All audition programs must be submitted for approval to the Graduate Department of Music.
The candidate’s file must be complete (including the approved audition program, the audition fee, and all transcripts and reference letters) before an audition can be scheduled.
Instrumental
Live audition: A full-length audition program of at least sixty minutes in length of professional level repertoire must be prepared and should include works in three or more contrasting styles and periods. All works must be complete. Where there is major sonata repertoire (e.g., violin, cello, etc.), a complete sonata must be included. Multi-movement works (e.g., suites) must be complete. Jurors will select repertoire from the candidate’s approved program equaling 30 minutes in length. Students auditioning on orchestral wind and brass instruments should prepare 5 orchestral excerpts.
Historical Performance. The audition program should demonstrate ability in repertory from the candidate’s chosen historical period.
Solo Piano
A full-length audition program of at least sixty minutes in length of professional level repertoire must be prepared and should include the following:
One work of J.S. Bach – a complete larger work, (e.g. Partita, Suite, or Prelude and Fugue). Transcriptions are not acceptable.
One complete Beethoven Sonata (excluding Op. 13, 14, 49, 79)
One Substantial Romantic work, e.g. Schumann, Brahms, Chopin, Liszt. (short pieces such as nocturnes or études are not acceptable)
One major 20th or 21st century work. If a multi-movement work, at least two contrasting movements must be presented.
One virtuosic étude. Choose from Chopin, Debussy, Liszt, Scriabin, Ligeti, Bartok, Prokofiev, or Rachmaninoff.
One own-choice piece by a major composer.
All music must be memorized.
Piano Pedagogy
Audition Requirements for the Masters of Music Program:
(All works must be memorized)
i) Baroque – one complete larger work of J. S. Bach (e.g. Partita, Suite, or Prelude and Fugue) OR three contrasting Scarlatti Sonatas, OR one Handel Suite. Transcriptions are not acceptable.
ii) Classical – one complete sonata (excluding Op. 13, 14, 49,, 79 of Beethoven).
iii) Romantic – one substantial work, e.g. Schumann, Brahms, Chopin or Liszt (short pieces such as nocturnes or etudes are not acceptable in this category).
iv) 20th or 21st Century – if a multi-movement work, at least two contrasting movements must be presented.
v) One etude, or own-choice by a major composer.
Audition Requirements for the Doctor of Music Program:
(All works must be memorized)
A full-length audition program of at least sixty minutes in length of professional level repertoire must be prepared and should include the following:
i) A complete larger work of J. S. Bach (e.g. Partita, Suite, or Prelude and Fugue). Transcriptions are not acceptable.
ii) One complete Beethoven Sonata (excluding Op. 13, 14, 49, 79).
iii) One substantial Romantic work, e.g. Schumann, Brahms, Chopin, Liszt (short pieces such as nocturnes or etudes are not acceptable in this category).
iv) One major 20th or 21st century work. If a multi-movement work, at least two contrasting movements must be presented.
v) One virtuosic etude. Choose from Chopin, Debussy, Liszt, Scriabin, Ligeti, Bartok, Prokofiev, or Rachmaninoff.
vi) One own-choice piece by a major composer.
Collaborative Piano
Applicants will perform with a singer and a violinist appointed by the Graduate Department.
MMus Audition Requirements
The following audition repertoire is required:
- Four songs (to be performed with a soprano in the original high keys):
- Schubert, Ganymed
- Wolf, In dem Schatten meiner Locken
- Strauss, Ständchen
- Debussy, C'est l'extase
- Two sonata movements (to be performed with a violinist):
- First two movements of Brahms, Sonata for Violin and Piano in d minor OR
- First two movements of Franck, Violin Sonata
- A major solo work by Mozart, Haydn, or Beethoven (applicant's choice).
- Sight Reading.
DMA Audition Requirements
Prepare one selection each from Lists A, B, C and all of List D:
List A:
Solo:
Bach: Prelude and Fugue of your choice or
20 century work of your choice or
2 Etudes by Chopin, Liszt, Debussy, Ligeti, Rachmaninoff or
Scriabin(one must be in a fast tempo)
List B:
Beethoven: Violin Sonata No.5 or No.7
List C:
Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 1 or 2 or 3 or
Franck: Violin Sonata
List D: (Please note: all songs to be prepared in high/original key)
Brahms : Wir wandelten and Meine Liebe ist grün
Schubert : Im Frühling and Frühlingstraum
Strauss : Ständchen and Die Nacht
Debussy : C'est l'extase and Il pleure dans mon coeur from Ariettes Oubliees
Opera (MMus only)
There are two parts to the audition:
- A pre-audition DVD is required by the document deadline.
