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Thornton School of Music > Admission > Application Requirements > Strings

Strings

Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Arts

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Required items:

  • USC Undergraduate Application
  • Thornton Supplementary Application
  • Audition recording for prescreening (Fall Applicants only, see below)
  • Strings Prescreen Information Form (PDF)
  • Statement of Objectives
  • Resume
  • Repertoire List

Spring Admission: Applications are not accepted for spring admission into this program unless the applicant is already enrolled at USC. Current USC students applying for spring admission are not required to submit a recording for pre-screening, but must contact the strings department directly at (213) 740-7704 to arrange for an audition with the faculty. Any audition performed live (including for spring admission) must follow the guidelines described under “Audition Repertoire” below.

Audition Requirements

All string applicants are required to submit an unedited audio-visual performance for pre-screening purposes by the application deadline in order to receive an invitation to a live audition at USC. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an unedited DVD, but may also submit an unedited CD if DVD is not possible. The results of the pre-screening (as determined by the appropriate faculty) will determine whether an applicant will be invited to campus to perform a live audition.

If a student is not able to perform the live audition at USC, s/he may request that a pre-screen DVD recording be considered in lieu of the live audition. It is extremely important to note, however, that only a DVD recording which includes both the required pre-screen audition repertoire and the required live audition repertoire would be considered in lieu of a live audition. CD recordings will not be considered in lieu of a live audition nor will any recording that does not include the required live audition repertoire.

Recordings must be received by the Thornton admission office by the December 1 deadline along with a completed Strings Prescreen Information Form (PDF) to be pre-screened by the faculty. Applicants who do not provide the required pre-screening materials by the stated deadline will not be considered for an invitation to audition in person. The recording must be labeled with the following information:

  • Applicant Name
  • Instrument and Degree Level
  • Repertoire
  • Date of Recording

    • The submitted recording must contain at least 15 minutes of music chosen by the applicant, and all 15 minutes of music must have been recorded within the last two calendar years.

    It is not necessary that the repertoire submitted as pre-screening material be identical to what will be performed at the live audition and the pre-screening material does not need to conform to the live audition repertoire requirement described below.

    Recordings must be genuinely performed by the applicant him/herself. The applicant should strive to achieve a high recording quality to allow the committee to fairly listen to a good representation of his/her playing.

    Comments regarding the pre-screening material will not be released to the applicant. All pre-screening materials become the property of The Thornton School of Music and will not be returned to the applicant.

    Live Audition Repertoire

    Piano accompaniment is strongly recommended. A suggested list of pianists is available through the Strings office at the Thornton School: (213) 740-7703. Applicants must provide a copy of piano scores to the pianist for the audition. All music should be performed from memory, excepting sonata/duo works or contemporary works. Applicants should also provide a copy of all scores for the faculty panel at the time of audition. The live auditions will be held in 15 minute increments, though students may not need to perform for the full 15 minutes. Actual music performed at the audition will be determined by the faculty present at the audition from the repertoire prepared by the applicant from the requirements as described below.

    It should be carefully noted that some members of the strings faculty request things such as private interviews and lessons in addition to the audition requirements detailed at this page in order for the applicant to be given the fullest consideration for placement in their studios. Typically, these additional meetings are scheduled around the regular live audition dates. All specific arrangements for these meetings are initiated and finalized by the faculty memebers themselves.

    VIOLIN

    1. Two contrasting movements from an unaccompanied Bach sonata or partita
    2. One movement (with applicable cadenza) from a major concerto work
    3. One piece of applicant’s choice (must be a commercially published work)

    VIOLA

    1. Two contrasting movements from any Bach solo suite originally composed for cello or from a Bach sonata or partita originally composed for violin
    2. A sonata movement or other duo work for viola and piano
    3. A substantial movement from a standard concerto written for viola (with applicable cadenza)

    CELLO

    1. Two contrasting movements of an unaccompanied Bach suite
    2. First movement of a standard concerto (with applicable cadenza) or other major work (such as Rococo Variations [Tchaikovsky] or Schelomo [Bloch])
    3. One piece of applicant’s choice (must be a commercially published work)

    DOUBLE-BASS

    1. One movement of choice from a Bach solo suite originally composed for cello
    2. First movement of a concerto (with applicable cadenza)
    3. Three standard orchestral excerpts of contrasting style

    HARP

    1. One of the following two etudes:
      • No. 1 by Bochsa (Op. 34)
      • No. 10 by Pozzoli from The Studies of Moderate Difficulty
    2. A composition of the degree of difficulty equivalent to the Fantasie on a Theme of Haydn by Grandjany
    3. Two constrasting short works:
      • One classical
      • One by a 20th century composer
    4. Two standard orchestral excerpts

    Master of Music, Graduate Certificate

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    Required items:

    • USC Graduate Application
    • Thornton Supplementary Application
    • Audition recording for prescreening (Fall applicants only, see below)
    • Strings Prescreen Information Form (PDF)
    • Statement of Objectives
    • Resume
    • Repertoire List
    • 1-3 Letters of Recommendation
    • TOEFL score report - required from all MM applicants for whom English is a second language, regardless of educational background or immigration status

    IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants for spring admission are not required to submit a recording for pre-screening. Spring applicants must contact the Strings department directly at (213) 740-7704 to arrange for an audition.

