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Admissions

Audition Requirements

Admissions Contact

Department of Enrollment Management

300 Nassau Rd
Huntington, NY 11743

631-944-4400

admissions@mahanaim.com

Start Your Application

The Live Audition Phase is composed of a Solfeggio Test, Music Theory Test (only for Composition Program applicants) and a brief interview. 

Live Audition

For the applicants who passed the evaluation of Phase I, they will be invited via email to participate in a live audition. The audition can happen in-person or via Zoom depending on the applicant’s location. Details will be explained in the invitation email.

Details about live audition requirements per program is at the bottom of this page. The applicant must list the repertoire that (s)he will be playing during the audition in the application form.

Solfeggio Test

The core curriculum for all students include eight semesters of aural skills training through the solfeggio course. All applicants must take a solfeggio test during Phase II. Students will be tested on sight-singing and dictation on basic rhythms, meters, melodic patterns, and chord progressions. 

Music Theory Test

Applicants for the Conducting (Choral/Orchestral) or Composition Program need to show their proficiency in music theory. Students will take a written test on scales, intervals, triads and four-parts. 

Live Interview

As part of the audition process, students will have a brief interview with an audition jury member. The interviewer will evaluate the student’s communication skills, mindset, and attitude.

Performance

Voice
  • Choose 2 songs with different languages and tempi

  • Opera & Oratorio, sing in the original key

Piano
  • One fast movement of sonata by Beethoven

  • One étude from Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin

Violin
  • One movement of Bach's solo Sonata or Partita

  • Two contrasting movements of a standard concerto including cadenza (if applicable)

Viola
  • One movement of an unaccompanied Bach partita or suite

  • Two contrasting movements of a standard concerto including cadenza (if applicable)

Cello
  • One movement of Bach's suite for solo cello

  • Two contrasting movements of a standard Concerto including cadenza (if applicable)

Double Bass
  • Two contrasting movements from a concerto post 1830

  • One solo work from a different style and time period, i.e. Baroque suites or sonatas

Flute
  • Two contrasting movements of Mozart's Flute Concerto in G or in D.

  • One piece from the Flute Music by French Composers for flute and piano (ed. Louis Moyse)

Oboe
  • One virtuoso piece of choice

  • Two contrasting movements of a concerto from a standard repertoire (such as Mozart, Marcello, Strauss, etc.)

Clarinet
  • One virtuoso piece of choice

  • Two contrasting movements of Mozart or Weber concerto

Bassoon
  • One virtuoso piece of choice

  • Two contrasting movements of a standard concerto

Horn
  • One virtuoso piece of choice

  • Two contrasting movements of a standard concerto

Trumpet
  • One virtuoso piece of choice

  • Two contrasting movements from sonatas or concertos, or other solo works

Trombone
  • One virtuoso piece of choice

  • Two contrasting movements from sonatas or concertos, or other solo works

Tuba
  • One virtuoso piece of choice

  • Two contrasting movements from sonatas or concertos, or other solo works

Percussion
  • Snare Drum: One étude

  • Marimba: Two contrasting solos – one with two mallets, one with four mallets

  • Timpani: Two solo works – demonstrate the ability to tune intervals

Composition

Composition
  • Piano

    • One movement piece from the Classic or Romantic period
       

  • Compose 30 measures piano piece from a given theme (Free in style, duration: 2 hours)
     

  • Colloquium

    Through a 1:1 interview, talk about what you want to express in your work.
    (Live audition work and pre-screening work both)

Conducting

Orchestral Conducting
  •   Score Reading

     - Bach Chorales: be able to play all voice parts on the piano

  •    Piano test

     - One movement piece from the Classical or Romantic periods
 

  •    Conducting

- Two contrasting movements of a symphony from Mozart, Beethoven, or Haydn (one movement from the pre-screening)

- One overture (possible to perform the same repertoire with pre-screening)

- In the Live Audition, the applicant will perform one of the following:

1. with two piano accompaniments

2. a string quartet with two pianos

3. a string quartet with one piano.

- The applicant will be allowed briefly to rehearse one of the two pieces as part of the audition.

- The applicant will offer a brief explanation of one piece of music performed at the Live Audition. (Period, History, Structure, Harmony, Compositional style, etc.)

Choral Conducting
  •    Score Reading

     - Bach Chorales: be able to play all voice parts on the piano
 

  •   Singing test

     - Prepare to perform a single work for your voice of choice.
 

  •   Conducting

a. One choral work from the early Baroque to Romantic periods (different repertoire from pre-screening)

b. One choral ensemble piece from the pre-screening

- In the Live Audition, the applicant will perform with two piano accompanists or a small choral ensemble

- The applicant will be allowed briefly to rehearse one of the two pieces as part of the audition.

- The applicant will offer a brief explanation of one piece of music performed at the Live Audition. (Period, History, Structure, Harmony, Compositional style, etc.)

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