M.M. Brass

Graduate Admissions

Graduate Audition Days

 Friday, January 31, 2025 *
Saturday, February 1, 2025 *
 Saturday, February 15, 2025 (Preferred Audition Day & Lunch)
  • Graduate Applications: The application deadline for ALL degree programs and specializations is December 15, 2024.

  • Auditions for choral, orchestral, and wind band conductors will be scheduled at the discretion of the ensemble faculty coordinating with the ensemble rehearsal schedule. Contact the faculty directly for information.

  • Required Auditions: All required auditions, whether in-person or video, must be completed by 5 p.m. February 15, 2025. 
  • Do I need an audition, interview or both? https://arts.unl.edu/music/music-interviews-and-auditions
  • Graduate Assistantships and Fellowships: All graduate applicants are automatically considered for graduate assistantships and fellowships. You will let us know of your interest areas on the audition scheduling request form.
  • MM Music Education (summer online) Fellowships: The priority consideration deadline is May 1, 2025.
*Limited times available on these days

Application Checklist - Specific Requirements

Begin by applying online at http://go.unl.edu/gradapp.

  1. Create an account.
  2. Complete your application.
  • You will be asked to upload scanned copies of your transcripts showing all postsecondary coursework completed, including all studies for which credit was granted (e.g. summer institutes such as Aspen or Interlochen). Further information can be found at https://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/admissions/requirements#transcripts. We require: Undergraduate GPA = 2.75/4.00 scale.
  • Students whose native language is not English or who have not previously earned a degree from an institution at which English is the official medium of instruction must enter their TOEFL or IELTS score and upload a copy of their score report. Official scores should be sent directly to UNL. Further information can be found at https://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/prospective/international/english. We require: TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS 6.5 overall band score.
  • You will need to provide contact information, including an email address, for each person from whom you wish a reference. For each recommender, click the Submit Recommendation Request button to send a letter request to your reference writer. A minimum of three letters of recommendation is required; four recommendation letters are recommended.

3. Submit your application and pay the application fee of $50 ($25 if you are currently an active student at UNL). After you’ve clicked “Submit,” validated your information, and paid the application fee, you’ll receive a confirmation email indicating that the application was successfully submitted.

4. Prepare the required “Prepared Creative /Scholarly Materials Requirements” (see below).

Prepared Creative/Scholarly Materials Requirements: To assist candidates in achieving success in the required audition, the following requirements have been set by the area.  Please refer to the list below to know what to include on your audition.

BRASS

Euphonium Auditions:

  1. Two contrasting movements from a standard repertoire solo piece for euphonium, for example; Horowitz, Concerto; Wilder, Sonata; Ponchiellei, Concerto; Sparke, Pantomime
  2. Band excerpts from the standard repertoire including Holst, Suites; Bennett, Suite of Old American Dances; Schoenberg, Theme and Variations.

Horn Auditions:

  1. Two works of contrasting styles that represent the applicant's technical, melodic and interpretive abilities.
  2. A minimum of five standard orchestral excerpts

Bass Trombone Auditions:

  1. One slow and one fast movement from works such as Ewazen-Concerto or Ballade for Bass Trombone; Lebedev-Concerto in One Movement; Hidas-Meditation; Casterede-Fantasie Concertante, Bozza-New Orleans or equivalent.
  2. A solo of the applicant's choice, and
  3. Three orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire.

Tenor Trombone Auditions:

  1. One slow and one fast movement from works such as Bozza-Ballade; Sulek-Sonata; Hindemith-Sonata; Tomasi-Concerto; Casterede-Sonatine or equivalent
  2. A solo of the applicant's choice, and
  3. Three orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire.

Trumpet Auditions:

  1. Honegger Intrada and one other solo work of your choice
  2. A minimum of three orchestral excerpts of standard repertoire
  3. Proficiency of major scales (two octaves slurred) may be asked.

Tuba Auditions:

  1. Two contrasting movements from a standard repertoire solo piece for tuba, for example: Vaughan Williams, Concerto; Hindemith, Sonate; Penderecki, Capriccio(complete piece)
  2. Orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire including Wagner, Meistersinger Overture; Wagner, Ride of the Walkurie; Hindemith, and Symphonic Metamorphosis. This is a representative list.