• Two contrasting pieces, movements, or etudes in any style and from any era of the student's choosing that demonstrate current performance ability.
• Any two scales (major or minor) demonstrating the student's full range.

Faculty Contact: Midori Samson, midori.samson@ku.edu.

Requirements for entry into all undergraduate degree programs

​​For undergraduate cello auditions (BM, BME, BA, Minor), please prepare the following: 

​​1) a movement of a Bach suite

​2) the first movement of a concerto (e.g. Haydn C Major, Saint-Saëns, or Lalo), -OR- an equivalent virtuoso piece (e.g. Popper Hungarian Rhapsody).  

​Memorization is encouraged but not required.  

Accompaniment is optional. 

Faculty Contact: Hannah Collins, hannah.collins@ku.edu 

Requirements for entry into all undergraduate degree programs

• Scales: full-range chromatic, major and minor.
• Two contrasting movements from the standard repertoire which can include two contrasting etudes.
• Performance majors (B.M. Clarinet) should also include three stylistically contrasting orchestral excerpts.
• Suggested composers include Weber, Saint-Saens, Poulenc, Finzi, Rose, Cavallini, Mozart, or Debussy. 

Faculty Contact: Stephanie Zelnick, zelnick@ku.edu

Only students wishing to apply for the BME in Music Education or the BM Music Therapy may study classical guitar as their applied instrument.

If you are interested in auditioning for a BA or BM in jazz studies, please reference the jazz guitar audition requirements.

• Scales: two and three octave major and minor diatonic scales
• Sight-reading: a single-line melody in upper positions
• One piece from the following OR a piece of comparable level: 
  • Milan Six Pavanes
  • Bach Prelude in D minor
  • Anonymous Six Lute Pieces of the Renaissance 
  • Ponce Preludes
  • Tarrega Twelve Preludes Sanz Pavanas
  • Carcassi Etudes
  • Sor Twenty Studies
  • Brouwer Simple Etudes. 

For questions, contact musicauditions@ku.edu

Requirements for entry into all undergraduate degree programs

Accompaniment is optional. 

• Scales: two 3-octave scales of the student's choice
• One movement of a Bach cello suite or a baroque sonata
• One movement of a standard concerto or piece of comparable difficulty.

Faculty Contact: Richard Ryan, reryan@ku.edu

Electronic music creation hardware (e.g. laptop) can be used as a primary instrument for students pursuing most degrees in the KU School of Music, especially composition (BM and BA), and the BA in Music Production and Technology.

For the audition, students should prepare to showcase their creation and production skills in a live setting using a digital audio workstation (DAW) of their choosing. Choose three (3) examples of work that best highlight your skills on your chosen hardware and software. Examples of this might include:

• editing or manipulating an original composition in real time
• creating a remix of existing stems in real time
• rapping over beats you’ve created
• manipulating or creating your music using peripheral devices like looper pedals or launchpads
• any other type of performance that showcases your fluency in electronic/laptop music

Faculty Contact: Dan Gailey, dgailey@ku.edu.

Audition for Performance Major (B.M.)

• Two contrasting works or movements from major euphonium/tuba works or transcriptions that are Grade 5 or higher in difficulty. 
• Two contrasting wind band/orchestral excerpts if desired. 
• Major and Minor Scales. 

Audition for Music Education (B.M.E.-ME), Music Therapy (B.M.-MT), Bachelor of Arts in Music (B.A.), or Music Composition, Music Theory, or Musicology (B.M. or B.A.)

• Two contrasting works or transcriptions Grade 4 or higher. 
• Major Scales.

Faculty Contact: David Earll, david.earll@ku.edu

Requirements for entry into all undergraduate degree programs

The audition consists of all of the following: 

1) One Baroque sonata (Bach, Handel, Quantz, Telemann, or Vivaldi)

2) One piece from the French Conservatory repertoire (repertoire from the Flute Music By French Composers or a piece of equivalent difficulty)

3) Sight reading

4) ​Scales: Full-range chromatic scale; major and minor scales of two or more octaves.  

Contact: Daniel Velasco, dvelasco@ku.edu

Requirements for entry into all undergraduate degree programs

• Two-octave major scales
• Sight reading
• Two contrasting movements chosen from the list below or from works at a comparable level. Accompaniment is optional.

