Woodwinds and Brass

The application fee for the USC Graduate application is $90. Application fee waivers are available to qualified applicants, and must be requested before submitting the USC Graduate Application. If you plan to apply for a waiver of the USC Graduate Application fee, please do so at least two weeks before the application deadline. The deadline will not be extended for applicants who fail to request a fee waiver in time. Details and instructions can be found here.

All Thornton graduate applicants must upload transcripts into both the USC Graduate Application (Liaison) AND Thornton SlideRoom Application. The transcript submission deadline is October 1st. Please carefully read the instructions below.

Step 1– You must obtain official transcripts from the registrar’s office of each of your prior institutions before you can complete and submit the application forms. This may take some time, please plan accordingly.

Step 2– Upload Scans (PDF format) of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you have attended into the “Academic History” section of the USC Graduate application (Liaison).

Step 3– Upload Scans (PDF format) of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you have attended into the SlideRoom application where indicated.

Unofficial transcripts or documents printed from an on-line student system will not be accepted. Failure to upload scans of official transcripts in both application forms may significantly delay the release of a final admission decision.

When completing the USC Graduate application, it is important to pay special attention to the following items that you will find in the “program materials” section of the application:

• Thornton SlideRoom portal – A link to access the Thornton SlideRoom portal will be provided in this section.
• The Documents tab – Documents submitted in this section will not be accessible to the Thornton faculty. Thornton faculty will only be able to review documents submitted via the Thornton SlideRoom portal. In order to complete this section, you must check the box indicating that you do not wish to upload documents in this section.
• The Questions tab – Enter your SlideRoom Confirmation number where indicated (you will receive your SlideRoom confirmation number upon submission of the SlideRoom form).

Click here for important additional requirements and instructions.

A link to the SlideRoom portal is located inside the USC Application for Graduate Admission, in the “Program Materials” Section.

The SlideRoom application fee is $25 (fee waivers are not available). Thornton supplemental materials will not be accepted via mail or email.

The SlideRoom form must be submitted before the USC Application for Graduate Admission (Applicants can start both forms and work on them at the same time). Once SlideRoom is submitted, you will need to enter your SlideRoom confirmation number into the “Questions” tab, also located in the “program materials” section of the USC Graduate application.

Applicants to programs in Woodwinds and Brass must submit recordings to be prescreened by the faculty. A video recording is required for Flute, Clarinet and French Horn (audio recordings are accepted for all other instruments). The results of this prescreen will determine whether an applicant will be invited to perform a live audition. Applicants will be notified of prescreen results and live audition details via email from the corresponding Thornton department.

Current USC Thornton students applying for a graduate program are not required to submit a prescreen recording, however they must indicate on the application that they are a current Thornton student or they will not automatically be scheduled for a live audition. Current USC students are encouraged to contact Kit Bellamy (keb@usc.edu) in the Thornton Admission office with any questions or concerns regarding audition scheduling.

Flute

Piano accompaniment is optional for flute Prescreen audition recordings. Flute prescreen auditions must be video recordings. Audio only recordings will not be accepted. Audition repertoire requirements are the same for all degree levels.

• Mozart – Exposition of 1st and 2nd movements of Concerto in G Major or D Major – piano not necessary.
• One movement from a contrasting sonata/concerto or complete equivalent concert piece.

Two excerpts from the following list:

• Mendelssohn Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream – 2 measures before P to the end.
• Beethoven Leonore Overture No. 3 – measures 328–360.
• Brahms Symphony No. 4 – Last movement – measures 93–105.
• Debussy Afternoon of a Faun – measures 1–4

Clarinet

Piano accompaniment is not required. Prescreen audition recordings for Clarinet must be video recordings. Audio only recordings will not be accepted. Audition repertoire requirements are the same for all degree levels.

Three selections representing various stylistic periods of music. These selections should be full-length pieces from the standard solo literature, although excerpts from ensemble literature may also be included. If any of the selections are taken from a multi-movement sonata or concerto, applicants need only prepare one movement of the piece.

French Horn

Piano accompaniment is not required. Prescreen audition recordings for French Horn must be video only. Audio only recordings will not be accepted. Audition repertoire requirements are the same for all graduate degree levels.