    Audition Requirements

    All string applicants are required to submit an unedited audio-visual performance for pre-screening purposes by the application deadline in order to receive an invitation to a live audition at USC. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an unedited DVD, but may also submit an unedited CD if DVD is not possible. The results of the pre-screening (as determined by the appropriate faculty) will determine whether an applicant will be invited to campus to perform a live audition.

    If a student is not able to perform the live audition at USC, s/he may request that a pre-screen DVD recording be considered in lieu of the live audition. It is extremely important to note, however, that only a DVD recording which includes both the required pre-screen audition repertoire and the required live audition repertoire would be considered in lieu of a live audition. CD recordings will not be considered in lieu of a live audition nor will any recording that does not include the required live audition repertoire.

    Recordings must be received by the Thornton admission office by the December 1 deadline along with a completed Strings Prescreen Information Form (PDF) to be pre-screened by the faculty. Applicants who do not provide the required pre-screening materials by the stated deadline will not be considered for an invitation to audition in person. The recording must be labeled with the following information:

  • Applicant Name
  • Instrument and Degree Level
  • Repertoire
  • Date of Recording

    • The submitted recording must contain at least 15 minutes of music chosen by the applicant, and all 15 minutes of music must have been recorded within the last two calendar years.

    It is not necessary that the repertoire submitted as pre-screening material be identical to what will be performed at the live audition and the pre-screening material does not need to conform to the live audition repertoire requirement described below.

    Recordings must be genuinely performed by the applicant him/herself. The applicant should strive to achieve a high recording quality to allow the committee to fairly listen to a good representation of his/her playing.

    Comments regarding the pre-screening material will not be released to the applicant. All pre-screening materials become the property of The Thornton School of Music and will not be returned to the applicant.

    Live Audition Repertoire

    Piano accompaniment is strongly recommended. A suggested list of pianists is available through the Strings office at the Thornton School: (213) 740-7704. Applicants must provide a copy of piano scores to the pianist for the audition. All music should be performed from memory, excepting sonata/duo works or contemporary works. Applicants should also provide a copy of all scores for the faculty panel at the time of audition. The live auditions will be held in 20 minute increments, though students may not need to perform for the full 20 minutes. Actual music performed at the audition will be determined by the faculty present at the audition from the repertoire prepared by the applicant from the requirements as described below.

    It should be carefully noted that some members of the strings faculty request things such as private interviews and lessons in addition to the audition requirements detailed at this page in order for the applicant to be given the fullest consideration for placement in their studios. Typically, these additional meetings are scheduled around the regular live audition dates. All specific arrangements for these meetings are initiated and finalized by the faculty memebers themselves.

    VIOLIN

    1. From J.S. Bach-Unaccompanied Sonatas and Partitas:

      • Two major movements and applicable doubles from the b minor Partita OR
      • The CHACONNE from the d minor Partita OR
      • Three consecutive movements from the E Major Partita OR
      • Any fuga and other movement from any of the three sonatas

    2. Two major contrasting movements from the sonata or duo repertoire
    3. One complete major concerto work (with applicable cadenzas)
    4. One piece of applicant's choice (must be a commercially published work)
    5. One commercially published work written after 1980

    VIOLA

    1. Two contrasting movements from any Bach solo suite originally composed for cello or from a Bach sonata or partita originally composed for violin
    2. A complete sonata or other duo work for viola and piano
    3. A complete 20th century concerto (with applicable cadenzas) from the standard repertoire

    CELLO

    1. One piece of applicant's choice (must be a commercially published work)
    2. Two contrasting movements of an unaccompanied Bach suite
    3. One complete concerto or major work from the standard cello repertoire
    4. A complete sonata or other duo work for cello and piano
    5. A commercially published work written in the 20th or 21st century

    DOUBLE-BASS

    1. A movement of choice from a Bach suite originally composed for cello
    2. The first movement of a major work from the concerto repertoire (with applicable cadenza)
    3. A piece of the applicant’s choice (must be a commercially published work)
    4. Two contrasting orchestral excerpts

    HARP

    1. Two complete works comparable to the difficulty and scope of the Sonata of Hindemith or the Impromptu of Faure
    2. First movement of a standard concerto
    3. One sonata from the standard repertoire for harp by Hindemith, Houdy, or Tailleferre
    4. Two standard orchestral excerpts

