School of Music > Admission & Aid > Auditions > Undergraduate/Teacher Licensure > Trombone

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 prescreen video selection must be unedited and recorded in one take.

Submit Scales, Blues and Jazz Standard each as separate videos, totaling 10 minutes or less in length. Audio-only recordings are not accepted.

Blues and standard selections should be performed along to audible accompaniment.  Live rhythm section and backing tracks are both acceptable.  Only the applicant should be featured performing the melody and improvisations.

In order to upload your pre-screen you must first submit the required application.

Prescreen Repertoire

  • SCALES - prepare major scales and arpeggios in the keys of C, Ab and E.  Two octaves, ascending and descending, legato.

  • BLUES - "Billie’s Bounce" (Blues in F). Play the melody and improvise 3-4 choruses.

  • JAZZ STANDARD - Medium tempo jazz standard of your choosing, any style. Play the melody and improvise two choruses.

Live Audition Requirements

Select applicants will be invited to audition in person based on prescreen submissions.

Audition Repertoire

Scales, two octaves, ascending and descending, legato:

  • Bb chromatic

  • C harmonic minor

  • Ab mixolydian

  • B dorian

Sight-Reading:

  • Applicants will have 30 seconds to review the selection, at which time a tempo and count-off will be provided.

Repertoire:

Play the melody and improvise 2-3 choruses. Backing tracks will be provided, or you may use your own. Applicants must choose different tunes for their prescreen and live auditions.  

BLUES - Choose one of the following:

  • "Billie's Bounce" (F)

  • "Tenor Madness" (Bb)

  • "Sandu" (Eb)

JAZZ STANDARD - Choose one of the following:

  • "Take the 'A' Train" (C)

  • "Autumn Leaves" (G minor)

  • "In a Sentimental Mood (D minor)

 

 

 ​​