude (3-minute maximum).
• Perform or sing the melody and improvise over the chord changes of 1-3 jazz standard(s) from memory. Guidelines for memorizing jazz repertoire and a suggested list of songs to learn may be viewed here.
• Piano accompaniment will be provided for auditions. Alternatively, professional level play-along recordings such as those by Jamey Aebersold are acceptable; an audio playback system will be provided. Drum set, piano, bass, and guitar amps will be provided. Guitarists must bring their own patch cords.

• Composition, Theory, Music Education, BA in Music, Music Minor
  • Prepare two piano solo works in contrasting style from traditional piano repertoire. Memorization is preferred but not required.
  • Audition duration: 10 minutes.
  • Repertoire examples:
    • Any work of Bach
    • Any movement from a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert
    • Any Romantic work by composers in Romantic, Impressionist, or 20th Century periods.
• BM Piano Performance and BM Piano Pedagogy
  • Prospective students are expected to prepare a minimum of 15 minutes of music for the audition. Prepare three contrasting works. Memorization is preferred. At the discretion of the piano faculty, students may be asked for specific portions of any of the prepared repertoire.
  • Audition duration: 10 minutes.
  • Repertoire examples:
    • Any work of Bach
    • Any movement from a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert
    • Any Romantic work by composers in Romantic, Impressionist, or 20th Century periods.

• 15-20 minute audition
• Prepare one Baroque piece and one post-Baroque piece.
• Memorization is not required.
• Audition includes coaching time with the faculty.

• 10-minute audition
• Two prepared works
  1. Etude by one of the following: Sor, Aguado, Carcassi, Carulli or Giuliani
  2. Composition of candidate's choice from Baroque (e.g. Sanz, Bach, Weiss), Romantic (e.g. Tarrega), or 20th-century (e.g. Torroba, Villa-Lobos, Ponce) guitar literature. Consult The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method, vols. 1 & 2, for examples
• A major and minor scale of your choice. Memorization is strongly encouraged. Piano accompaniment is optional and must be provided by candidate.
• Sight read ensemble parts: single-line melody and accompaniment.

• Audition on your major primary instrument or voice, using the above guidelines. At the audition, please inform the panel of your intended degree program. If you are applying for BMUS in Composition, in addition to the audition, you will participate in a 15-minute interview with the composition area faculty.

• 20-minute audition
• Submit a link to the video recording to admissions@music.utah.edu. The video should include both rehearsal and performance and should be positioned to show the front of the conductor. At the discretion of the faculty, candidates may be asked to perform a live audition. Please see complete program guidelines for details.

• Jazz: please note that auditions will only be held on the January 31, 2026 date. Please email Music Admissions (admissions@music.utah.edu), if you need to make other arrangements.
• 25-minute audition
• Prepare three or more jazz standards in contrasting styles to perform from memory. At least one should be an up-tempo swing piece, one should be a ballad, and the third should demonstrate a contrasting style such as a jazz waltz, a bossa nova, or an advanced modal tune. Guidelines for memorizing jazz repertoire and a suggested list of songs to learn may be viewed here.
• Piano accompaniment will be provided for auditions. Alternatively, professional level play-along recordings such as those by Jamey Aebersold are acceptable; an audio playback system will be provided. Drum set, piano, bass, and guitar amps will be provided. Guitarists must bring their own patch cords.
• Candidates must be prepared to play major and melodic minor scales and/or any of their modes in all twelve keys, as well as all forms of minor scales in any key.
• Be prepared for a brief verbal interview to discuss your knowledge of jazz theory, including chord/scale relationships, commonly used jazz modes, extended and altered chords, common jazz chord progressions, and key attributes of various jazz styles, etc.

• 20-minute audition
• Four selections: one must be in English; one must be an aria. Different styles and languages are encouraged. No musical theater or contemporary commercial music. If you need assistance locating a collaborative pianist, please contact Prof. Kirstin Chávez at k.chavez@utah.edu.
• An interview with the audition panel will follow the audition.

• 20-minute audition
• Two contrasting works plus five standard orchestral excerpts of candidate's choice.
• Piano accompaniment is optional for live auditions and must be provided by candidate. Accompaniment preferred for recorded auditions.

Clarinet

• Mozart Clarinet Concerto, mvt 1 exposition
• Copland Concerto beginning to end of cadenza
• Orchestral excerpts:
  • Mendelssohn Scherzo (beginning to bar 48),
  • Rachmaninoff Symphony #2 (mvt. 3, opening solo through bar 47)
  • Beethoven 6 mvt 1, (2 bars before K to the end,
  • Shostakovich Symphony 9, mvt 2 and mvt 3
• Auxiliary instruments: Please select Eb or Bass. You can choose both.
  • Eb Clarinet
    • Berlioz  Symphonie fantastique, mvmt. 5: figure 63 to 5 after figure 64
    • Strauss Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks 1 after [30] to downbeat of [32]; 40 to 9 after 40
    • Ravel Bolero
  • Bass Clarinet:
    • Khachaturian Piano Concerto Start at 390 to fermata
    • Shostakovich Violin Concerto No.1 (mvt II) 1 before 23 to 13 after 24

Saxophone

• All major and minor scales in the full range of the instrument. Scales will be called by faculty.
• Two selections in contrasting style from the major concerti, sonatas, and unaccompanied works for the instrument. Works should be prepared in their entirety, and selections will be called by faculty. 
• Five orchestral or band excerpts of the candidate's choice.
• Sight-reading is optional.