- Based on the Admission Committee's assessment of the DVD, applicants may be invited for a live audition and interview. Audition Schedule
The requirements are the same for the pre-audition and the live audition: Three contrasting arias, one of which must be in English (an aria in English translation is acceptable).
Scores of all compositions on the audition program must be provided for the jurors at the live audition.
Voice and Vocal Pedagogy There are two parts to the audition:
- A pre-audition DVD is required by the document deadline.
- Based on the Admission Committee's assessment of the DVD, applicants may be invited for a live audition and interview. Audition Schedule
First-Round Repertoire Requirements for DVD Submissions:
- two arias
- two art songs
- one art song composed after 1960.
In all, your first-round DVD must include five selections in no fewer than 3 languages, and one of the selections must be in English.
Second-Round live audition must include a total of ten pieces (all repertoire from the DVD/first-round may be used) reflecting a minumum of four languages, and meeting the following requirements:
- three contrasting arias, one of which must be in English;
- two art song groups of three songs each;
- one contemporary song written later than 1960.
The audition program must include repertoire from contrasting styles and periods. Successful candidates must show experience as a solo performer and an advanced technical and interpretive ability.
Scores of all compositions on the audition program must be provided for the jurors at the live audition.
Conducting
Choral Conducting Candidates: Applicants for both the MM and DMA in choral conducting must submit a DVD of conducting in rehearsal and performance. The recording must be no more than 6 months old, must show the conductor in full frontal view for at least part of the recording (preferably the rehearsal), and should include an example of a rehearsal of at least 15 - 20 minutes with a choral ensemble. Music may be accompanied or unaccompanied. The performance component (a maximum 10 minutes) can either be a complete run-through of the piece rehearsed or it may be of a concert performance.
Orchestral Conducting Candidates: Applicants for both the MM and DMA in orchestral conducting must submit a DVD of a recent rehearsal and/or performance with an orchestral or chamber ensemble, approximately 15-20 minutes in length. Ideally, the DVD should consist of at least 10 minutes of rehearsal, followed by a run-through of the piece or movement rehearsed. The performance portion of the DVD may also include a concert performance.
Wind Conducting Candidates: Applicants for both the MM and DMA in wind conducting must submit a DVD of conducting in rehearsal and/or performance. The recording must be no more than 6 months old, must show the conductor in full frontal view for at least part of the recording (preferably the rehearsal), and should include an example of a rehearsal of at least 15 - 20 minutes with an instrumental ensemble. The performance component (a maximum 10 minutes) can either be a complete run-through of the piece rehearsed or it may be of a concert performance.
Based on the Admission Committee’s assessment of the conducting DVD, applicants may be invited for a live audition. Finalists will be invited for an in-person audition which will include an interview, aural and written tests, and a rehearsal with a University of Toronto ensemble.
Guitar
The audition program must be full-length 'recital' program of at least sixty (60) minutes in length. The program must include;
- a complete suite or sonata of J.S. Bach from the original cello, violin or lute works AND
- a concert work taken from the 19th century repertoire.
At least one other major style period must be represented in the program.
All works must be performed with all the original constituent movements. Jurors will select repertoire from the candidate’s approved program equaling 30 minutes in length.
Jazz
Successful applicants must show experience as a solo performer with an advanced technical and interpretive ability. Improvisation must indicate imagination and thorough mastery of the selected repertoire.
Candidates must submit a substantial repertoire list (25-30 pieces) for approval with the application. The list must include representative pieces from the major stylistic areas: traditional, swing, bop, hard bop, cool, post-bop, standards, blues, modal, free, fusion and ‘Latin’ styles. A sample repertoire list will be available to candidates upon request. The list must also include at least three original pieces. Please provide lead sheets for any original pieces. At the 30 minute audition, jurors will select repertoire from the candidate’s approved list (usually 5 pieces including one ballad and one up-tempo tune).
Candidates who are skilled in jazz arranging and composition are encouraged to provide scores (Photocopies only. No originals please.) with supporting recordings (if available) to assist the jury in their assessment.