Bassoon — Three pieces of contrasting styles, to include solo literature as well as orchestral excerpts; and major and minor scales.
Cello — One movement from the standard concerto repertoire; one movement of unaccompanied Bach; an etude; a four octave major scale and its parallel minor and arpeggios.
Clarinet —Two pieces in contrasting styles, selected from the standard concerto, sonata, or solo repertoire; an etude chosen from the Rose 40 or 32 Studies; major and minor scales; and a chromatic scale. Sight reading may be requested.
Double bass — Two contrasting pieces or movements from the standard repertoire, including a movement from a Baroque sonata or suite; orchestral excerpts; a three-octave major scale, its relative melodic minor, and arpeggios. In addition, students may elect to perform a transcribed jazz solo or improvise with pre-recorded accompaniment.
Euphonium — The student should select two or three compositions, etudes, or band/orchestral excerpts that demonstrate contrasting styles and the ability to play melodic and technical material. Be able to perform all scales; major, minor (natural, harmonic and melodic), and two octave chromatic scales. Some sight reading may be required.
Flute — Three pieces of contrasting styles, which may include movements from concerti, sonatas, and solo repertoire; and major and minor scales. Sight-reading may be requested.
Guitar — Three pieces of contrasting styles, which may include etudes or movements from larger works; a three octave major scale and its parallel minor. Sight-reading may be requested.
Harpsichord — Three pieces from the standard harpsichord repertoire, including one by J.S. Bach; or the piano audition.
Horn — Two or three pieces, in contrasting styles and tempi, to demonstrate melodic interpretation and technical facility; major, minor, and chromatic scales; sight-reading, including transposition (in E-flat or D major) and bass clef will be requested.
Jazz —Students interested in demonstrating their jazz talents must perform a complete classical audition on their primary instrument in addition to a separate jazz audition. The jazz audition may include a jazz etude, transcription, or improvisation on a prepared jazz piece. Additional requirements are listed along with the classical repertoire requirements for your instrument on this page. Jazz auditions may be heard at the end of the classical audition or at a separate time, depending on faculty availability. We recommend that students bring and improvise to a pre-recorded accompaniment, such as the Aebersold Play-Along series. Those auditioning at off-campus sites must also provide their own amplification for the pre-recorded accompaniment. Candidates auditioning on the Lawrence campus are invited to attend the "Jazz Jam" scheduled from noon to 1:00 pm, when candidates can improvise together on simple forms (blues, etc.) and no prepared materials are required.
Oboe — An 18th-century, or earlier, concerto; a second piece in contrasting style, such as another solo work, an etude, or an orchestral excerpt; number 25 in d minor from “Forty Progressive Melodies,” Barret Oboe Method (also found on pg. 32 of theVade-Mecum of the Oboist, ed. Andraud); and major and minor scales. Sight-reading may be requested.
Organ — One work by J.S. Bach (chorale prelude, prelude and fugue, or trio sonata movement); and one other work from the 19th or 20th century; or the piano audition. Organ audition will be offered in Interlochen and on campus.
Percussion — Students should be able to perform an etude that demonstrates their level of musical and technical ability on snare drum (rudimental or concert style), keyboard percussion (marimba, vibraphone or xylophone), and timpani (two or four drums). Students are also encouraged to perform a solo or a variety of styles on drum set (rock, jazz, Brazilian, Cuban) and/or any ethnic instrument such as congas, tabla, frame drum, etc. Students will be asked to sight-read and play scales on marimba. Students may contact Dane Richeson or visit the percussion studio website for repertoire examples. Percussion auditions will be offered in Interlochen, Houston, and on campus.
Piano —A Prelude and Fugue or other Bach composition containing a fugue (such as a Toccata or Partita); a sonata-allegro movement of a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert; a composition from the romantic period; and a 20th or 21st-century composition. In the case of a student with a prospective jazz emphasis, the 20th/21st century composition may be a jazz etude, transcription, or improvisation on a prepared jazz piece. All music must be memorized. It is possible that not all selections will be heard at the audition, due to time limitations, but all should be prepared. Students may also be asked to sight-read.
Saxophone —Two or three pieces or movements of contrasting styles, demonstrating technical facility and melodic expressiveness; major and minor scales; and a chromatic scale (bb-f#3, ascending and descending). In addition, students may elect to perform a transcribed jazz solo or improvise with pre-recorded accompaniment. Sight-reading will be requested.
Trombone —Two or three standard solos or etudes that show both melodic interpretation and technical facility; major and minor scales, sight-reading, and simple tunes by ear as requested. Jazz etudes, transcriptions, or improvisation with pre-recorded accompaniment may be used as a portion of the audition.
Trumpet —A variety of solos or etudes displaying both technical and melodic ability; and major, minor, and chromatic scales. Sight-reading may be requested. Jazz improvisation with pre-recorded accompaniment and/or lead playing can be included at the discretion of the applicant.
Tuba — The student should select two or three compositions, etudes, or band/orchestral excerpts that demonstrate contrasting styles and the ability to play melodic and technical material. Be able to perform all scales; major, minor (natural, harmonic and melodic), and two octave chromatic scales. Some sight reading may be required.
Viola — One movement of a standard concerto or other work for solo viola and orchestra and two contrasting movements of solo Bach. Preferably, repertoire will be performed from memory. Applicants should also prepare an etude or caprice by Campagnoli, Fuchs or Kreutzer and a three octave major scale and its parallel minor scale and arpeggios.
Violin —Either the first or third movement of a standard concerto performed from memory; two contrasting movements of unaccompanied Bach; an etude or caprice; and three-octave scales and arpeggios.
Voice —Two solos of contrasting styles, one of which must be sung in English, while the other can be sung in a foreign language or English. An accompanist will be provided on campus; students auditioning at a regional site must provide their own accompanists. Pieces must be sung from memory. A musical skills test that includes pitch-matching, sight-singing, and rhythmic exercises will follow the audition.
Lawrence University does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, parental or marital status, age, or disability. Inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policy may be directed to the Provost and Dean of the Faculty at 920-832-6528. Lawrence adheres to the Statement of Principles of Good Practice of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).
