Woodwinds Prescreening & Audition Procedures

Information for prospective woodwind students applying to Manhattan School of Music.

In response to the global events of 2020, and our subsequent inability to hold live in-person auditions, Manhattan School of Music will only hold recorded and virtual auditions in 2021.

Prescreening requirements have not been affected by this change. Applicants to all areas with a prescreening requirement will be asked to include prescreening materials in their application, which is due December 1, 2020. Prescreening decisions will be released on December 18, 2020.

Note: Artist Diploma (AD) applications will not be considered for the 2021 application year.

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Woodwind Prescreening Requirements

Bassoon

There are no prescreening requirements for Bassoon.
Clarinet

There is no prescreening requirement for classical clarinet for the 2021 application cycle.
Flute

There is no prescreening requirement for classical flute for the 2021 application cycle.
Oboe

There are no prescreening requirements for Oboe.

Please Note: The oboe faculty highly recommends that you arrange a free trial lesson with one of the professors with whom you are most interested in studying. This is a great way for the oboe faculty to assess you early on, and for you to see if MSM is a good fit. Please email admissions@msmnyc.edu to tell the Admissions Team with whom you would like to take a trial lesson, and they will give you the best contact information for that faculty member.
Saxophone

There are no prescreening requirements for Saxophone.

Woodwind Audition Requirements

Applicants will submit the required repertoire listed below as separate video recordings by February 1, 2021. Each selection or movement may be uploaded as a separate video. Professional or studio recordings are not required, but the sound quality should be as good as possible. Accompaniment is not required.

View the requirements for your major below or download a pdf here.

Bassoon
Undergraduate (BM) and Graduate (MM)
- A video introduction of yourself answering the following prompts:
  
  What specifically motivates you to want to study at Manhattan School of Music?
  
  What else do you want the faculty to know about you that they might not see in your application materials?
- One of the following (first two movements except where noted):
  
  HUMMEL Concerto in F, expositions of first and second movements
  
  MOZART Concerto in B-Flat, expositions of first and second movements
  
  SAINT-SAËNS Sonata, complete first movement
  
  TANSMAN Sonatine, complete first and second movements, with no repeat in Movt. 1
  
  VIVALDI Concerto of choice, complete first and second movements
  
  WEBER Andante and Hungarian Rondo, Andante only
- One of the following (complete):
  
  JENNI BRANDON Colored Stones, one movement
  
  NANCY GALBRAITH Sonata, one movement
  
  WILLIAM GRANT STILL Three Songs, one movement
  
  ADOLPHUS HAILSTORK Bassoon Set, one movement
  
  ULYSSES KAY Sonata
  
  JOSE SIQUEIRA Three Etudes, one movement
  
  MARGIE GIEBLING-HAIGH: Sortilège:
  
  LIBBY LARSEN: Concert Piece: One movement
  
  FRANCISCO MIGNONE: Waltzes: One complete waltz
  
  JEFF SCOTT: Elegy for Innocence
  
  NATALIE MOLLER: Translations: One movement
- Three of the following orchestral excerpts:
  
  BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4 (Mvt. 4, mm. 15 – 25, 184 – 188, 300 – 303, 348 – end)
  
  MOZART Marriage of Figaro Overture (mm. 139 – 171)
  
  RAVEL Bolero (solo)
  
  RAVEL Piano Concerto (Mvt. 1, rhl. 9 – 10; Mvt. 3, rhl. 14 – 16, both parts combined)
  
  RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade (Mvt. 2, solo and cadenzas)
  
  SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 9 (solo from Mvts. 4 – 5)
  
  STRAVINSKY Firebird (Berceuse solo)
  
  STRAVINSKY Rite of Spring (opening solos)
  
  TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4 (Mvt. 2, solo to end)
  
  TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6 (Mvt. 1, opening solo)
- OPTIONAL: One additional selection representing your musical interests and/or a work by a composer from an historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group, gender, and/or culture. Choosing works that represent the applicant’s own cultural background is also welcomed.
Professional Studies (PS) and Doctoral (DMA)
- A video introduction of yourself answering the following prompts:
  
  What specifically motivates you to want to study at Manhattan School of Music?
  
