Join us for viola auditions

Viola Lesson

Undergraduate audition days

  • Friday, Feb. 14, 2025
  • Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025
  • Friday, Feb. 21, 2025
  • Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025

Graduate audition days

  • Friday, Feb. 14, 2025
  • Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025
  • Friday, Feb. 21, 2025
  • Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025

Undergraduate viola auditions

Audition day information

See the submission deadline for undergraduates to file with the School of Music and learn more about Audition Day.

Prescreening

No is prescreening required. 

Preparation requirements

It is important that the applicant select a repertoire that clearly represents their ability level. Memorization is not required. 

  • 1 or 2 movements from Bach's Cello Suites or the Sonatas & Partitas for solo violin
  • 1 or 2 movements from a concerto and/or solo work (scored with piano or solo viola) that clearly represent(s) the current level of your playing

Time requirement

Audition materials should be thoroughly prepared and approximately 10 minutes in length.

Accompaniment

No accompaniment is required.

Technical requirements

  • 2 major, melodic minor, blues, or other scales of your choice
  • 1 etude from the standard viola etude repertoire. This can include those by Mazas, Kreutzer, Dont, Campagnoli, Bruni, Uhl, Lillian Fuchs, etc.

Suggested repertoire

Please reach out to Professor Rutledge for repertoire suggestions

Judging criteria

Auditions will be judged on current technical and expressive abilities, the potential for growth, and the desire to learn.

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.

Scholarship consideration

You are considered for scholarship at the time of audition.

Audition results

You will be notified via formal letter about your audition results and music scholarship results in early March.

Graduate viola auditions

Application and audition registration

Please see Graduate Admissions Process for School of Music application and audition registration information.

Prescreening

No prescreening required. 

Preparation requirements

  • First movement from a major viola concerto, including, but not limited to, those by: Hindemith, Walton, Bartok, Higdon, Tower, Piston, Harbison, Schnittke, Hoffmeister, Stamitz, Penderecki, Bowen, Forsythe
  • 2 movements of solo Bach (Cello Suite or Violin Sonatas & Partitas)
  • 2 contrasting movements from works for viola and piano or solo viola in contrasting styles. (Please select works that are also in contrasting styles from your concerto.)
  • Memorization not required

Time requirement

Audition materials should be thoroughly prepared and approximately 20 minutes in length.

Accompaniment

No accompaniment is required.

Technical requirements

No technical requirements.

Suggested or required repertoire

Please reach out to Professor Rutledge for repertoire suggestions. 

Judging criteria

Auditions will be judged on current technical and expressive abilities, the potential for growth, and the desire to learn.

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

Audition results

You will be notified via formal letter about your audition results in early March.

Acceptance rate

The number of students accepted each year is determined by the needs of the studio, which are ever-changing due to the size of the graduating class and other factors.

Questions?

Portrait of Christine Rutledge

Christine Rutledge

Title/Position
Viola
Professor