Collaborative Piano Audition Repertoire

Live auditions for Collaborative Piano are still taking place, but equal consideration will be given to those who need to submit recorded auditions due to travel restrictions. Additional guidelines for recorded auditions are provided below to offer flexibility in repertoire choice.

There are separate requirements for Solo Piano and Chamber Music for Piano applicants.

Audition Repertoire Guidelines

Prescreening Recording

Prescreening recordings are required for all collaborative piano applicants. After reviewing the recording guidelines, please upload your prescreening recording files as part of your online application.

Master of Music and Graduate Diploma Prescreening

 Submit a recording with four selections:

  • Two of the four vocal repertoire songs listed below under the MM and GD Live Audition requirements
  • One movement from the Beethoven violin or cello sonata which you plan to present at your audition
  • One additional movement from a work for piano and solo instrument (can be another movement from the Beethoven sonata or a different instrumental work)

Graduate Diploma with Vocal Specialization (Opera Emphasis) Prescreening

Four of the six live audition pieces listed below 

Doctor of Musical Arts Prescreening

DMA applicants should prepare a prescreening recording with 30 minutes of music selected from the live audition repertoire for doctoral candidates listed below. Please choose a selection from each of the four categories.

 

Live Auditions

Collaborative Piano applicants should prepare the repertoire listed below. Candidates may be asked to sight-read vocal or instrumental during the audition. Both an audition repertoire list and a complete repertoire list (instrumental and vocal) must be submitted with your application. Any changes to the audition requirements must be discussed with Cameron Stowe, Chair of Collaborative Piano, at least four weeks before the scheduled audition.

Applicants may bring their own vocalists and instrumentalists or may request a list of potential collaborative partners from NEC. This list will be available in mid-January.

 

Live Audition Dates:

Monday, February 20, 2023

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

 

Master of Music and Graduate Diploma Live Audition

Please prepare all 3 categories. 

  1. Vocal repertoire (all high keys):
    Schubert "Frühlingstraum" (from Winterreise)
    Brahms "Botschaft"
    Debussy "Il pleure dans mon coeur"
    Barber "St. Ita's Vision"
  2. One of the following sonatas (complete):

    Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 7 in C minor (Op. 30, No. 2)
    Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major (Op. 24)
    Beethoven Cello Sonata No. 3 in A Major (Op. 69)
    Beethoven Cello Sonata No. 4 in C Major (Op. 102, No. 1) 

  3. Brahms Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major (Op. 100), first movement only 
    OR 
    Brahms Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor (Op. 108), first movement only 

Graduate Diploma with Vocal Specialization (Opera Emphasis) Live Audition

  1. Richard Strauss, “Sein wir wieder gut” from Ariadne auf Naxos (through rehearsal 117)
  2. Donizetti, “Quel guardo il cavaliere” from Don Pasquale
  3. Puccini, “Dunque è proprio finita” (Act III quartet) from La Bohème (through end of act)
  4. Mozart, “Via resti servita” from Le Nozze di Figaro (applicant should be prepared to sing either vocal part while playing)
  5. Debussy, “Green” from Ariettes oublieés
  6. Richard Strauss, “Morgen!” Op. 27, No. 4 

Doctor of Musical Arts Live Audition

Choose one selection from each of the following 4 groups:

1. One of the following Beethoven sonatas (complete): 
    Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 7 in C minor (Op. 30, No. 2) 
    Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major (Op. 24) 
    Beethoven Cello Sonata No. 3 in A Major (Op. 69) 
    Beethoven Cello Sonata No. 4 in C Major (Op. 102, No. 1) 

    OR

    Schubert songs (high keys; prepare complete list):
    "Auf dem Wasser zu singen"
    "Der Musensohn"
    "Im Frühling"
    "Suleika 1"

2. One of the following Brahms sonatas (complete): 
    Brahms Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major (Op. 100)
    Brahms Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor (Op. 108)
   
    OR

    Brahms songs (high keys; prepare complete list):
   "Die Mainacht" (op. 43)
   "Botschaft" (op. 47)
   "Wie Melodien zieht es mir" (op. 105)
   "Ständchen" (op. 106)
 
3. Franck Violin Sonata
    OR
    Debussy Ariettes oubliées (high keys; complete cycle)
 
4.  Hindemith Sonata for Viola and Piano, Op. 11, No 4.
     OR
     Barber Hermit Songs (high keys; complete cycle)

 

 

Recorded Auditions -- due February 3, 2023

We recognize that finding collaborative partners may be challenging, and hope that the following guidelines will be helpful as you prepare your recorded auditions.

