Tuba + euphonium audition information
All undergraduate applicants must apply to the University of Colorado and complete a College of Music Admission Application. Applications may be obtained online through the Admissions section. Undergraduate auditions will not be scheduled until both applications have been received. Graduate students need only complete the graduate application.
For information on applying for our ensembles, visit the Ensembles section.
Undergraduate application instructions听
Graduate application instructions听.
Audition requirements
- Solo work (accompaniment optional)
- Two contrasting solos or etudes, or one piece with contrasting sections. One piece should demonstrate technical ability and the other should highlight lyrical and expressive qualities. Solos should be performed with piano accompaniment if possible (An accompanist can be provided with adequate notice for live auditions by contacting Professor Dunn).
- This repertoire may be selected from the following list (but is not limited to):
- Tuba
- Arnold, Malcolm 鈥Fantasy, Op. 102听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
- Hartley, Walter S.鈥Suite for Unaccompanied Tuba
- Bach, J.S., arr. Wm. Bell鈥Air and Bouree听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听 听听
- Hindemith, Paul鈥Sonata for Bass Tuba
- Barat, J. Edouard, arr. Glen Smith鈥Introduction +听Dance 听听
- Lebedev, Alexi; arr. Allen Ostrander鈥Concerto in One Movement
- Broughton, Bruce鈥Sonata (Concerto)听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听
- Marcello, Benedetto; trans. Little/Nelson鈥Sonata No. I in F
- Capuzzi, Antonio; trans. Catelinet鈥Andante and Rondo
- Marcello, Benedetto; trans. Little/Nelson鈥Sonata No. V in C
- Gregson, Edward鈥Concerto, mvt. 1听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
- Nelhybel, Vaclav鈥Suite for Tuba and Piano
- Haddad, Don鈥Suite for Tuba 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听
- Vaughan Williams, Ralph鈥Concerto for Tuba
- Euphonium
- Barat, Ed.鈥Andante and Allegro 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听听
- Guillmant, A.鈥Morceau Symphonique
- Capuzzi, A.鈥Andante and Rondo 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听
- Marcello, B.鈥Sonata in F Major
- Curnow, J.鈥Rhapsody for Euphonium 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听
- Mozart, W.鈥Bassoon Concerto
- Tuba
- Etude
- An etude of your choice that demonstrates tone, musicianship听and technique. The etude may be selected from the following list (but is not limited to):
- Tuba
- 鈥Blazhevich听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听
- Kopprasch听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听
- Bordogni/Rochut听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听
- Shoemaker听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听
- Fink听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听
- Tyrell听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听
- Gregoriev听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听
- Euphonium
- Bordogni/Rochut听听听听听听听听听听听听听听
- Slama
- Kopprasch 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听
- Voxman
- Tuba
Applicants may choose to audition in-person or remotely. To audition remotely, applicants must complete both听of听the following:
- Submit a recording
- Register for a Zoom interview with faculty.
More information about the audition process and recording specifications can be found .
Essay prompt听
A short music essay is required with your application. Upload the essay on your status page. Please choose one of the following prompts:听
- Tell us why you would like to be a music major, describe your most powerful musical experience鈥痑nd list your future goals as a musician. Comment on your musical background and share anything else you would like us to know.
- 鈥淢usic lets you rediscover your humanity, and your connection to humanity.鈥 -Hans Zimmer. In what ways do you believe music can or should connect people across difference?
Degree sheets
Graduate tuba + euphonium applicants audition requirements
Pre-screening recording
Pre-screening recordings are not required for all graduate tuba/euphonium applicants.
Live auditions
Applicants should prepare a full recital. Recital repertoire should represent multiple styles (i.e. Baroque transcriptions, Classical Period, any appropriate sonatas and/or concerti from the 20th/21st centuries, unaccompanied work). All literature should be well considered for the particular degree plan you wish to enter. The audition selections will be chosen from the recital repertoire.
Four or five excerpts from the major orchestral and band literature. Typical first and/or second round selections are acceptable for both tubists and euphoniumists. Please have at least four or five ready to go. Tubists should demonstrate their proficiency on both the bass and contrabass tubas. If the applicant doubles on euphonium and wishes to include it as part of their audition, the applicant should select repertoire based on experience.
Most graduate-level auditions will have a sight-reading component as well. The literature will be selected from both familiar and unfamiliar repertoire.
Recorded auditions鈥
Live auditions are strongly preferred. A recorded audition (live performance or studio recording) may be submitted in place of a live audition. Please see the recorded audition guidelines for information on submitting a recording.
A live audition is required to qualify for Teaching Assistantships. Applicants unable to travel for a live audition should contact their respective faculty member directly. Requirements for a recorded audition are identical to a live audition. Editing within a movement is prohibited. Any indication of editing may disqualify the candidate from admission. The recording (audio/video) must be in a digital format with high quality audio.
Please note that while recorded auditions will be given full consideration, the best demonstration of your musical ability is through a live audition.听