Examples of possible audition repertoire include but are not limited to:  

• Mozart Concertos 1-4
• Beethoven Sonata
• Schumann Adagio and Allegro
• Saint-Saens Morceau de Concert 
• F. Strauss Concerto
• R. Strauss Concerto 1 or 2
• Dukas Villanelle
• Gliere Concerto
• Jacob Concerto

Faculty Contact: Kelly Misko, kellymisko@ku.edu.

Requirements for entry into all undergraduate degree programs

• Two works or movements from larger works of contrasting style e.g. Handel, Scarlatti, Dussek, Debussy, Andres, Tournier, Salzedo, Renie.  
  • At least one solo should be memorized
• One cadenza from an orchestral work such as: Tchaikovsky Waltz of the Flowers or Swan Lake, Britten Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, or Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio Espagñol. 

Faculty Contact: Erin Wood, kansasharpist@ku.edu

The KU School of Music currently offers a B.A. in jazz studies.  

Limited spaces are available for the Jazz Studies program.

A limited number of scholarships are available. 

Please contact Professor Dan Gailey to inquire about space in your particular instrument.

You must provide your own Jamey Aebersold play-along CD (Vol. 54 will work).  

• Two contrasting jazz standards (such as "Autumn Leaves" in concert G minor as a medium swing, and "Blue Bossa" in concert C minor as a Latin tune)
  1. Play a chorus of melody,
  2. Followed by a chorus of walking bass line (bossa nova bass line on "Blue Bossa"),
  3. Followed by a chorus of improvised solo.  
• Sight-reading
• Selected major and minor scales.

Faculty Contact: Dan Gailey, dgailey@ku.edu

The KU School of Music currently offers a B.A. in jazz studies.  

Limited spaces are available for the Jazz Studies program.

A limited number of scholarships are available. 

Please contact Professor Dan Gailey to inquire about space in your particular instrument.  

You will be asked to demonstrate the following grooves/styles:  

• Medium swing
• Fast swing/bebop
• Swing shuffle
• Bossa nova
• Samba
• Jazz waltz
• Medium swing again with brushes.  

You will also be asked to do some sight-reading.

Faculty Contact: Dan Gailey, dgailey@ku.edu

The KU School of Music currently offers a B.A. in jazz studies.  

Limited spaces are available for the Jazz Studies program.

A limited number of scholarships are available. 

Please contact Professor Dan Gailey to inquire about space in your particular instrument.  

You must provide your own Jamey Aebersold play-along CD (Vol. 54 will work).  

• Two contrasting jazz standards (such as "Autumn Leaves" in concert G minor as a medium swing, and "Blue Bossa" in concert C minor as a Latin tune)
  1. Play a chorus of melody,
  2. Followed by a chorus of comping,
  3. Followed by a chorus of improvised solo.
• Sight-reading
• Major and minor scales.​

Faculty Contact: Dan Gailey, dgailey@ku.edu

The KU School of Music currently offers a B.A. in jazz studies.  

Limited spaces are available for the Jazz Studies program.

A limited number of scholarships are available.  

Please contact Professor Dan Gailey to inquire about space in your particular instrument. 

You must provide your own Jamey Aebersold play-along CD (Vol. 54 will work).​

• Two contrasting jazz standards (such as "Autumn Leaves" in concert G minor as a medium swing, and "Blue Bossa" in concert C minor as a Latin tune). 
  1. Play a chorus of melody in right hand with left hand comping,
  2. Followed by a chorus of two-hands comping
  3. Followed by a chorus of improvised solo.  
• Sight-reading
• Selected major and minor scales.

Faculty Contact: Dan Gailey, dgailey@ku.edu

The KU School of Music currently offers a B.A. in jazz studies. 

Limited spaces are available for the Jazz Studies program.

A limited number of scholarships are available. 

Please contact Professor Dan Gailey to inquire about space in your particular instrument.   

You must provide your own Jamey Aebersold play-along CD (Vol. 54 will work).

• Two contrasting jazz standards (such as "Autumn Leaves" in concert G minor as a medium swing, and "Blue Bossa" in concert C minor as a Latin tune);
  1. Play a chorus of melody,
  2. Followed by two choruses of improvised solo.
• Sight-reading
• Selected major and minor scales the full range of your instrument.

