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Piano Auditions

Instructor Updates

Garrick Ohlsson is not accepting new students for the 2024-2025 academic year.

 

Audition Dates

Spring 2024

Auditions for Spring semester entry are arranged individually the week of November 13 following the application deadline. This area does not accept applications to the Artist Diploma for Spring semester.

Fall 2024

In-person auditions for Fall semester entry are as follows and subject to change. Students are reminded not to book travel until scheduling an audition slot through the application status portal, which will be available after the release of audition slots in December.

  • January 28
  • February 4, 11, 18, 19 and 25

 

Requirements

Please review the pre-screening and final audition requirements to audition for the piano area. Current SFCM students are not required to submit a pre-screening but must upload the required video essay.

Important Details - All Applicants

  • All repertoire must be performed from memory except for Contemporary selections.
  • All recordings must be audiovisual.
  • Movements from multi-movement works may be uploaded in separate audiovisual files. Include the name of the piece or movement being performed at the very beginning of the recording and/or in your uploaded description.
  • As we strive to have a more equal representation of genders, ethnicities, and cultures in our repertoire, we encourage applicants to include one work composed by a woman and/or person from a historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group.

Prescreening

Each selection of the prescreening repertoire must be submitted as an unedited audiovisual recording. Applicants will be informed if they are invited to attend an audition or have been denied in prescreening. If you have questions about your repertoire selections within these requirements, please first consult with your current private teacher or other mentor.

Applicants must have at least 20 minutes of recordings submitted.

  • One Allegro movement of a Classical period sonata
  • One work from the Romantic era. Individual movements from larger works are acceptable.
  • One étude of virtuosity by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Debussy, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Bartok, or Ligeti
  • Additional contrasting works may be included to fulfill the minimum time requirement.

Applicants must have at least 30 minutes of recordings submitted.

  • One Allegro movement of a Classical period sonata
  • One work from the Romantic era. Individual movements from larger works are acceptable.
  • One étude of virtuosity by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Debussy, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Bartok, or Ligeti
  • Additional contrasting works may be included to fulfill the minimum time requirement.

Applicants must have at least 30 minutes of recordings submitted.

  • One Allegro movement of a Classical period sonata
  • One work from the Romantic era. Individual movements from larger works are acceptable.
  • One étude of virtuosity by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Debussy, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Bartok, or Ligeti
  • Additional contrasting works may be included to fulfill the minimum time requirement.

Applicants must have at least 60 minutes of repertoire.

Solo repertoire representing three diverse musical periods. At least two must be large-scale works and performed in full.

Final Audition Repertoire

If you have questions about your repertoire selections within these requirements, please first consult with your current private teacher or other mentor.

Applicants must have at least 30 minutes of repertoire.

  • One polyphonic work from the Baroque Period, such as a Prelude and Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier, or a fugal movement from a suite.
  • One complete Classical work by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert
  • One étude of virtuosity by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Debussy, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Bartok, or Ligeti
  • Two additional works or movements of contrasting style.

Applicants must have at least 50 minutes of repertoire.

  • One complete Classical work by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert
  • One étude of virtuosity by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Debussy, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Bartok, or Ligeti
  • Two additional works or movements of contrasting style.

Applicants must have at least 50 minutes of repertoire.

  • One complete Classical work by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert
  • One étude of virtuosity by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Debussy, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Bartok, or Ligeti
  • Two additional works or movements of contrasting style.

Applicants must have at least 70 minutes of repertoire.

Solo repertoire representing three diverse musical periods. At least two must be large-scale works and performed in full.

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