During the 2023-24 academic year, the Department of Music will be undergoing a major seismic retrofit and facelift for a large section of our facilities. During this project the department will be making necessary updates to programs and curricula, anticipating being moved back into the building and fully operational during the 2024-25 academic year. To this regard, the Department of Music will not be accepting graduate applications for the Fall 2024 Admission cycle. 

Many of the degrees in performance require a prescreening audition. Please check the requirements for specific programs or instruments.  Prescreen recordings via online links (e.g. to Youtube or equivalent postings) should be entered in a single PDF file and uploaded into the documents section of the UCSB Graduate Application (titled Prescreen Links). Please note that although the application deadline is January 10, prescreen materials may be due earlier depending on area of emphasis (see detailed information below).

 

Some applicants are required to do a live audition.  These live auditions may take place during scheduled audition days or individually scheduled between the applicant and the faculty member.

 

Choral and Orchestral Conducting

NO APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY BEING ACCEPTED FOR CHORAL OR ORCHESTRAL CONDUCTING AT THIS TIME.

Voice

The voice audition day for applicants will be scheduled at a later date.  You will be contacted by a voice faculty member if you have been invited for a live audition based on your prescreening video audition.

MM Voice Emphasis

The MM voice applicant must provide a prescreening video audition recording into the UCSB Graduate Application of at least four pieces, one in each of the following languages: Italian, French, German, and English, either arias or art songs (no musical theater or non-classical pieces, please) that is due December 1. Based on the recorded audition, the applicant may be asked to attend a live audition. The program, to be performed by memory, must include 2 arias and 6 art songs (2 French, 2 Italian, and 2 German). The candidate must provide a copy of his/her music for the accompanist if invited for a live audition. Repertory list and programs of concerts performed are required documentation.

DMA Voice Emphasis

The DMA applicant must provide a prescreening video audition recording into the UCSB Gradaute Application with at least 60 minutes of music that is due December 1 and a live audition (if invited) is required. The live audition is a full-length recital program to be performed from memory. Repertoire is left to the discretion of the candidate. The candidate must provide a copy of his/her music for the accompanist if invited for a live audition. Repertory list and programs of concerts performed are required documentation.

Keyboard

Prescreening Recording

A prescreening video recording via online links (e.g. to YouTube or equivalent postings) is required for applicants to the MM, MM/DMA, and DMA in the keyboard and piano accompanying emphases. The recordings must contain a minimum of three contrasting works from different historical periods. They must include a complete sonata and a virtuosic work from any historical period. Separate links to separate works and/or movements of a multi-movement work are acceptable. The links to the video files must be entered on a single .docx or .pdf file and uploaded as a Prescreening Links item to the Documents section of the UCSB online application for consideration for a live audition.  Prescreening recordings are reviewed by the keyboard faculty.  If invited for a live audition based on the prescreening recording, scheduling will be done through the keyboard faculty. For any questions regarding repertoire for prescreening recordings or live audition or any requests for substitute repertoire, please contact the relevant keyboard faculty (view the Faculty By Area Directory). 

Live Audition

A live audition (upon invitation) is preferred for MM applicants, though not mandatory. A live audition (upon invitation) is mandatory for MM/DMA and DMA applicants, in addition to the prescreening recording.

Please bring to the audition:

  1. Audition Program
  2. A list of repertoire studied and performed during the last two years

MM Keyboard

Minimum of three contrasting works from different historical periods. Must include a complete sonata and a virtuosic work from any historical period.

DMA Keyboard (including Collaborative Piano)

A public recital, one hour in length, comparable in scope to a full recital. (Collaborative Piano: Consult faculty for repertoire recommendations.)

MM Piano Accompanying Emphasis

Entrance Auditions

Please bring to the audition:

  1. Audition Program
  2. A list of repertoire studied and performed during the last two years

MM Piano Accompanying

Piano Solo: A complete sonata or major virtuosic work from any historical period.

Art Song: Four contrasting songs from different historical periods, or a major song cycle.

Chamber Music: One complete instrumental sonata or other major work from any historical period.