Faculty Contact: Dan Gailey, dgailey@ku.edu

The KU School of Music currently offers a B.A. in jazz studies.

Limited spaces are available for the Jazz Studies program.

A limited number of scholarships are available.

Please contact Professor Dan Gailey to inquire about space in your particular instrument.

You must provide your own Jamey Aebersold play-along CD (Vol. 54 will work).

• Two contrasting jazz standards (such as "Autumn Leaves" in concert G minor as a medium swing, and "Blue Bossa" in concern C minor as a Latin tune);
  1. Play a chorus of melody,
  2. Followed by two choruses of improvised solo.
• Sight-reading
• Selected major and minor scales the full range of your instrument.

Faculty Contact: Dan Gailey, dgailey@ku.edu

The KU School of Music currently offers a B.A. in jazz studies.

Limited spaces are available for the Jazz Studies program.

A limited number of scholarships are available.

Please contact Dan Gailey to inquire about space in your particular instrument.

You must provide your own Jamey Aebersold play-along CD (Vol. 54 will work).

• Two contrasting jazz standards (such as "Autumn Leaves" in concert G minor as a medium swing, and "Blue Bossa" in concert C minor as a Latin tune);
  1. Play one chorus of melody,
  2. Followed by two choruses of improvised solo.
• Sight-reading
• Selected major and minor scales the full range of your instrument.

Faculty Contact: Dan Gailey, dgailey@ku.edu

Requirements for entry into all undergraduate degree programs

• Scales
  1. Full-range chromatic
  2. All major scales
  3. Minor scales in any form up to four sharps and four flats.  
• Two solo selections demonstrating contrasting style and tempo. Selections may be from the same work.  

Suggested repertoire includes works or etudes by:

• Alessandro Marcello
• G. F. Handel
• Camille Saint Saëns
• Clara Schumann
• Francis Poulenc
• William Grant Still
• Madeleine Dring
• Ferling
• Barret 
• Orchestral excerpts are also acceptable

Faculty Contact: Margaret Marco, mmarco@ku.edu

Organ auditions consist of:

1. A day-long visit
2. Tour of the facilities
3. Audition.

Contact the organ faculty directly to schedule your audition and determine appropriate repertoire.

Faculty Contact: Michael Bauer, mbauer@ku.edu

If you’d like to pursue a degree in music at KU, but don’t see an instrument listed here that demonstrates your strengths as a musician, that’s okay! Contact us and we will see if we are equipped to support your growth on other instruments.

Faculty Contact: Dan Gailey, dgailey@ku.edu

Applicants for all degree programs must demonstrate proficiency in at least two of the following three main areas of percussion performance for entrance into the Percussion Studio and in all three to be considered for a scholarship.

Snare Drum

1. Stick Control, exercise 1-13 without stopping, repeat each twice.
2. Double Bounce and Multiple Bounce Roll
3. A published concert-style solo or etude from Anthony Cirone's Portraits in Rhythm, Jacques Delecluse's Douze Etudes pour Caisse-Claire, or equivalent.
4. A published rudimental-style solo or etude from Charles Wilcoxon's The All American Drummer, John Pratt's Fourteen Rudimental Contest Solos, or equivalent. 
5. Sight-reading

​Keyboard Percussion (Marimba, Vibraphone, Xylophone)

1. Two Mallets: A published two-mallet solo or etude from Morris Goldenberg's Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba and Vibraphone, J.S. Bach Violin Sonatas and Partitas or Cello Suites, or equivalent. 
2. Four Mallets: A published four-mallet solo or etude. 
3. Sight-reading
4. Able to play Scales in all major and minor keys

Timpani

1. A published solo or etude from Richard Hochrainer’s Etuden für Timpani (Vol. 1-3), Saul Goodman's Modern Method for Timpani, or equivalent. 
2. Tuning of various intervals.

Faculty Contact: Garrett Arney, garrett.arney@ku.edu.

B.M. Performance

For consideration into the Bachelor of Music for Piano Performance, applicants must first submit a pre-screening video.

If their video is satisfactory, they will be invited for a live audition.

Note: Piano scholarships are awarded only to students who enroll in the four-year BM degree in piano performance.

