Repertoire Stringed Instruments: Cello & Bass

Cello Audition Requirements

The use of an accompanist is optional, but recommended.  It is preferred, but not required, that candidates memorize all selections (with the exception of the sonata movement, where applicable).

Undergraduate - Performance Major

  1. One movement from a Bach Cello Suite.
  2. One movement of a concerto by Haydn, Saint­Saens, Lalo, or a work of similar difficulty.

Undergraduate - Music Education Major or Cello Minor

Prepare two contrasting works demonstrating your technical and lyrical proficiency.

Graduate and Artist Diploma

  1. Two contrasting movements from a Bach Cello Suite
  2. The first movement of a major concerto by Dvorak, Elgar, Prokofiev, Schumann, or a work of similar difficulty.
  3. A movement from a sonata with piano by Brahms, Beethoven, Schubert, or a work of similar difficulty.

Double Bass Audition Requirements

Undergraduate - Performance Major

  1. One movement of a Bach cello suite (standard transcription) or a baroque sonata (Antoniotti, Eccles, etc).
  2. First movement of a concerto such as Bottesini, Capuzzi, Dittersdorf, Dragonetti, Koussevitsky, Vanhal or another work of comparable level.
  3. One orchestral excerpt from the standard literature.


Applicants may bring an accompanist if they wish, but it is not required.

Undergraduate - Music Education Major or Double Bass Minor

Prepare two contrasting works demonstrating your technical and lyrical proficiency.

Graduate and Artist Diploma

  1. Two contrasting movements of a Bach cello suite (standard transcription).
  2. First movement of a standard concerto such as Bottesini, Capuzzi, Dittersdorf, Dragonetti, Koussevitsky, or Vanhal.
  3. Two orchestral excerpts from the standard literature.


It is highly recommended that the Bach and concerto selections be memorized.  Applicants may bring an accompanist if they wish, but it is not required.