1. Exposition from Mozart concertos 2 or 4, OR the first page of either Strauss concerto (No. 1 – until the 11 bars of rest half way down the page on most editions; No. 2 – the first page of the horn part)
2. Please choose one excerpt from each group below (a total of 2 excerpts)

Group A

• RAVEL: Piano Concerto in G major (horn 1, movement 1, rehearsal numbers 25-26)
• BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7 in A major, op. 92 (horn 1, movement 1, measures 84-102)
• WAGNER: from Gotterdammerung (Sigfried’s short call)

Group B

• SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5 in D minor, op. 47 (horn 1, movement 1, low tutti)
• BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, op. 55 “Eroica” (Scherzo trio, horn 2, measures 171-205)
• R. STRAUSS: Don Quixote (Variation VIII, horn 2, six measures before rehearsal 59 to eight measures after rehearsal 62)

Trombone

Piano accompaniment is not required. Audio or video recordings are acceptable for prescreen. Audition repertoire requirements are the same for all degree levels.

Tenor Trombone:

• A movement from one solo piece of your choice.

Orchestral excerpts from:

• Trombone solo from the Mozart Requiem
• Wagner- Ride of the Walküre
• Rossini- La Gazza Ladra
• Ravel- Bolero

Bass Trombone:

• Lebedev – Concerto in one Movement

Orchestral excerpts from:

• Kodály – Háry János Suite
• Wagner – Ride of the Walküre
• Rossini – La Gazza Ladra

Tuba

Piano accompaniment is not required, unless otherwise noted below. Audio or video recordings are acceptable for prescreen. Audition repertoire requirements are the same for all graduate degree levels. Important notes for tuba: Graduate applicants must demonstrate both CC (or BBb) and F (or Eb) tubas either in the live audition or prescreen recording.

• Two contrasting movements or etudes from standard tuba literature. One should be with piano or other accompaniment. A live recital or jury performance is preferred.
• Two standard orchestral excerpts

Bassoon

Piano accompaniment is not required. Audio or video recordings are acceptable for prescreen. Audition repertoire requirements are the same for all degree levels.

• Three selections representing various stylistic periods of music. These selections should be full-length pieces chosen from the standard solo literature or standard etude books such as Weissenborn, Jancourt, Milde, or comparable excerpts from standard ensemble literature may also be included. If any of the selections are taken from a multi-movement sonata or concerto, applicants need only prepare one movement of the piece.

Trumpet

Piano accompaniment is not required. Audio or video recordings are acceptable for prescreen. Audition repertoire requirements are the same for all graduate degree levels.

• One movement from two contrasting solo pieces
• One etude from Charlier’s 36 Etudes for Trumpet
• One etude from Brandt’s 34 Studies
• Four contrasting orchestral excerpts as appropriate to training and experiences

Oboe

Piano accompaniment is not required. Audio or video recordings are acceptable for prescreen. Audition repertoire requirements are the same for all graduate degree levels.

• Two selections, in contrasting styles, from the standard solo repertoire

Saxophone

Auditions presented with a collaborative pianist are highly encouraged.

Repertoire

Graduate auditioners should present repertoire that reflects a wide range of styles and techniques (any or all extended techniques, fluency of altissimo, etc.)

The auditioner should prepare three pieces that follow the criteria below:

• An original work for saxophone by a composer who is from a historically marginalized group.
• A piece of standard repertoire that was dedicated to either Marcel Mule or Sigurd Rascher.
• An original work for the saxophone that was written after 2010.

Scales

(Optional – scale recordings are not required for prescreen, but are welcome if desired)

• All 12 Full-Range Major Scales and Harmonic Minor Scales, Slurred.
• All 12 Full-Range Major Scales and Harmonic Minor Scales in 3rds, Slurred.

*Students may substitute the second scale requirement for any other intervallic scale, scale pattern, or full-range arpeggios in inversions. Any of these with additional articulation patterns are acceptable as well.

The résumé should list musical, professional, and academic experience and is generally 1-2 pages in length.

This list should include works studied and performed. Etudes, scale studies, arias, art songs, chamber music, solo pieces, and original compositions are all examples of what could be included in this list.

Graduate applicants are encouraged to prepare a brief statement of their professional goals, as well as their purpose in applying for the Woodwinds and Brass program. The Statement of Purpose is typically 1-2 pages in length.

All Thornton graduate applicants must upload transcripts into both the USC Graduate Application (Liaison) AND Thornton SlideRoom Application. The transcript submission deadline is October 1st. Please carefully read the instructions below.

Step 1– You must obtain official transcripts from the registrar’s office of each of your prior institutions before you can complete and submit the application forms. This may take some time, please plan accordingly.

Step 2– Upload Scans (PDF format) of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you have attended into the SlideRoom application where indicated.

Step 3– Upload Scans (PDF format) of official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you have attended into the “Academic History” section of the USC Graduate application (Liaison).

Unofficial transcripts or documents printed from an on-line student system will not be accepted. Failure to upload scans of official transcripts in both application forms may significantly delay the release of a final admission decision.

1-3 recommendation letters are required from graduate applicants. Recommendation letters are to be submitted online through the Thornton SlideRoom portal via the “References” section by October 1. We cannot guarantee the review of any material received after October 1.