  What else do you want the faculty to know about you that they might not see in your application materials?
- A 20-minute selection from a full-length recital featuring contrasting styles, including at least one of the following works:
  
  MARGIE GIEBLING-HAIGH: Sortilège
  
  LIBBY LARSEN: Concert Piece
  
  FRANCISCO MIGNONE: Waltzes
  
  JEFF SCOTT: Elegy for Innocence
  
  NATALIE MOLLER: Translations
  
  JOSE SIQUEIRA: Three Etudes
- The following orchestral excerpts:
  
  BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4 (Mvt. 4, mm. 15 – 25, 184 – 188, 300 – 303, 348 – end)
  
  MOZART Marriage of Figaro Overture (mm. 139 – 171)
  
  RAVEL Bolero (solo)
  
  RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade (Mvt. 2, solo and cadenzas)
  
  STRAVINSKY Rite of Spring (opening solos)
  
  TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4 (Mvt. 2, solo to end)
- OPTIONAL: One additional selection representing your musical interests and/or a work by a composer from an historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group, gender, and/or culture. Choosing works that represent the applicant’s own cultural background is also welcomed.
Clarinet
Undergraduate (BM)
- A video introduction of yourself answering the following prompts:
  
  What specifically motivates you to want to study at Manhattan School of Music?
  
  What else do you want the faculty to know about you that they might not see in your application materials?
- Two contrasting etudes
- Two complete works from contrasting periods
- Two contrasting orchestral excerpts
- OPTIONAL: One additional selection representing your musical interests and/or a work by a composer from an historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group, gender, and/or culture. Choosing works that represent the applicant’s own cultural background is also welcomed.
Graduate (MM)
- A video introduction of yourself answering the following prompts:
  
  What specifically motivates you to want to study at Manhattan School of Music?
  
  What else do you want the faculty to know about you that they might not see in your application materials?
- Two contrasting etudes
- Two complete works from contrasting periods. One work must be a concerto and one work must be from the 20th century.
- Two contrasting orchestral excerpts
- OPTIONAL: One additional selection representing your musical interests and/or a work by a composer from an historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group, gender, and/or culture. Choosing works that represent the applicant’s own cultural background is also welcomed.
Professional Studies (PS) and Doctoral (DMA)
- A video introduction of yourself answering the following prompts:
  
  What specifically motivates you to want to study at Manhattan School of Music?
  
  What else do you want the faculty to know about you that they might not see in your application materials?
- A full-length recital from contrasting style periods including a work from the 20th century, plus four orchestral excerpts. Applicants are encouraged to submit diverse repertoire including but not limited to works by people from historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, genders, and/or cultures. Choosing works that represent the applicant’s own cultural background is also welcomed.
Flute
Undergraduate (BM)
- A video introduction of yourself answering the following prompts:
  
  What specifically motivates you to want to study at Manhattan School of Music?
  
  What else do you want the faculty to know about you that they might not see in your application materials?
- Mozart Concerto in G or D major – Exposition of 1st and 2nd movements
- One of the ten pieces of the student’s choice from the book Flute music by French Composers (Schirmer*L. Moyse)
- One additional work of choice (other than Mozart or French book)
- One movement of a Sonata or the Partita by J.S. Bach
- Excerpt from Mendelssohn Midsummer Night’s Dream plus one additional excerpt
- OPTIONAL: One additional selection representing your musical interests and/or a work by a composer from an historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group, gender, and/or culture. Choosing works that represent the applicant’s own cultural background is also welcomed.
Graduate (MM)
- A video introduction of yourself answering the following prompts:
  
  What specifically motivates you to want to study at Manhattan School of Music?
  
