Undergraduate Audition Requirements
Brass
Music Audition
Applicants must perform the pieces with total duration of 10-15 minutes, as outlined below:
- Two (2) contrasting movements from a Sonata or Concerto (the movements could be selected from the same piece or different pieces)
- One (1) Etude that demonstrates the highest level of technical development
Applicants must perform the following:
- Two (2) major scales of free choice, in two octaves, played in quaver notes (eighth notes) at 60 BPM
- Popular songs, arrangements, or original compositions are not permitted.
- For repertoire requiring piano accompaniment, candidates must perform with an accompanist. Alternatively, candidates may use a professionally produced, high-quality minus-one recording. YouTube recordings are not allowed as accompaniment.
- Horn
- Trumpet
- Trombone
- Euphonium
- Tuba
Chinese Instruments
Music Audition
Applicants must perform two (2) contrasting pieces with total duration of 10-15 minutes equivalent to the final stages of graded music examinations.
General Note:- For repertoire requiring piano accompaniment, candidates must perform with an accompanist. Alternatively, candidates may use a professionally produced, high-quality minus-one recording. YouTube recordings are not allowed as accompaniment.
- Dizi
- Erhu
- Guzheng
- Pipa
- Sheng
- Yangqin
Composition
Submit a composition portfolio that meets the following requirements:
- Submit three (3) to four (4) recent original works totaling at least seven (7) minutes of music, preferably representing different genres, instrumentations, voices, and/or relevant media (e.g., fixed or live electronics, interactive devices, installations).
- Include PDF scores of all submitted works. Clearly label the title, instrumentation, and year of composition on the first page of each score. Scores must be neatly typeset using notation software. Handwritten scores are accepted only if they are clear and tidy.
- Recordings of the submitted works are strongly encouraged, preferably from live performances. Submissions may be in audio or video format. If live performances are unavailable, digital realizations are acceptable. Professional recordings are not required, but audio quality must be clear.
- Multi-movement works will be considered as a single submission.
- Miniature pieces (under 1 minute 30 seconds) will not be considered unless they are part of a multi-movement work.
- Non-traditional scores (e.g., graphic notations, verbal scores) are acceptable.
- For music without a notated score (e.g., fixed-media electronic music, live coding, interactive installations), include a detailed explanation, along with technical specifications and setup (e.g., 5.1 surround setup with sonic diffusion, live processing using Ableton Live, interactive sonic devices using Arduino and photosensors).
- Include a complete list of works, specifying the title, medium, composition date, duration, and performance details (dates, locations, and performers) for each piece, if applicable.
- Arrangements of existing works will not be accepted.
Applicants must pass an audition on their primary instrument.
Percussion
Music Audition
Applicants must perform the pieces with total duration of 10-15 minutes, as outlined below:
- One (1) piece on keyboard percussion, preferably using four mallets
- One (1) piece on snare drum or multiple percussions
- One (1) piece on timpani
- Popular songs, arrangements, or original compositions are not permitted.
- For repertoire requiring piano accompaniment, candidates must perform with an accompanist. Alternatively, candidates may use a professionally produced, high-quality minus-one recording. YouTube recordings are not allowed as accompaniment.
Piano
Music Audition
Applicants must perform the pieces with total duration of 10-15 minutes, as outlined below:
- One (1) Baroque piece (e.g., J.S. Bach or Scarlatti)
- One (1) Classical piece (e.g., Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven)
- One (1) free-choice piece (e.g., a Romantic or 20th-century work)
- Popular songs, arrangements, or original compositions are not permitted.
Strings
Music Audition for Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass
Applicants must perform the pieces with total duration of 10-15 minutes, as outlined below:
- One (1) movement of unaccompanied Baroque piece (e.g., Bach solo sonatas, partitas or unaccompanied suites)
- One (1) Classical concerto movement or sonata (either a full movement or up to the close of the exposition)
- One (1) free-choice piece (e.g., a Romantic or 20th-century work)
- One (1) Baroque or early music
- One (1) Classical or Romantic piece
- One (1) free choice piece (any work composed in 20th century)
- Popular songs, arrangements, or original compositions are not permitted.
- For repertoire requiring piano accompaniment, candidates must perform with an accompanist. Alternatively, candidates may use a professionally produced, high-quality minus-one recording. YouTube recordings are not allowed as accompaniment.
- Original compositions are not permitted
Voice
Music Audition
Applicants must perform the pieces with total duration of 10-15 minutes, as outlined below:
- Two (2) art songs in contrasting styles and language. No rearrangement of the art song is allowed
- One (1) aria or oratorio
- One (1) exercise from Vaccai or Concone
- Applicants must perform all pieces from memory.
- Popular/folk songs, arrangements, or original compositions are not permitted.
- For repertoire requiring piano accompaniment, candidates must perform with an accompanist. Alternatively, candidates may use a professionally produced, high-quality minus-one recording. YouTube recordings are not allowed as accompaniment.
