Admission

Applicants for admission to the College Division must submit the following:

1. Completed Application Form (available through the Registrar’s Office or download here)
2. Application Fee of $36.00 (non refundable)
3. Transcript(s) from secondary schools and/or colleges attended
4. Two letters of recommendation from professional musicians, either teachers or performers (Download the Evaluation Form here)
5. If English is not the student’s first language, TOEFL scores (refer to International Students)

Audition Requirements

The entrance audition is the most important step in determining if an applicant will be admitted to VAM. Auditions are held early in the calendar year preceding September entrance and can be scheduled by contacting the Registrar. Applicants who are unable to attend a live audition may submit a cd or dvd recording. All auditions are heard by a faculty committee. Compositions chosen for the audition must be comparable to those listed below. Since the audition repertoire outlined represents minimal requirements, works of greater difficulty may be substituted in any category.

Piano

1. All major and minor scales and arpeggios in four octaves
2. Etude by Czerny, Moszkowski, Chopin, Liszt, or the equivalent
3. Any representative works of Bach, Handel, or Scarlatti
4. Classical Sonata
5. Choice of a 19th or 20th century work

Violin

1. All major and minor scales and arpeggios in three octaves; 3rds, 6ths, 8ths, 10ths in two octaves
2. Two etudes of Rode, Dont, Kreutzer, or equivalent
3. Two contrasting movements from a Bach sonata or partita
4. One movement of a standard concerto with cadenza

Viola

1. All major and minor scales and arpeggios in three octaves
2. Two etudes of Rode, Campagnoli, Kreutzer or equivalent
3. Two contrasting movements from a Bach sonata or from partitas No. I, II or III
4. One movement of a classical concerto

Cello

1. All major and minor scales and arpeggios in three octaves
2. Two contrasting etudes of Franchomme, Piatti, Duport or Popper
3. Two movements from a baroque sonata
4. One movement of a standard concerto

Double Bass

1. Major and minor scales, two octaves
2. Study by Kreutzer, Nanny or Storch-Hrabe
3. Solo from the double bass repertoire – Choice of:
   • Eccles – Sonata
   • Bottesini – Concerto, arranged by Nanny-Sankey
   • Bach – Suites, arranged by Sterling

Flute

1. All major and minor scales, two octaves
2. One etude demonstrating level of technical proficiency
3. Two contrasting movements of a sonata or concerto
4. Two contrasting orchestral excerpts

Oboe

1. All major and minor scales
2. Two contrasting etudes from the Barret or Ferling studies
3. Three movements from any concerto or sonata

Clarinet

1. All major scales and arpeggios
2. Mozart Clarinet Concerto, or equivalent
3. Two contrasting etudes
4. Three contrasting orchestral excerpts

Bassoon

1. All major scales and arpeggios
2. Etude by Weissenborn, Milde or equivalent
3. Solo piece selected by the student

Trumpet

1. Major and minor scales and arpeggios
2. Characteristic Study from Arban or equivalent
3. A solo displaying both articulation and lyrical playing such as
   • Handel/Fitzgerald: Sonata VIII
   • Haydn Trumpet Concerto

Horn

1. Major and minor scales and arpeggios, two octaves
2. Etude by Kopprasch or the equivalent
3. A movement from Mozart’s Third Concerto in E flat or equivalent

Trombone

1. Major and minor scales and arpeggios
2. Study from Rochut: Melodious Etudes Vol I, Kopprasch 60 studies or equivalent
3. Knowledge of tenor and alto clefs, as demonstrated by an etude from Blazevitch Clef Studies
4. Two contrasting movements of a sonata or concerto

Tuba

1. Major and minor scales and arpeggios
2. An etude from Rochut: Melodious Etudes, Book I
3. Orchestral excerpts
4. Solo selected by student

Percussion

1. Applicant must demonstrate a high degree of fundamental technique and musicianship on snare drum, mallet instruments, and timpani
2. Interval recognition
3. One solo each for snare drum or multiple percussion, mallet instruments, and timpani

Guitar

1. All major and minor scales (in 3 octaves where available) including 3rds, 6ths, 8ths, 10ths and 1st inversion triads—In block form and broken forms
2. One etude demonstrating level of proficiency from Sor Op. 29 or Giuliani Op. 48 or Aguado or Villa-Lobos
3. Two contrasting movements from the lute suites of J.S. Bach
4. One own choice selection from 19th or 20th century repertoire by a composer not reflected in 2. or 3.

Voice
Applicants should prepare from memory three selections chosen from the standard art song, opera, or oratorio repertoire. Applicants should demonstrate good intonation, correct rhythm, and sensitivity to musical phrase, and should be prepared to sing scales, arpeggios and various patterns to demonstrate vowel matching, legato, intonation, range, and flexibility.