Guitar Requirements

The new guitar department at the Curtis Institute of Music joins the great tradition of artistry that has defined the school since its founding in 1924. The program features two distinguished artist-faculty in Jason Vieaux and David Starobin. Admitted students will be at a level of musical and technical proficiency commensurate with other instrumental departments at Curtis such that they will immediately benefit and excel in working concurrently with Mr. Vieaux and Mr. Starobin in studio lessons.

The Curtis guitar program is designed to integrate new students from the moment they arrive into the full musical life of the school through studies not only in solo repertoire and concertos, but also in chamber music with a particular emphasis on contemporary works. Students can expect to perform often on the Student Recital Series and in other Curtis-sponsored recitals from the very beginning of their Curtis careers. The guitar department’s emphasis is on training and educating musicians for careers as performers on the highest professional level in the 21st century while utilizing Curtis’s unique “learn by doing” approach.

Applicants who are admitted in guitar enter either the bachelor of music or diploma programs. Those who already hold bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees or other certificates or diplomas are welcome to apply.

Audition Repertoire

Applicants will play works selected from categories A through E. Everything except the chamber piece is to be played from memory. 

A. Two of the following études by different composers:

• Regondi, Étude No. 2
• Regondi, Étude No. 5
• Regondi, Étude No. 8
• Regondi, Étude No. 10
• Sor, Studio in G Major, Op. 29, No. 3 
• Sor, Studio in A Major, Op. 6, No. 6 
• Sor, Studio in C Major, Op. 29, No. 17
• Villa-Lobos, Étude No. 3
• Villa-Lobos, Étude No. 7
• Villa-Lobos, Étude No. 10

B. One of the following complete pieces:

• J.S. Bach, Chaconne from Partita in D minor, BWV 1004
• J.S. Bach, Lute Suite No. 2, BWV 997
• J.S. Bach, Lute Suite No. 3, BWV 995 
• J.S. Bach, Prelude, Fugue and Allegro, BWV 998
• Giuliani, Variations on a March by Cherubini, Op. 110
• Regondi, Introduction and Caprice, Op. 23
• Regondi, Reverie-Nocturne, Op. 19
• Sor, Fantaisie, Op. 7 
• Sor, Fantaisie No. 7, Op. 30
• Sor, Souvenirs d'une Soiree a Berlin, Op. 56
• Sor, Fantaisie Elegiaque, Op. 59

C. One of the following complete pieces:

• Ponce, Thème varié et finale
• Ponce, Sonata No. 3
• Ponce, Variations and Fugue on 'La Folia'
• José, Sonata
• Britten, Nocturnal after John Dowland
• Walton, Bagatelles
• Ginastera, Sonata, Op. 47
• Carter, Changes
• Berio, Sequenza XI
• Brouwer, Sonata

D. One of the following concertos (first movement only; accompanist provided):

• Giuliani, Concerto in A major, Op. 30
• Ponce, Concierto del Sur
• Rodrigo, Concierto de Aranjuez

E. One of the following chamber pieces (chamber partner provided):

• Crumb, Mundus Canis: movements 2 and 4
• Giuliani, Rondo, Op. 68, No. 2 in B minor (for guitar and piano)
• Takemitsu, Toward the Sea (for alto flute and guitar), movement 3