Auditions: Undergraduate - Trombone

Applicants pursuing Jazz Trombone must submit a prescreen by January 6. Classical applicants do not need to submit a prescreen.

For jazz applicants, please scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Jazz Trombone drop-down box for audition requirements.

Successful applicants will be assigned to the applied studios within the category (classical or jazz) for which they have auditioned. If an applicant wishes to study in both the jazz and classical studios they must apply for both programs. To do so, contact musicadmissions@depaul.edu. Students may choose to audition on either tenor or bass trombone. Euphonium students must audition on (slide) trombone.

Please see the audition requirements below.

We encourage all applicants, if at all possible, to audition in-person.

Live audition dates are scheduled during the weekends in February. Review list of audition dates by instrument here.
Recorded video auditions are available by request and must be submitted by February 1 to your Blue Demon Domain (for undergraduates) or your application portal (for graduates/post-masters), in the “edit portfolio" section. To enable the recorded audition submission, contact musicadmissions@depaul.edu.

Undergraduate Tenor Trombone

- Romantic Solo (choose one of the following or a comparable piece): Saint-Saens Cavatine, Guilmant Morceau Symphonique, Sulek Sonata, Bozza Ballade.

- Baroque Solo (choose one of the following or a comparable piece): two contrasting movements from any Galliard or Marcello Sonata.

- Orchestral Excerpts (prepare all): Ravel Bolero, Wagner Ride of the Valkyries (B Major section only), Berlioz Hungarian March, Mozart Tuba Mirum.

Undergraduate Bass Trombone

- Romantic Solo: First page of Spillman Bass Trombone Concerto or a comparable piece.

- Baroque Solo (choose one of the following or a comparable piece): Two contrasting movements from Galliard or Marcello Sonata.

- Orchestral Excerpts (prepare all): Wagner Ride of the Valkyries (B Major section only), Schumann Rhenish Symphony, Berlioz Hungarian March, Wagner Das Reingold (entrance of the Gods only).

Recorded Interview Questions (only applicable to those who select a recorded submission to audition)

Please upload a video that is no longer than 2-3 minutes and responds to the below questions:

What is your musical background?

Why are you applying to DePaul?

We encourage all applicants, if at all possible, to audition in-person.

Live audition dates are scheduled during the weekends in February. Review list of audition dates by instrument here.
Recorded video auditions are available by request and must be submitted by February 1 to your Blue Demon Domain (for undergraduates) or your application portal (for graduates/post-masters), in the “edit portfolio" section. To enable the recorded audition submission, contact musicadmissions@depaul.edu.

Prescreen Requirements - due by January 6.

Each pre-screen video selection must be unaltered and recorded in one take. Total video length: no more than 15 minutes. Audio-only recordings not accepted. Performances with a “live” rhythm section or play-along recordings are both acceptable. Only the trombone applicant should be featured. In order to upload your pre-screen you must first submit your application.

Prescreen Repertoire

Required pre-screen elements are as follows:

1) Rochut Melodious Etudes, Book 1, No. 3.

2) Major Scales: two-octaves, ascending and descending, legato. Keys: C, Ab, E.

3) Blues (key of F): Play the melody of Billie’s Bounce and improvise 3-4 choruses.

4) Medium tempo Jazz standard of your choosing, any style. Play melody and improvise 2 choruses.

Live Audition Requirements

Upon completion of Pre-Screens, invited students will audition in person.

Audition Repertoire

Audition will consist of the following:

1) Lyrical selection: one short Rochut etude of your choosing.

2) Technical selection: one short exercise from Arban, Kopprasch or Mantia.

3) The jazz etude entitled “Rose” from the Jim Snidero Jazz Conception book.

4) One composition from each of the following categories.

BLUES - Play the melody and improvise 3-4 choruses: “Billie’s Bounce”, “Au Privave,” “Now’s the Time” (key of F), “Tenor Madness” (key of Bb) or “Sandu” (key of Eb)

JAZZ STANDARD - Play the melody and improvise 2 choruses: “Take The A Train” (key of C), “Oleo” (Bb rhythm changes), ‘On Green Dolphin Street’ (key of Eb), “All The Things You Are” (Ab) or “Recordame” (Ami).

5) Scales - two octaves, ascending and descending: Bb chromatic, Ab mixolydian and B dorian.