• Percussion: please note that auditions will only be held on the January 24, 2026 date. Please email Music Admissions (admissions@music.utah.edu), if you need to make other arrangements.
• 30-minute audition
  
  1. Snare Drum
     1. Snare Drum Solo of choice:
        • Examples: Pieces by Delecluse, Tompkins, Masson, Martynciow, Modern Snare Drum Competition repertoire, or equivalent.
     2. Snare Drum Orchestral Excerpts:
        1. Rimsky Korsakov: Scheherazade, Movement 3
        1. Letter D to G (do not observe excessive measures of rests)
        2. Rimsky Korsakov: Scheherazade, Movement 4
        1. 4 measures before Letter N to U (do not observe excessive measures of rests)
  2. Keyboard / Mallets
     1. One movement of choice from:
        1. J. S. Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin or Suites for Solo Cello or equivalent. No repeats
     2. Four Mallet Keyboard Solo of choice (marimba or vibraphone):
        1. Examples: Pieces by Abe, Burritt, Deane, Druckman, Glentworth, Harnsburger, Klatzow, Kopetzki, Lansky, Metzger, Miki, Miyake, Psathas, Rosauro, Sammutt, Sejourne, Schwantner, Tanaka, Thomas, Vinao, Weiner or equivalent.
     3. Xylophone Orchestral Excerpts:
        1. Stravinsky: Firebird (complete Ballet, 1910), mm 127 - 133
        2. One additional contrasting excerpt of your choice
  3. Timpani
     1. 3 Orchestral Excerpts in total representing:
        1. 1 from Classical Period
        2. 1 from Romantic Period
        3. 1 from 20th/21st Century Period
  4. Multi-Percussion – video submission through YouTube link. Email to mike.Sammons@utah.edu
     1. A full-length recording of a solo work of choice:
        1. Examples: Pieces by Adams, Dietz, Hollinden, Ishii, Kitazume, Kopetzk, Lang, Lindroth, Mackey, Maric, Pintscher, Volans, Rolf Wallin, Christian Wolf, James Wood, Xenakis, or equivalent.
  5. Choose ONE of the following video submissions through YouTube link. Email to mike.Sammons@utah.edu
     1. Drumset: a sample of your time / style playing/ soloing in the following styles: up-tempo swing, funk, bossa nova, samba, mambo, 12/8 Afro-Cuban. 3 minute time limit. Can also send any live performances on drumset.
     2. Global Music: a demonstration of your understanding of basic tones, sense of groove/feel and clear communication of style. May include, but not limited to: Afro-Cuban hand drums and percussion; Samba (all styles); pan-African hand drums and percussion; steel pan; middle-eastern frame drums/percussion, etc...

EQUIPMENT PROVIDED LIST

• 20-minute audition
• Two contrasting works, one should be Bach or similar. Piano accompaniment is optional for live auditions and must be provided by candidate. Accompaniment preferred for recorded auditions.

• Prepare a solo recital program of approximately 40-50 minutes of music. Memorization is required (with the exception of complex contemporary works).
• The repertoire must represent at least 3 different musical.
• Seniors or graduates of the University of Utah who wish to apply to the MM program must audition with all other external candidates on the School of Music Audition dates for admission and scholarships.
• Audition duration: 20 minutes

Audition Requirements

• The MM Collaborative Piano audition will consist of a 40 to 50-minute program, with both solo and collaborative repertoire performed.
• Audition duration: 20 minutes
• Seniors or graduates of the University of Utah who wish to apply to the MM Collaborative Piano Program must audition with all other external candidates on the School of Music audition dates for admission and scholarships.
• Students are highly encouraged to bring their own collaborative partner(s) for the live audition. For prospective students traveling from outside of Utah without a collaborative partner, please contact Prof. Vanhauwaert (Steven.Vanhauwaert@utah.edu) as soon as possible before the scheduled audition. The School of Music will attempt to find an appropriate collaborative partner, without The prospective student will be responsible for communicating with this collaborative partner for issues of rehearsal scheduling and financial compensation.
• Any alternate collaborative repertoire of equivalent technical and musical difficulty may be substituted with prior approval from the head of the Collaborative Piano Area.

