audition for juilliard or curtis institute

[unicornxgirl]

hey i was just wondering what kind of repertoire is difficult enough for an audition at Curtis Institute of Music or a music conservatory like that.

i have been playing for 7 years (i know that's not a lot) and i am going to be a high school junior after the summer is over. Basically right now I'm playing Prokofiev sonata #6, Scriabin sonata #5, and Chopin scherzo #1 for national competitions (i just placed first in the state) I'm also working on a Prokofiev concerto (#2)

i know i'm seriously late in starting but i was just wondering if i even had a chance of getting into a school as good as Julliard... and what pieces i should play for an audition. THANKS!!

[sharon_f]

You've got to be kidding with that question, right? Scriabin 5, Prok 6 and the Prok 2 concerto (which some people consider one of the most diificult piano concertos in the repertoire) and you're asking what kind of rep is difficult enough for Curtis? You know perfectly well your current rep is "difficult" enough.

[lostinidlewonder]

Chopin and Liszt Etudes. That is pretty much bread and butter for all top piano school in the world. And prove your part playing ability with WTC or some Bach/Liszt.

[quantum]

Your rep is a bit insane  .  If you intend to audition with such serious pieces you'd better play them well, and I'm referring here to the depth of your musical interpretation.   I played the Scriabin 5 for my grad recital and it is a really difficult piece.

I'd say you'd be better off showing your ability with the standard Chopin / Liszt / Rach / Bach / Beethoven played really well.  Balance technical pieces with those requiring more depth of expression.  

[kelly_kelly]

You're not even a high school junior yet? That's some pretty crazy repertoire... But don't you need some baroque and classical music?

I don't know if this will help, but I know someone who's at Julliard Pre-College and is planning to audition there next year. I don't know how good her chances are, but here are some of the pieces I've heard her practice over the past year:

Bach: Prelude and Fugue in F# minor from WTC 2
Bach: Another prelude and fugue that I didn't recognize
Beethoven: Op. 110
Chopin: Scherzo No. 3
Chopin: Etude Op. 25 No. 1
Liszt: Vallee de Obermann
Liszt: Piano concerto #1
Mendelssohn: "Lost Illusions" (or something like that, I don't quite remember the title) from songs without words
Barber: Piano sonata

[pianisten1989]

You probably don't need a extremely hard repertoar... I'd say it depents on how well you play your pieces. Broad your repertoar with a classical sonata and some Bach, play everything well and you'll be fine.

[unicornxgirl]

oh so they don't need to be so difficult? that's a relief... i just really want to get in and i'm just not sure what those conservatories are all looking for.

ahhh!!! thanks everyone! the replies really helped!

[neardn]

according to the application sheet for the 2009 undergraduate auditions on the Julliard website,

"Undergraduate Applicants: The entire audition program should reach a minimum of 45 minutes. Shorter programs may be subject to approval by the piano faculty. Name and pre-screening repertoire should appear on both CD or cassette tape and cover.

1. Bach (no transcriptions permitted)
a. Undergraduates: A prelude and fugue from The Well-Tempered Clavier or another work containing a fugue.  

2. One of the following:
a. An entire sonata by Beethoven (excluding Opp. 14, 49, and 79),
or
b. One of the following Haydn sonatas: Hob. 20, 23, 32, 46, 49, 50, 52,
or
c. One of the following Mozart sonatas:  K. 281, 284, 310, 332, 333, 457, 533, or 576,
or
d. One of the following Schubert sonatas: D. 568, 664, 784, 845, 850, 894, 958, 959, 960, or the Wanderer Fantasie, D. 760.

3. A substantial composition by Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Liszt, or Mendelssohn. (Etudes, nocturnes, short dances, waltzes, or pieces are not acceptable.)

4. Two virtuosic etudes:
a. one by Chopin, and
b. one by Bartók, Debussy, Ligeti, Liszt, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, or Stravinsky.

5. A substantial work, or a collection of shorter works, of the applicant’s choice which is:
a. in a different style and by a composer other than those selected for the previous requirements, and
b. not less than six minutes.
[End quote]

good luck (you'll need it)

[dan101]

You have some good suggestions from our forum. I went with diversity when I did my Master's degree auditions (Haydn Sonata no. 62, Chopin Revolutionary Study, a Debussy Etude, Bach Fantasie and Fugue...). The main thing is to play well and with conviction.

Good luck.