Audition dates, repertoire, and prescreening requirements vary by department. Curtis will hold virtual auditions during February and March for entry in the 2021–22 academic year. Dates are scheduled based on the faculty’s availability. Curtis is unable to honor requests for changes in the scheduled audition dates. Applicants who wish to double-major must audition and gain admission to each department separately.
Cello | February 14–15 |
Composition | March 19–21 |
Guitar | February 12–14 |
Horn | February 19–21 |
Opera (Graduate) | March 12–14 |
Timpani and Percussion |
February 26 (preliminary round deadline for pre-recorded submissions); March 5–7 (Live virtual auditions round) |
Viola | February 26-28 |
Violin | February 26–28 (Preliminary rounds - live virtual); March 5–7 (Final rounds - live virtual) |
Voice (Undergraduate) | March 12–14 |
Instrument departments that are not listed above will not hold auditions this year. We know that this decision is disappointing for prospective applicants to these departments, but we hope this information will help provide context for this news.
Composition applicants will submit no more than three original scores (and an additional $100 screening fee) with their applications. Submission of accompanying recordings is strongly recommended. Applicants to the composition department have original compositions examined by that department.
A personal interview in Philadelphia will be required for candidates considered as finalists.
(If interviewing in Philadelphia is not safe or accessible, interviews in a virtual environment will be considered and scheduled as necessary)
Conducting applications are accepted for the post-baccalaureate diploma program only. Applicants must submit a screening video with the application to be considered for the live auditions. Applicants will be notified in January of their live audition status.
Screening Recording
Applicants must submit a high-quality audio-visual recording. Please see the Curtis website for all relevant deadlines.
Live Audition
All Conducting Fellow applicants selected for a live audition must demonstrate their knowledge of score analysis, harmony, counterpoint, score reading, and aural maturity in a 45-minute private session with members of the Curtis Musical Studies faculty as well as a 30-minute group session consisting of a series of dictations.
Applicants selected as finalists will move on to the conducting round of the audition.
Live Audition (if advanced)
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:
B. One of the following complete pieces:
C. One of the following complete pieces:
D. One of the following concertos (first movement only; accompanist provided):
E. One of the following chamber pieces (chamber partner provided):
Piano
Live Audition (if advanced)
Applicants will play from memory:
No substitutions for the above repertoire will be allowed.
Organ
Applicants will play from memory:
Organ applicants will also be asked to sight-read. A modern composition will be sent to each auditionee one month prior to auditions and will be performed (optional: from memory) at the audition.
The organ in Field Concert Hall is an Aeolian-Skinner, 5 manuals, 116 ranks. See detailed specification .
All string applicants must be prepared to play all major and minor scales and arpeggios in fluent tempo.
Violin
Applicants must submit a screening video with the application to be considered for the live auditions. Applicants will be notified in January of their live audition status.
Prescreening
Applicants should submit a video (recently recorded) of the following. Movements may be individual recordings, but each movement should be one uninterrupted recording; please include at least one slow tempo movement:
Live Audition (if advanced)
All string applicants must be prepared to play all major and minor scales and arpeggios in fluent tempo.
Applicants will play from memory:
Viola
Live Audition (if advanced)
All string applicants must be prepared to play all major and minor scales and arpeggios in fluent tempo. Applicants will play:
Everything except selection #4 is to be played from memory.
Cello
Live Audition (if advanced)
All string applicants must be prepared to play all major and minor scales and arpeggios in fluent tempo.
Applicants will play:
Everything except the Beethoven or Brahms is to be played from memory.
Double Bass
Applicants must submit a screening video with the application to be considered for the live auditions. Applicants will be notified in January of their live audition status.
Prescreening
Applicants should prepare a five to ten minute video recording of a work or works that best exhibits their skills.The choice should be similar to, but not limited to the Double Bass live audition repertoire.
Live Audition (if advanced)
Applicants will play from memory:
Harp
Live Audition (if advanced)
Before applying, all applicants should submit their proposed audition repertoire to the admissions office (admissions@curtis.edu) for faculty approval.
Applicants will play from memory:
All works should be performed from memory with the exception of the orchestra excerpts or special approval. All works should be prepared in their entirety; no single movements. Applicants will be accepted for audition depending on the level of their audition program.
All auditioning harpists may use Curtis harps to practice (48 hours prior to the audition only) and audition. Available harps:
Applicants will demonstrate familiarity with all major and minor scales and arpeggios, and will be expected to demonstrate sight-reading ability with material chosen by the instructor.
Flute
Applicants must submit a screening video with the application to be considered for the live auditions. Applicants will be notified in January of their live audition status.
*Curtis no longer accepts flute applicants for the Post Baccalaureate program.
Screening Repertoire
Applicants should prepare a video recording of (at least) one movement from each of three contrasting pieces. Works with piano (or other instrumental) accompaniment should be performed with piano accompaniment.
Live Audition Repertoire
All applicants should possess a good ear and a sense of rhythm and tone. They will demonstrate familiarity with all major and minor scales and arpeggios. Applicants will also be expected to demonstrate sight-reading ability with material chosen by the instructor. Applicants will play:
Oboe
All applicants should possess a good ear and a sense of rhythm and tone. They will demonstrate familiarity with all major and minor scales and arpeggios. Applicants will also be expected to demonstrate sight-reading ability with material chosen by the instructor. Applicants will play:
Applicants must also be able to read an orchestral excerpt, and they may be given a written examination concerning their general knowledge of music. In honor of the seventh director of the Curtis Institute of Music, each year one new or current oboe student will be named the John de Lancie Scholar.
