Piano Audition Days

• February 9
• February 10
• February 11

Application and Audition Registration

Please see Graduate Admission for School of Music application and audition registration information

Prescreening

Pre-screening video links are due by December 1. After you have been admitted to the Graduate College and applied to the School of Music, you will be provided with a link to upload your pre-screening materials.

Master of Arts:

• Applicants for the M.A. must present a pre-screening video of at least 20 minutes of solo piano repertoire.
• The program should represent a minimum of three musical periods. One of the selections for the pre-screening video must be: 1. a Baroque prelude and fugue; 2. a pair of fast and slow Baroque sonatas or dances; 3. a sonata-allegro movement from the Classical period; or 4. a variation set from the Classical period.
• Memorization is required.  Exceptions may be permitted in the case of some 20th and 21st-century pieces. Permission must be granted by the UI piano faculty upon request.
• The video should not be edited and must be recently recorded with the hands, feet, and profile of the applicant visible at all times.

Doctor of Musical Arts:

• Applicants for the D.M.A. must present a pre-screening video of at least 25 minutes of solo piano repertoire.
• The program should represent a minimum of three musical periods.
• One of the selections for the pre-screening video must be: 1. a Baroque prelude and fugue; 2. a pair of fast and slow Baroque sonatas or dances; 3. a sonata-allegro movement from the Classical period; or 4. a variation set from the Classical period.
• Memorization is required.  Exceptions may be permitted in the case of some 20th and 21st-century pieces. Permission must be granted by the UI piano faculty upon request.
• The video should not be edited and must be recently recorded with the hands, feet, and profile of the applicant visible at all times. 
• Applicants interested in the DMA Piano Pedagogy track are required to submit a video recording of sample teaching. The video should be at least 30 minutes in length and should include both private and group teaching, if possible.

Preparation Requirements

M.A. Live Auditions (by invitation):

• Applicants for the M.A. must present a program of at least 35 minutes solo piano music and may include different repertoire than pre-screening video recordings. All piano area auditions will be held in the Recital Hall in the Voxman School of Music.
• The program should represent a minimum of three musical periods. One of the selections must be a complete major work from the Baroque period or a complete major work from the Classical period. The program must have at least three complete works. Optional fourth works may be incomplete (for example, a movement of Ravel’s Miroirs). Memorization is required.  Exceptions may be permitted in the case of some 20th and 21st-century pieces. Permission must be granted by the UI piano faculty upon request.
• 48 hours before your scheduled audition, you will be sent a piece to perform during your live audition.
• Please submit a list of solo piano, chamber music, and vocal works you have learned, indicating which works you have performed in public.

D.M.A. Live Auditions (by invitation):

• Applicants for the D.M.A. must present a program of at least 45 minutes of solo piano music which may include different repertoire than pre-screening video recordings. All piano area auditions will be held in the Recital Hall in the Voxman School of Music.
• The program should represent a minimum of three musical periods. One of the selections must be a complete major work from the Baroque period or a complete major work from the Classical period. The program must have at least three complete works. Optional fourth works may be incomplete (for example, a movement of Ravel’s Miroirs). Memorization is required.  Exceptions may be permitted in the case of some 20th and 21st-century pieces. Permission must be granted by the UI piano faculty upon request.
• 48 hours before your scheduled audition, you will be sent a piece to perform during your live audition.
• Please submit a list of solo piano, chamber music, and vocal works you have learned, indicating which works you have performed in public.

Graduate Remote Auditions: Second Video Submission and Zoom interview (limited to applicants who live outside the contiguous 48 states AND only with the permission of the piano area)

• Video Submission:
  • Same Repertoire Requirements as described above under “Live Auditions.” The video submission must be ONE UNEDITED recording of your audition program. Such videos must be submitted no later than February 1.
• Zoom Interview:
  • Following the receipt of your video submission, the piano area will arrange a brief Zoom interview with each applicant approved for a remote audition. 48 hours before the scheduled Zoom interview, each applicant approved for a remote audition will be sent a piece to perform during the Zoom interview.
• Repertoire List:
  • Please submit a list of solo piano and chamber music you have learned, indicating which works you have performed in public.

Time Requirement

Audition materials should be thoroughly prepared and approximately 25 minutes in length.

Accompaniment

No accompaniment required

Technical Requirements

No technical requirements

Suggested or Required Repertoire

Please feel free to contact Dr. Réne Lecuona, the co-chair of the piano area, rene-lecuona@uiowa.edu  with any repertoire questions.

Judging Criteria

• Artistry
• Technical command of the instrument
• Fluency of the performances

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the audition and number of applicants, we will not be able to provide individual comments. All decisions made will be final.

FAQ

1. When am I considered for scholarship?
   1. You are considered for scholarship at the time of audition
2. When will I hear about my results?
   1. You will be notified via formal letter about your audition results and music scholarship results in early March

Contact Information

Dr. Réne Lecuona, Co-chair of the Piano Area

Allison Bierman, Admissions Counselor

              (319) 335-3994