Sight Reading

Strings

Prescreening Recording

Applicants to the MM, MM/DMA and the DMA are required to upload a prescreen video recording into the UCSB Gradaute Application (instructions above). The content of the recording should be at least 30 minutes to include contrasting movements of solo Bach, select movements of a Concerto and Sonata. You may upload a recent recital or studio recording - but it should be live and without edits. If successful, the candidate may then be invited to give an in person audition.

Prescreening recordings are reviewed by the relevant faculty member in the strings area that is due December 1. If invited for a live audition based on the prescreening recording, scheduling will be done through the appropriate studio professor. For any questions regarding repertoire for prescreening recordings or live audition or any requests for substitute repertoire, please contact the individual faculty for your area for approval (view the Faculty By Area Directory). 

Live Audition

Live audition (upon invitation) is preferred, though not mandatory, for MM candidates. For MM/DMA and DMA applicants, a live audition (upon invitation) is mandatory.

The MM live audition will be approximately 20-30 minutes and should include at least two contrasting movements of solo Bach, a complete sonata and one movement from a concerto. The MM/DMA live audition will be approximately 30-45 minutes and should include a complete solo work by Bach, a complete sonata and at least one movement from a concerto. You can substitute the complete sonata with a complete concerto and add any other work of your choosing to fill out your program. The DMA live audition will require you to perform an entire recital approximately lasting 60 minutes. The repertoire for this recital could include a complete sonata or similar type work, a complete concerto or work similar for instrument with orchestra and a complete solo work by Bach. You may add any other repertoire at your discretion as long as the audition is close to 60 minutes in length.

If candidates are interested in the Young Artists String Quartet or Young Artists Piano Quartet program, please include an example of chamber music as part of your prescreening audition. This can be any form of chamber music where you can be heard prominently.

Woodwind & Brass

MM Woodwind Emphasis

See specific requirements below.

Flute

NO APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY BEING ACCEPTED FOR FLUTE AT THIS TIME.

Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon

A 30-minute prescreening audio or video recording, uploaded into the UCSB Graduate Application, is required and/or a live audition. Please contact the studio professor for more information (view the Faculty By Area Directory).

Specific Oboe Audition Repertoire suggestions.

MM Brass Emphasis

See specific requirements below.

French Horn

  • Your choice of first movements from Mozart Concerti 2, 3, 4 -or- Strauss Concerti 1, 2, AND

Prominent solos from the following:

  • Beethoven, Symphony No. 3, 2nd horn, 3rd movement trio
  • Brahms, Symphony No. 1, 1st horn, 2nd movement
  • Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5, 1st horn, 1st movement low tutti passage
  • Strauss, Till Eulenspiegel, 1st horn opening
  • Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 5, second movement solo
  • Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba

No prescreen audition is required.  A live audition includes a standard concerto or sonata and four commonly requested orchestral excerpts of your choice. Please contact the studio professor for more information (view the Faculty By Area Directory). 

DMA Brass Emphasis (French Horn only)

No prescreen audition is required.

  • Your choice of first movements from Strauss Concerto No. 2 (1943), Jacob Concerto, Glière
  • Concerto Op. 91, and Schoeck Concerto Op. 65

Prominent solos from the following:

  • Beethoven, Symphony No. 3, Trio in third movement, 2nd horn
  • Beethoven, Symphony No. 6, third movement, 1st horn
  • Beethoven, Symphony No. 7, first movement, 1st and 2nd horns
  • Brahms, Symphony No. 1, second movement, 1st horn
  • Brahms, Symphony No. 3, third movement, 1st horn
  • Dvorak, Symphony No. 9 “New World”, first movement, 1st and 3rd horns
  • Mozart, Symphony No. 40, Trio in third movement, 1st and 2nd horns
  • Mendelssohn, Nocturne from Midsummer Night’s Dream, 1st horn
  • Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5, 1st horn, first movement low tutti passage
  • Strauss, Till Eulenspiegel, 1st and 3rd horn calls
  • Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5, second movement solo
  • Wagner, Short Call from Götterdämmerung
  • Weber, Overture to Der Freischütz, 4th horn