Conservatory auditions - How is my program?

[rokfiev97]

Hello,

This is another one of those "rate my audition program" sort of posts, but i want the feedback of others to see what they say.

Here are the audition requirements:
A program of five works: J.S. Bach: a prelude and fugue from 48 Preludes and Fugues; a complete sonata by Clementi, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert; a composition by Chopin, Schumann, Liszt (or similar romantic) or impressionist composer; a composition by a major 20th century composer (excluding Debussy, Rachmaninov, Ravel and Scriabin); and any virtuosic etude.

Here is what i am going to audition with: (auditions in December)
J.S Bach - Prelude and Fugue in C# minor bk1.
Haydn - Sonata Hob XVI:35 in C major
Debussy - Danseuses de Delphes, prelude 1 bk 1.
Bartok - Mikrokosmos Vol.6 #153, the very last piece.
Prokofiev - Etude Op.2 No.4

What do you guys think? Any and all opinions welcome.

Thanks.

[visitor]

Knowing what yhe heck you are auditioning for....would help.
Is this a highschool program? A summer festival academy? What is the standard and who are the competitors?
Is this a us college undergrad? Is s for bme w piano, bm w piano ped, bm perf, ba w perf emphasis...

[rokfiev97]

Knowing what yhe heck you are auditioning for....would help.
Is this a highschool program? A summer festival academy? What is the standard and who are the competitors?
Is this a us college undergrad? Is s for bme w piano, bm w piano ped, bm perf, ba w perf emphasis...

This is for the Bmus performance undergrad, standard is quite high as they only take 7-8 piano performance students a year.

[oroy]

At the end of the day, it really depends on how well you play these pieces.  Upon seeing your program though, it seems a little light for auditions at any major conservatory.  Other pianists will be auditioning with tough Early/Middle Beethoven sonatas and, more than likely, Chopin or Liszt Etudes.  Your Debussy piece is short, and not really a major work in the romantic style.

Consider varying the types of schools you are applying to.  While this repertoire may not be enough to get you into a conservatory, it is certainly enough to get you into some better programs at bigger universities (not necessarily the big names, though).

[visitor]

This is for the Bmus performance undergrad, standard is quite high as they only take 7-8 piano performance students a year.

per above commment is how you play it, however for an ultra competitive program, the overall scope and difficulty of selections is a little on the skinny side. not to say it cannot be made into a competitive audition but you leave money on the table and leave it to chance on someone botching theirs or competition also bringing in lighter/weaker programs.

however, there are many find schools including some 'off the radar' that have incredible teachers /artists in residence and honestly for undergrad that's the most important, some of the bigger names it does matter more at Masters, DMA, and artist performance diploma levels, than there are more factors.

so do you best but if you have time to rethink programming discuss with your teacher but understand your capability, if you are not at the level to handle and play more demanding material the their standard then you're just not there yet and should refocus your efforts on where you'll be a better fit for the program. at the end of the day the standard for entry is mainly (supposed to be) used to determine your ability to get through the study there successfully, if the curve is too steep for your , there's burn out, fail out, or just more struggle that will negatively affect your development as a musician in that program.