Applicants to the Thornton School will be required to complete and upload the following form in SlideRoom:

• Parental Consent Form (if applicant is under 18 years of age by December 1, 2023)

For helpful Slideroom media upload troubleshooting tips, please click here.

Flute

Live Flute auditions should be performed without piano accompaniment. Audition repertoire requirements are the same for all graduate degree levels.

• Mozart – Exposition of 1st and 2nd movements of Concerto in G Major or D Major – piano not necessary.
• One movement from a contrasting sonata/concerto or complete equivalent concert piece.

Two excerpts from the following list:

• Mendelssohn Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream – 2 measures before P to the end.
• Beethoven Leonore Overture No. 3 – measures 328–360.
• Brahms Symphony No. 4 – Last movement – measures 93–105.
• Debussy Afternoon of a Faun – measures 1–4

Clarinet

Piano accompaniment is not required. Audition repertoire requirements are the same for all graduate degree levels.

• Three selections representing various stylistic periods of music. These selections should be full-length pieces from the standard solo literature, although excerpts from ensemble literature may also be included. If any of the selections are taken from a multi-movement sonata or concerto, applicants need only prepare one movement of the piece.

French Horn

Piano accompaniment is not required. Applicants must be prepared to perform the following selections for the live audition. It is not necessary that the repertoire prepared be identical to the prescreen recording. Audition repertoire requirements are the same for all graduate degree levels.

• Two etudes of the applicant’s choice, showing the applicant’s level of technical and musical advancement.
• At least one major solo of the applicant’s choice.
• Three to six standard orchestral excerpts.
• Additional evaluation such as scales, range/register exploration, and an interview might be included as part of the live audition.

Trombone

Piano accompaniment is not required. Audition repertoire requirements are the same for all graduate degree levels.

Tenor Trombone:

• A movement from one solo piece of your choice.

Orchestral excerpts from:

• Trombone solo from the Mozart Requiem
• Wagner- Ride of the Walküre
• Rossini- La Gazza Ladra
• Ravel- Bolero

Bass Trombone:

• Lebedev – Concerto in one Movement

Orchestral excerpts from:

• Kodály – Háry János Suite
• Wagner – Ride of the Walküre
• Rossini – La Gazza Ladra

Tuba

Piano accompaniment is not required. Audition repertoire requirements are the same for all graduate degree levels. Important notes for tuba: Graduate students must demonstrate both CC (or BBb) and F (or Eb) tubas either in the live audition or prescreen recording.

• Two contrasting movements from tuba literature that show musicality, tone, pitch, and range
• Two standard orchestral excerpts
  

Bassoon

Piano accompaniment is not required. Audition repertoire requirements are the same for all graduate degree levels.

• Three selections representing various stylistic periods of music. These selections should be full-length pieces chosen from the standard solo literature or standard etude books such as Weissenborn, Jancourt, Milde, or comparable excerpts from standard ensemble literature may also be included. If any of the selections are taken from a multi-movement sonata or concerto, applicants need only prepare one movement of the piece.
• All major and minor scales and sight reading may be tested at the live audition.

Trumpet

Piano accompaniment is not required. Audition repertoire requirements are the same for all graduate degree levels.

• One movement from two contrasting solo pieces
• One etude from Charlier’s 36 Etudes for Trumpet
• One etude from Brandt’s 34 Studies
• Four contrasting orchestral excerpts as appropriate to training and experiences
• Sight reading and all major and minor scales may be tested at the live audition

Oboe

Piano accompaniment is NOT required. Audition repertoire requirements are the same for all graduate degree levels.

• Three selections representing various stylistic periods of music. These selections should be full-length pieces from the standard solo literature, although excerpts from ensemble literature may also be included. If any of the selections are taken from a multi-movement sonata or concerto, applicants need only prepare one movement of the piece.

Saxophone

Auditions presented with a collaborative pianist are highly encouraged; if a local pianist is needed for live auditions, please reach out to Dr. Maxfield at maxfielj@usc.edu.

Scales

(Required for live audition)

• All 12 Full-Range Major Scales and Harmonic Minor Scales, Slurred.
• All 12 Full-Range Major Scales and Harmonic Minor Scales in 3rds, Slurred.

*Students may substitute the second scale requirement for any other intervallic scale, scale pattern, or full-range arpeggios in inversions. Any of these with additional articulation patterns are acceptable as well.

Auditioners may do one of the following:

• Choose to play the same requirements listed for the prescreen audition OR
• Choose different pieces that appropriately apply to the three criteria.

For repertoire-related questions, please contact Dr. Maxfield at maxfielj@usc.edu.