Clarinet
Applicants must submit a screening video with the application to be considered for the live auditions. Applicants will be notified in January of their live audition status.
All applicants should possess a good ear and a sense of rhythm and tone. They will demonstrate familiarity with all major and minor scales and arpeggios. Applicants will also be expected to demonstrate sight-reading ability with material chosen by the instructor.
Screening Repertoire
Live Audition Repertoire
Applicants will play:
Bassoon
Applicants must submit a screening video with the application to be considered for the live auditions. Applicants will be notified in January of their live audition status.
All applicants should possess a good ear and a sense of rhythm and tone. They will demonstrate familiarity with all major and minor scales and arpeggios. Applicants will also be expected to demonstrate sight-reading ability with material chosen by the instructor.
Screening Repertoire
Live Audition Repertoire
Applicants will play from memory:
In addition to fulfilling the specific requirements below, applicants should possess physical aptitude for the chosen instrument, a good ear, a sense of rhythm, and the ability to read at sight.
Trumpet
Applicants must submit a screening video with the application to be considered for the live auditions. Applicants will be notified in January of their live audition status.
Prescreening
Applicants should prepare a video recording between 10–15 minutes in length containing the following:
Live Audition (if advanced)
Applicants will play:
Applicants must display at least rudimentary knowledge of transposition.
Horn
Live Audition (if advanced)
Applicants will demonstrate familiarity with all major and minor scales and arpeggios. In addition, applicants will play:
Trombone
Auditions will be held for tenor trombone and/or bass trombone, depending on the opening. Applicants must submit a screening video with the application to be considered for the live auditions. Applicants will be notified in January of their live audition status.
Tenor Trombone Prescreening
Applicants should prepare video recordings (unaccompanied) of the following. Each work should be one uninterrupted recording.
Live Audition (if advanced Bass and Tenor Trombone)
Applicants will play:
Applicants may be asked to play all major and minor scales and to read at sight in alto, tenor, and bass clefs.
Tuba
Prescreening
Applicants should prepare video recordings (unaccompanied) of the following. Each work may be recorded separately.
Live Audition (if advanced)
Applicants will play:
The applicant may be asked to play all major and minor scales and to read additional orchestral excerpts at sight. It is strongly recommended that the applicant be proficient on both contrabass and bass tuba.
Live Audition (if advanced)
Applicants should demonstrate a knowledge of the fundamental techniques of percussion and timpani. They will be examined on timpani pitch recognition and technical skills such as rolls. They should be prepared to perform:
Applicants will also be expected to demonstrate their ability to sight-read. Applicants must possess a good ear and be able to sing and recognize all intervals.
Voice (Bachelor of Music and Diploma Programs)
All applicants in voice are required to submit a screening recording with application materials and a high school diploma or equivalent of the year of acceptance .
The following format types are accepted:
Total portfolio size needs to be under 900MB, with a maximum file size of 500 MB. Please upload each piece as its own file.
Screening Repertoire:
Three repertoire selections - one selection in English, one aria, and one selection from German Lieder, Italian, or French art songs from any period. Video recordings should include accompaniment and should show contrast in musical styles and tempos. Please make the best quality recording with the equipment available to you. Pre-recorded accompaniment is acceptable. Applicants will be notified of decisions regarding live auditions in February.
Live Audition Repertoire:
Vocalists who audition live will be asked to perform up to four selections from memory, showing the character and quality of voice and musicianship:
Graduate - Master in Opera and Professional Studies Certificate: Opera
All applicants in voice are required to submit screening video recordings with application materials. Please see the Curtis website for all relevant deadlines.
The following format types are accepted:
Total portfolio size needs to be under 900MB, with a maximum file size of 500 MB. Please upload each piece as its own file.
Screening repertoire:
Three contrasting opera arias. Videos should include accompaniment and should show contrast in musical styles and tempos. Please make the best quality recording with the equipment available to you. Pre-recorded accompaniment is acceptable.
Applicants will be notified of decisions regarding live auditions in February.
Live Audition
Vocalists who audition live will be asked to perform from memory:
Substitutions or exceptions to the audition repertoire are not permitted. While the choice of composition is important, audition performance carries the greater weight. Audition candidates may be asked to demonstrate their sight-reading ability. A knowledge of piano and music theory is desirable. Please reach out to a member of the admissions team at admissions@curtis.edu with any questions about specific repertoire and audition requirements.
Pre-recorded or live auditions take place in a virtual environment during February and March 2021. Candidates who advance to the live audition rounds will receive a confirmation and more details at least one month before their audition date.
Auditions are organized in groups. You will be given a time to meet along with other applicants and will draw a number to make the audition order as fair as possible. Once the order is determined, you will be told a time when you should be back to wait for your warm-up room. You will have around 30 minutes of warm-up time in a designated room. Curtis student proctors will be running most of the logistics, under the supervision of the admissions team. Students are happy to answer any questions you may have about Curtis while you wait.
It depends on the department for which you’re auditioning. On the Curtis website, the Repertoire section of the Audition page outline requirements for repertoire and memorization.
Audition repertoire varies by major department. The best way to determine the repertoire requirements is to visit the Audition page.
Each applicant may warm-up for 30 minutes in an assigned practice room before the audition. The audition proctors will take you to your practice room at your designated time. Please plan to arrive at least 10 minutes before your slotted audition time.