  What else do you want the faculty to know about you that they might not see in your application materials?
- Mozart Concerto in G or D – Exposition of 1st and 2nd movements, cadenzas are not required
- Two contrasting works of different styles or periods (excluding Mozart and Bach)
- One movement of a Sonata or the Partita by J.S. Bach or a movement from the Partita in A Minor by C.P.E. Bach.
- Excerpt from Stravinsky The Firebird, Variation, counting the rests, plus two additional excerpts
- OPTIONAL: One additional selection representing your musical interests and/or a work by a composer from an historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group, gender, and/or culture. Choosing works that represent the applicant’s own cultural background is also welcomed.
Professional Studies (PS) and Doctoral (DMA)
- A video introduction of yourself answering the following prompts:
  
  What specifically motivates you to want to study at Manhattan School of Music?
  
  What else do you want the faculty to know about you that they might not see in your application materials?
- A 30-minute selection of at least four movements from a recital program demonstrating contrasting styles and periods including a work from the 20th or 21st century.
- Four orchestral excerpts.
- At least one of the selections must be a work by a composer from an historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group, gender, and/or culture. A work representing the applicant’s own cultural background is also welcomed.
Oboe
Undergraduate (BM)
- A video introduction of yourself answering the following prompts:
  
  What specifically motivates you to want to study at Manhattan School of Music?
  
  What else do you want the faculty to know about you that they might not see in your application materials?
- Two contrasting etudes
- Two complete works from contrasting periods
- Two contrasting orchestral excerpts
- OPTIONAL: One additional selection representing your musical interests and/or a work by a composer from an historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group, gender, and/or culture. Choosing works that represent the applicant’s own cultural background is also welcomed.
Graduate (MM)
- A video introduction of yourself answering the following prompts:
  
  What specifically motivates you to want to study at Manhattan School of Music?
  
  What else do you want the faculty to know about you that they might not see in your application materials?
- Two contrasting etudes
- Two complete works from contrasting periods. One work must be a concerto and one work must be from the 20th century.
- Two contrasting orchestral excerpts
- OPTIONAL: One additional selection representing your musical interests and/or a work by a composer from an historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group, gender, and/or culture. Choosing works that represent the applicant’s own cultural background is also welcomed.
Professional Studies (PS) and Doctoral (DMA)
- A video introduction of yourself answering the following prompts:
  
  What specifically motivates you to want to study at Manhattan School of Music?
  
  What else do you want the faculty to know about you that they might not see in your application materials?
- A full-length recital from contrasting style periods including a work from the 20th century, plus four orchestral excerpts. Applicants are encouraged to submit diverse repertoire including but not limited to works by people from historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, genders, and/or cultures. Choosing works that represent the applicant’s own cultural background is also welcomed.
Saxophone
Undergraduate (BM)
- A video introduction of yourself answering the following prompts:
  
  What specifically motivates you to want to study at Manhattan School of Music?
  
  What else do you want the faculty to know about you that they might not see in your application materials?
- Two contrasting etudes
- Two complete works from contrasting periods
- Two contrasting orchestral excerpts
- OPTIONAL: One additional selection representing your musical interests and/or a work by a composer from an historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group, gender, and/or culture. Choosing works that represent the applicant’s own cultural background is also welcomed.
Graduate (MM)
- A video introduction of yourself answering the following prompts:
  
  What specifically motivates you to want to study at Manhattan School of Music?
  
  What else do you want the faculty to know about you that they might not see in your application materials?
- Two contrasting etudes
- Two complete works from contrasting periods. One work must be a concerto and one work must be from the 20th century.
- Two contrasting orchestral excerpts
- OPTIONAL: One additional selection representing your musical interests and/or a work by a composer from an historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group, gender, and/or culture. Choosing works that represent the applicant’s own cultural background is also welcomed.
Professional Studies (PS) and Doctoral (DMA)
- A video introduction of yourself answering the following prompts:
  
  What specifically motivates you to want to study at Manhattan School of Music?
  
  What else do you want the faculty to know about you that they might not see in your application materials?
- A full-length recital from contrasting style periods including a work from the 20th century, plus four orchestral excerpts. Applicants are encouraged to submit diverse repertoire including but not limited to works by people from historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, genders, and/or cultures. Choosing works that represent the applicant’s own cultural background is also welcomed.