STEP 1: PRESCREENING 

BM, Piano Performance

• Minimum 10 minutes of music

• At least 2 works from different periods

• Single movements of Classical sonatas accepted

All selections must be played from memory.  The recording does not have to be professional quality, but should be a clear and accurate representation of your playing.  Poor sound quality will lessen your chances of admission. Please submit your pre-screen video via an unlisted YouTube and send it to musicauditions@ku.edu. For help on uploading an unlisted video, watch this video.

Deadline: Pre-screening submissions are due by December 1, 2023, for the best scholarship considerations.

Step 2: Final Audition 

BM, Piano Performance

• Minimum 20 minutes of music

• Repertoire must include:

• Any major work of J.S. Bach (excluding Inventions/Sinfonias and small works)

• Complete Classical sonata or variation set by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert

• One etude

• Work of applicant’s choice from the Romantic period or 20th/21st Century

• Memorization is required for all works with the exception of 20th/21st Century works of exceptional difficulty.

Faculty Contact: Scott McBride Smith, smcbsmith@ku.edu.

All Other Degrees

Note: Piano scholarships are awarded only to students who enroll in the four-year BM degree in piano performance.

Audition for Music Education (B.M.E.), Music Therapy (B.M.), Bachelor of Arts in Music (B.A.), or Music Composition, Music Theory, Musicology (B.M. or B.A.), or Music Minor: 

• No pre-screening is required.

• One each of the following:

1. Any work by Bach
2. Any movement from a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert
3. Any contrasting work from the Romantic, Impressionist, or 20th/21st Century periods

• Two of the three selections must be played from memory.

Faculty Contact: Yi-Yang Chen, chen@ku.edu

Any student interested in creating or performing popular music—especially as part of a degree in Composition (BM and BA) or BA in Music Production and Technology—may wish to audition on an instrument germane to popular genres, especially:

• acoustic or electric guitar
• upright or electric bass
• drum set
• keyboard or synth

Students should prepare three (3) excerpts of their choosing that demonstrate their skills on a particular instrument or combination of instruments. Examples of this might include any combination of the following:

• playing the drum set part from a rock song or the bass line from a funk track (with or without accompaniment)
• playing a solo on your instrument
• showcasing your improvisation skills on an instrument
• demonstrating proficiency on a wide variety of instruments

Faculty Contact: Dan Gailey, dgailey@ku.edu.

Requirements for entry into all undergraduate degree programs

1. Scales: full-range chromatic scale and full-range major scales up to four sharps and flats. 
2. Two movements or etudes of contrasting style and tempo. 
3. Sight reading

Examples of satisfactory audition repertoire include:

• Bozza Aria
• Eccles Sonata
• Heiden Diversion
• Maurice Tableaux de Provence
• Rueff Chanson et Passepied
• Voxman Selected Studies
• Bassi Virtuoso Studies
• Ferling 48 Etudes.

It should be noted that these are merely examples of audition repertoire, but pieces of comparable difficulty are accepted. 

Faculty Contact: Geoffrey Landman, geoffrey.landman@ku.edu

Students interested in pursuing degrees related to composing original music in popular styles—especially students pursuing a degree in Composition (BM and BA) or BA in Music Production and Technology—may audition as a singer-songwriter as their primary instrument.

Students should be prepared to perform three (3) original compositions, all of which must include some live performance component. This could involve:

• playing and singing an original song for voice, with piano or guitar accompaniment
• rapping or singing along with an original accompaniment you’ve created in a digital audio workstation

Faculty Contact: Dan Gailey, dgailey@ku.edu.

Requirements for entry into all undergraduate degree programs

• Scales: Two-octave major scales with arpeggios
• Perform:
  1. Bordogni (Rochut), Melodious Etude #3 or #7
  2. Voxman, Selected Studies for Trombone: page 5 (Blazhevich, “Moderato”)
  3. One (1) work selected from or of comparable difficulty to the list below. Accompaniment is optional.

Tenor Trombone Suggested Repertoire:

• Barat Andante et Allegro
• Boda Sonatina
• Galliard Sonata No. 1
• Guilmant Morceau Symphonique
• Gregson Divertimento
• Sandstrom, Song for Lotta
• Saint-Saëns Cavatine
• Sulek Sonata vox Gabrieli
• Weber Romance
• David, Concertino (first page)   

Bass Trombone Suggested Repertoire: 

• Hindemith Drei leichte Stücke
• Lebedev Concerto in One Movement
• McCarty Sonata
• Lassen/Bollinger 2 Fantasy Pieces
• Galliard/Mortimer Sonata #1
• Semler-Collery, Barcarolle et chanson bachique
• Tcherepnin, Andante
• Warburton Among Us.