If you have any questions about using substitutions in your repertoire selection, please do not hesitate to contact Cameron Stowe, Chair of Collaborative Piano.

Master of Music and Graduate Diploma Recorded Audition

Submit a video of at least 30 minutes of duo repertoire, including a variety of musical styles. Both piano-instrumental and piano-vocal works are required.

1. 20 minutes (minimum) of the recording should consist of piano-instrumental repertoire. At least one piece or movement should be from the Classical period. 

2. 10 minutes (minimum) of the recording should consist of piano-vocal repertoire (art songs), showing a variety of styles.  


When choosing repertoire, applicants may find it helpful to refer to the requirements for live auditions listed below. These pieces are not required for recorded auditions, but may be used a guide. 

Please prepare all 3 categories: 

  1. Vocal repertoire (all high keys):
    Schubert "Frühlingstraum" (from Winterreise)
    Brahms "Botschaft"
    Debussy "Il pleure dans mon coeur"
    Barber "St. Ita's Vision"
  2. One of the following sonatas (complete):

    Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 7 in C minor (Op. 30, No. 2)
    Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major (Op. 24)
    Beethoven Cello Sonata No. 3 in A Major (Op. 69)
    Beethoven Cello Sonata No. 4 in C Major (Op. 102, No. 1) 

  3. Brahms Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major (Op. 100), first movement only 
    OR 
    Brahms Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor (Op. 108), first movement only 

Graduate Diploma with Vocal Specialization (Opera Emphasis) Recorded Audition

OPERA EXCERPTS

  1. Mozart, “Via resti servita” (No. 5) from Le nozze di Figaro -- play while singing the Marcellina line as though you were making a recording for a soprano studying the role of Susanna
  2. Donizetti, “Quel guardo il cavaliere” from Don Pasquale -- full introduction, supplying orchestral material that may not be accounted for in the piano/vocal score
  3. Puccini, La Bohème, Act I -- opening until rehearsal 6 (Colline’s entrance), singing vocal lines only when orchestra is tacet

SONGS 

  1. Debussy, “Green” from Ariettes oublieés
  2. Richard Strauss, “Morgen!” Op. 27, No. 4 

If you are unable to find a soprano or tenor for these two songs, you may submit two different, similarly contrasting songs with a singer. These selections must demonstrate your work with a singer, rather than accompanying your own singing.

Doctor of Musical Arts Recorded Audition

Submit a video of least 60 minutes of duo repertoire, including a variety of musical styles. The selections should include one work from the Classical period, one work from the Romantic period, and one piece written after 1900.

The program may consist of all piano-instrumental repertoire, all piano-vocal repertoire, or a combination of both depending on your area(s) of interest or specialization. A reduction of an orchestral work can be included, but the majority (80%) of the recorded material should be music written originally for the piano (i.e. sonatas and songs, not concerti and arias). You may include complete sonatas and song cycles, or individual movements and songs. 

When choosing repertoire, applicants may find it helpful to refer to the requirements for live auditions listed below. These pieces are not required for recorded auditions, but may be used as a guide.

Choose one selection from each of the following groups:

  1. Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 7 in C minor (op. 30, no. 2) or Beethoven Cello Sonata No. 3 in A Major (op. 69)
    OR
    Schubert songs (high keys; prepare complete list):
    "Auf dem Wasser zu singen"
    "Der Musensohn"
    "Im Frühling"
    "Suleika 1"
     
  2. Brahms Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major (op. 100) or Brahms Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor (op. 108)
    OR
    Brahms songs (high keys; prepare complete list):
    "Die Mainacht" (op. 43)
    "Botschaft" (op. 47)
    "Wie Melodien zieht es mir" (op. 105)
    "Ständchen" (op. 106)
     
  3. Franck Violin Sonata
    OR
    Debussy Ariettes oubliées (high keys; complete cycle)
     
  4. Hindemith Sonata for Viola and Piano, op. 11, no 4.
    OR
    Barber Hermit Songs (high keys; complete cycle)