Woodwinds
Music audition
Applicants must perform the pieces with total duration of 10-15 minutes, as outlined below:
- Two (2) contrasting movements from a Sonata or Concerto (the movements could be selected from the same piece or different pieces)
- One (1) Etude that demonstrates the highest level of technical development
Applicants must perform the following:
- Two (2) major scales of free choice, in two octaves, played in quaver notes (eighth notes) at 60 BPM
- Popular songs, arrangements, or original compositions are not permitted.
- For repertoire requiring piano accompaniment, candidates must perform with an accompanist. Alternatively, candidates may use a professionally produced, high-quality minus-one recording. YouTube recordings are not allowed as accompaniment.
- Flute
- Clarinet
- Saxophone
RECORDING REQUIREMENTS
- All three pieces must be recorded live in a single take using one camera or video recorder. No cuts, editing, or lip-syncing are permitted. Audio and video must be recorded simultaneously. Upload the final video to YouTube.
- At the start of the recording, before your performance, you are required to introduce yourself in English with the following information:
- Your full name
- Major instrument
- Date of recording
- The three contrasting pieces you will be performing (composer and title)
Example:
Hi, my name is . My major instrument is Classical Piano. Today is 1 November 2025, and I will be playing three pieces: J. S. Bach’s 1st movement of the Italian Concerto, Beethoven’s 3rd movement of Sonata in D major Op. 10 No. 3, and Bartók’s Allegro Barbaro. Thank you. - The videos must be recorded within three months prior to the submission deadline.
- Any form of video or audio editing is strictly prohibited (e.g., software editors, video-editing phone applications, vocal pitch-tuning plug-ins). The use of external recording equipment such as condenser microphones and audio interfaces is also not allowed.
- For piano auditions, the camera must be positioned at a distance and angle that clearly shows the performer’s entire right-side profile from head to feet, including the fingers on the keyboard.
- For voice and other instruments, the camera must be positioned at a distance and angle that clearly shows the performer’s full profile from head to feet, including the piano accompanist if applicable.
- For both classical/contemporary voice and non-piano instruments, candidates may choose to use either piano accompaniment or a backing track (e.g., minus-one recording).
- The video resolution must not be lower than 720p.
- Videos that do not comply with the above requirements will be rejected. No video resubmission or re-audition will be allowed.
Piano
Guitar
Bass
Drums
Saxophone
Trumpet
Voice
Guitar
Bass
Drums
Saxophone
Trumpet
Voice
Music Audition
Applicants must fulfilled the requirements as outlined below:
- Two Contrasting Free-Choice Pieces
- Candidates must prepare and perform two free-choice pieces that showcase contrasting styles, techniques and musical expression.
- Total performance duration must be 8-12 minutes
- One Prepared Study Piece
- Materials (leadsheet and backing tracks) and guidelines are available in this link. Candidates are required to perform this piece on their respective instruments. Each instrument will have slightly different requirements.
Composition
Candidates are required to submit a portfolio of compositions (in 3 contrasting styles) and pass the audition on a major instrument.
RECORDING REQUIREMENTS
- All three pieces must be recorded live in a single take using one camera or video recorder. No cuts, editing, or lip-syncing are permitted. Audio and video must be recorded simultaneously. Upload the final video to YouTube.
- At the start of the recording, before your performance, you are required to introduce yourself in English with the following information:
- Your full name
- Major instrument
- Date of recording
- The three contrasting pieces you will be performing (composer and title)
Example:
Hi, my name is . My major instrument is Classical Piano. Today is 1 November 2025, and I will be playing three pieces: J. S. Bach’s 1st movement of the Italian Concerto, Beethoven’s 3rd movement of Sonata in D major Op. 10 No. 3, and Bartók’s Allegro Barbaro. Thank you. - The videos must be recorded within three months prior to the submission deadline.
- Any form of video or audio editing is strictly prohibited (e.g., software editors, video-editing phone applications, vocal pitch-tuning plug-ins). The use of external recording equipment such as condenser microphones and audio interfaces is also not allowed.
- For piano auditions, the camera must be positioned at a distance and angle that clearly shows the performer’s entire right-side profile from head to feet, including the fingers on the keyboard.
- For voice and other instruments, the camera must be positioned at a distance and angle that clearly shows the performer’s full profile from head to feet, including the piano accompanist if applicable.
- For both classical/contemporary voice and non-piano instruments, candidates may choose to use either piano accompaniment or a backing track (e.g., minus-one recording).
- The video resolution must not be lower than 720p.
- Videos that do not comply with the above requirements will be rejected. No video resubmission or re-audition will be allowed.
Bachelor of Classical Music (Hons.) and Bachelor of Contemporary Music (Hons.)
Aural Placement Test
Sight singing; repeating a rhythmic phrase from memory; singing in intervals, scale & trials.
Theory Placement Test
Topics include intervals; scales and key signatures; triads & 7th chords and its inversions; roman numeral or lead sheet symbols analysis; time signatures, grouping of notes & rests and cadences.