    Doctor of Musical Arts

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    Required items:

    • USC Graduate Application (submit online or directly to the USC Office of Admission)
    • Thornton Supplementary Application
    • Audition recording for pre-screening (fall applicants only, see below)
    • Strings Prescreen Information Form (PDF)
    • Statement of Objectives
    • Resume
    • Repertoire List
    • 3 Letters of Recommendation (gathered by the applicant from each recommender in a sealed envelope with the recommender’s signature across the seal)
    • Transcripts (gathered by the applicant from the appropriate school(s) or university(-ies) in a sealed envelope)
    • GRE score report (general test only) – the applicant must submit a copy of his/her personal score report to the Thornton Admission office, as well as arrange for ETS to send an official score report directly to the USC Admission office
    • TOEFL score report - required from all applicants for whom English is a second language, regardless of educational background or immigration status

    Audition Requirements

    All string applicants are required to submit an unedited audio-visual performance for pre-screening purposes by the application deadline in order to receive an invitation to a live audition at USC. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an unedited DVD, but may also submit an unedited CD if DVD is not possible. The results of the pre-screening (as determined by the appropriate faculty) will determine whether an applicant will be invited to campus to perform a live audition.

    All applicants to a DMA program in strings MUST perform a live audition with an accompanist for the faculty in Los Angeles. If a student is not able to perform the live audition at USC, unfortunately s/he cannot be considered for admission to the program.

    IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants for spring admission are not required to submit a recording for pre-screening. Spring applicants must contact the Strings department directly at (213) 740-7704 to arrange for an audition.

    Recordings must be received by the Thornton admission office by the December 1 deadline with a completed Strings Prescreen Information Form (PDF) to be pre-screened by the faculty. Applicants who do not provide the required pre-screening materials by the stated deadline will not be considered for an invitation to audition in person. The recording must be labeled with the following information:

  • Applicant Name
  • Instrument and Degree Level
  • Repertoire
  • Date of Recording

    • The submitted recording must contain at least 15 minutes of music chosen by the applicant, and all 15 minutes of music must have been recorded within the last two calendar years.

    It is not necessary that the repertoire submitted as pre-screening material be identical to what will be performed at the live audition and the pre-screening material does not need to conform to the live audition repertoire requirement described below.

    Recordings must be genuinely performed by the applicant him/herself. The applicant should strive to achieve a high recording quality to allow the committee to fairly listen to a good representation of his/her playing.

    Comments regarding the pre-screening material will not be released to the applicant. All pre-screening materials become the property of The Thornton School of Music and will not be returned to the applicant.

    Live Audition Repertoire

    Piano accompaniment is required for DMA auditions in strings. A suggested list of pianists is available through the Strings office at the Thornton School: (213) 740-7704. Applicants must provide a copy of piano scores to the pianist for the audition. All music should be performed from memory, including sonata/duo works and contemporary works. Applicants should also provide a copy of all scores for the faculty panel at the time of audition. The live auditions will be held in 30 minute increments, though students may not need to perform for the full 30 minutes. Actual music performed at the audition will be determined by the faculty present at the audition from the repertoire prepared by the applicant from the requirements as described below.

    It should be carefully noted that some members of the strings faculty request things such as private interviews and lessons in addition to the audition requirements detailed at this page in order for the applicant to be given the fullest consideration for placement in their studios. Typically, these additional meetings are scheduled around the regular live audition dates. All specific arrangements for these meetings are initiated and finalized by the faculty memebers themselves.

    VIOLIN

    1. A complete unaccompanied Bach sonata or partita
    2. One complete work from the sonata or duo repertoire
    3. One complete major concerto work (with applicable cadenzas)
    4. One brilliant concert piece
    5. One commercially published work written after 1980
    6. The second movement (and applicable cadenza) of the Concerto number 3, 4 or 5 of Mozart
    7. One Paganini Caprice, or one unaccompanied Ysaye Solo Sonata, or one work by Ernst

    VIOLA

    1. One complete solo Bach suite, sonata, or partita
    2. One complete concerto (with applicable cadenzas) from the standard repertoire
    3. One complete sonata or other duo work for viola and piano from Brahms, Schubert or Vieuxtemps
    4. One commercially published work written in the 20th or 21st century
    5. One virtuoso work

    CELLO

    Four complete, contrasting recital works including one from the 20th or 21st century(commercially published work) in addition to one complete concerto with applicable cadenzas.

    DOUBLE-BASS

    Four complete, contrasting recital works including one from the 20th or 21st century (commercially published work) in addition to one complete concerto with applicable cadenzas.

    HARP

    A full length recital with complete, contrasting works including one from the 20th or 21st century (commercially published work), and a standard concerto with applicable cadenzas.