Audition Repertoire

• Repertoire requirements for the audition are as follows: 20/30 minutes' worth of solo piano works (featuring 2 contrasting works), 10 minutes of collaborative instrumental works (movements of major sonatas with violon, cello, clarinet, viola, oboe, flute, etc.), and 10 minutes of vocal collaborative works (including at least one French song, one German song, and an aria). Applicants will also have a brief sight-reading example and an interview with the collaborative piano faculty following the audition.

• Prepare a 30 minute program of music from at least three representative periods. Memorization is required (with the exception of complex contemporary works).
• Audition duration: 20 minutes
• A brief interview with audition will follow the audition.
• Seniors or graduates of the University of Utah who wish to apply to the MM Collaborative Piano program must audition with all other external candidates on the School of Music audition dates for admission and scholarships.

• 15-20 minute audition
• Prepare one Baroque piece and one post-Baroque piece.
• Memorization is not required.
• Audition includes coaching time with the faculty. 

• 10-minute teaching video recording
• Video should show a sample of the applicant's teaching in either an applied or rehearsal setting.
• You can upload the video directly on the graduate application.

• 20-minute audition
• Submit a link to the video recording to admissions@music.utah.edu. The video should include both rehearsal and performance and should be positioned to show the front of the conductor. At the discretion of the faculty, candidates may be asked to perform a live audition. Please see complete program guidelines for details.

• 20-minute audition
• Five selections: one must be in English; one must be an aria. Different styles and languages are encouraged. No musical theater or contemporary commercial music. If you need assistance locating a collaborative pianist, please contact Prof. Kirstin Chávez at k.chavez@utah.edu.
• An interview with the audition panel will follow the audition.

• 20-minute audition
• Two solo works in contrasting style from standard repertoire, plus five standard orchestral excerpts of candidate’s preference.
• Piano accompaniment is optional for live auditions and must be provided by candidate. Accompaniment preferred for recorded auditions.

• 20-minute audition
• Mozart Clarinet Concerto, mvt 1 exposition
• Copland Concerto beginning to end of cadenza
• Orchestral excerpts:
  • Mendelssohn Scherzo (beginning to bar 48),
  • Rachmaninoff Symphony #2 (mvt. 3, opening solo through bar 47)
  • Beethoven 6 mvt 1, (2 bars before K to the end,
  • Shostakovich Symphony 9, mvt 2 and mvt 3
• Auxiliary instruments: Please select Eb or Bass. You can choose both.
  • Eb Clarinet
    • Berlioz  Symphonie fantastique, mvmt. 5: figure 63 to 5 after figure 64
    • Strauss Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks 1 after [30] to downbeat of [32]; 40 to 9 after 40
    • Ravel Bolero
  • Bass Clarinet:
    • Khachaturian Piano Concerto Start at 390 to fermata
    • Shostakovich Violin Concerto No.1 (mvt II) 1 before 23 to 13 after 24

• 20-minute audition
• All major and minor scales in the full range of the instrument. Scales will be called by faculty.
• Two selections in contrasting style from the major concerti, sonatas, and unaccompanied works for the instrument. Works should be prepared in their entirety, and selections will be called by faculty. 
• Five orchestral or band excerpts of the candidate's choice.
• Sight-reading is optional.

• 20-minute audition
• Two contrasting movements from sonatas and partitas for solo violin, or suites for solo solo cello/viola/double bass by J.S. Bach
• One movement from a major standard concerto
• One Paganini Caprice or equivalent. Piano accompaniment is optional for live auditions and must be provided by candidate. Accompaniment preferred for recorded auditions.

• Percussion: please note that auditions will only be held on the January 24, 2026 date. Please email Music Admissions (admissions@music.utah.edu), if you need to make other arrangements.
• 30-minute audition
  
  1. Snare Drum Solo of choice or 2 contrasting orchestral excerpts
  2. Two Mallet Keyboard Solo of choice or 2 contrasting xylophone orchestral excerpts
  3. Four Mallet Keyboard Solo of choice (marimba / vibraphone)
  4. Timpani
     1. 3 orchestral excerpts in total representing:
        • 1 from Classical Period
        • 1 from Romantic Period
        • 1 from 20th/21st Century Period
  5. Orchestral Accessories
     • 1 Tambourine excerpt of choice
     • 1 Cymbal excerpt of choice
  6. IN ADDITION:
     • Submit recordings of past recitals or professional performance environments within the last 6-12 months totaling approximately 30 minutes of music.
     • Samples of drum set, multiple percussion, non-western percussion, and improvisation are encouraged.
• Video submissions through youtube link. Email to mike.Sammons@utah.edu

EQUIPMENT PROVIDED LIST

• A 50-60 minute solo program representing at least 3 different periods. Memorization is required (except for complex contemporary works).
• Students who have completed or are completing the MM degree at the University of Utah must audition with all other external candidates on the School of Music audition dates for admission and scholarships.
• Audition duration: 20 minutes.

• 10-minute teaching video recording
• Video should show a sample of the applicant's teaching in either an applied or rehearsal setting.
• You can upload the video directly on the graduate application.