Faculty Contact: Michael Davidson, mdavidsn@ku.edu

Requirements for entry into all undergraduate degree programs

• Scales: Two-octave major scales
• Sight reading
• One piece from below or a piece of comparable level. Accompaniment is optional. 

Trumpet Suggested Repertoire:

• Arutunian Concerto
• Balay Prelude et Ballade
• Handel Aria con Variazioni
• Haydn Concerto (movements 1 and 2)
• Kennan Sonata, (movement 1)
• Ropartz Andante and Allegro. 

These particular pieces are not required but are given as a general idea of repertoire many choose to play. Accepted students come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and the audition is to show not only current ability through the repertoire chosen but also potential for success in a major music program. Prospective students are encouraged to contact Professor Leisring by email with any questions about repertoire well before the audition. 

Faculty Contact: Stephen Leisring, leisring@ku.edu

Audition for Performance Major (B.M.)

• Two contrasting works or movements from major euphonium/tuba works or transcriptions that are Grade 5 or higher in difficulty.
• Two contrasting wind band/orchestral excerpts if desired.
• Major and minor scales.

Audition for Music Education (B.M.E-ME.), Music Therapy (B.M.-MT), or Music Composition, Music Theory, or Musicology (B.M. or B.A.)

• Two contrasting works or transcriptions Grade 4 or higher.
• Major Scales

Faculty Contact: David Earll, david.earll@ku.edu 

Requirements for entry into all undergraduate degree programs

Memorization is not required but strongly recommended. Accompaniment is optional.  

1. A movement of a solo Bach cello suite or violin sonata or partita transcribed for viola
2. A movement of a concerto originally composed for viola, e.g. Telemann, Hoffmeister, or Stamitz. 

Faculty Contact: Boris Vayner, bvayner@ku.edu

Requirements for entry into all undergraduate degree programs

Memorization is not required but strongly recommended. Accompaniment is optional. 

Prepare the following: 

1. One movement of an unaccompanied partita or sonata by J.S. Bach​
2. The first movement of a standard concerto (i.e. Bruch, Lalo, or Mozart) with cadenza (when applicable), OR a piece of comparable difficulty.  

Faculty Contact: David Colwell, david.colwell@ku.edu

Requirements for entry into all undergraduate degree programs

Prepare two memorized selections in contrasting styles, including at least one classical. 

• All music must be performed with piano accompaniment. 
• A foreign language piece is not required. 
• An accompanist will be provided, but your own accompanist is welcome.  

If utilizing our accompanist, you must provide sheet music that meets the following requirements:

• Music must be in a 3 ring binder. 
• Easy to read, a double-sided score 
• Pages may be copied back to back, or taped together, no staples, please!  
• No loose pages.  
• No plastic sleeve protectors.
• Alternatively, a printed score may be used, provided that the score opens easily, will stay open on the music rack, and pages can be turned easily.  

Faculty Contact:  Stella Markou, stella.markou@ku.edu

No problem! You have a few options:

1. You can opt for a virtual audition. You can register for a virtual audition through the same form as live auditions, or contact musicauditions@ku.edu for instructions. 

2. Contact us to set up an alternate date and time for a live audition on campus. This can be scheduled before or after the live dates in February. Email musicauditions@ku.edu with your name, desired program, and instrument.

3. If you are attending the Prairie Winds Festival in February, you can opt to complete your audition during that festival. Select the option to sign up for an audition when registering for the festival, or email musicauditions@ku.edu if you have already completed your festival registration and would like to audition that weekend.

No. This audition is for admission into the School of Music and scholarship consideration. Ensemble auditions will take place at the beginning of each semester. For more information on ensemble auditions, please visit the webpage for each ensemble. 

Any student majoring or minoring in music or non-major student seeking studio lessons is required to complete an audition for acceptance into the School. Students completing the Certificate in Music Production and Certificate in Music Enterprise do not need to audition.