Violin Auditions

Back to Undergraduate Auditions

Updated on 11/13/2023

Violin Pre-Screening Requirements

Instructions

1. Your audition consists of two rounds; the first round is the video recorded round where you submit a video described below by December 1^st, 2023. On that video you will need to submit recordings of scales, a first movement of a violin concerto, a slow movement of any piece, a movement from a Bach Sonata or Partita, and a couple orchestral excerpts. All of this is described and linked below.
2. After you make the videos and put them into one video and upload them onto the YouTube platform you must make sure that it is viewable by the public or for anyone with a link to be able to view it. If you make it private, we will not be able to see it and we won’t be able to make any assessments of your playing.
3. After that you will need to send that link to Kathy Colton, our Music Admissions person, she organizes them so we can begin choosing our finalists. We should have the finalists chosen and notified by December 15, 2023.
4. The final live round is January 27, 2024.
5. For that round you will perform for the violin faculty for about 10-minutes, and then we also like to visit with you and get to know you better.
6. REMEMBER-All applicants who wish to attend the BYU–School of Music have two applications to do. Every student who wishes to attend the BYU-School of Music must first apply to BYU and get accepted. Please apply to BYU early in the application season. The notification for admittance is sent in February or early March. Soon after that we can then notify you if you have been accepted to the School of Music and if there is any scholarship money we can offer. We cannot notify anyone of acceptance to the School of Music until after BYU does their vetting of applicants and notifies students of acceptance.

Ok, now more about the audition materials needed for both the video (first round) and the live or final round to get into the BYU–School of Music:

FIRST ROUND

Video is due December 1, 2023 and you will need to send it to our Kathy Colton in admissions.

Video requirements

• Perform the A & E major and minor scales at 16th notes with spiccato bow stroke (off the string in the middle of the bow approximately) at 104=♩ (a quarter note).
• A movement from a Bach solo Sonata or Partita.
• A slow movement from a sonata, concerto, or a short slow piece like Vocalise or Beau Soir with a beautiful singing sound.
• A fast movement from a concerto such as the concertos by Mozart (3, 4, or 5), Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Barber, Sibelius, Paganini, Wieniawski, Bruch, Prokofiev, Brahms, Beethoven etc. Other pieces like Symphonie Espagnole, Carmen Fantasy, Rondo Capriccioso etc. are also acceptable.
• Two orchestral excerpts: Mahler Symphony No. 1, 4^th movement and the Mozart Symphony No. 39, 4^th movement. Click here for the pdf file.

Video Making Instructions

You do not need to record all the pieces at the same time but please put all the performances into one video if possible.

1. Please begin your video by stating your name, email address, your intended major (Violin Performance, Music Education, Composition, Commercial Music, or Bachelor of Arts). You can find information on these majors here.
2. Film yourself in landscape view from approximately the waist up, with the top of your head near the top of the frame.
3. Stand between 10 and 15 feet away from your recording device to improve sound quality. Most applicants use their phone, computer, or tablets to record. The use of an external microphone is always advised but not necessary.
4. Perform the required selections listed. (Performing with a pianist is not required for this video.)
5. Memorization encouraged for pre-screening and are required for live, final round, audition. Pianist encouraged for pre-screening video, but not required. All questions about transfer credits will be answered after acceptance to the School of Music.

FINAL ROUND

Please be prepared to perform the following:

1. A movement from a Bach solo Sonata or Partita.
2. A fast movement from a violin concerto.
3. One Excerpt-Brahms Symphony No. 4, 3rd Movement measures 246-end. Click here for the pdf file.
4. Memorization is required for the final round for your Bach and Concerto but not for the excerpts. A pianist is encouraged for the live round.

If you have any questions please contact one of the violin faculty members, Monte Belknap, Alexander Woods, or Dr. LeeAnn Morgan.