1. Age categories (must be at the listed age as of November 1, 2020):
2. All Bach or Telemann pieces for the preliminary round, as well as the Cadenza in the final round, must be memorized. Memorization for other pieces is recommended, but not required.
3. Pieces should be presented in their entirety. You may also present a selected movement or movements of a larger work. However, a fragment of a larger composition or fragment of a movement will not be accepted.
Violin Category Pre-A
Violin Category Pre-A Preliminary Round
One of the following transcriptions of a Bach Cello Suite for Violin (various editions online, Enrico Polo Ricordi printed editions suggested).
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Repeats are optional, unless specified.
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Courante from the 1st Suite
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Minuet 1 and 2 from the 1st Suite (1st Minuet should be repeated)
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Bouree 1 and 2 from the 3rd Suite (1st Bouree should be repeated)
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Gavotte 1 and 2 from the 6th Suite (1st Gavotte should be repeated)
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Bach Gavotte transcription from Suzuki Book 5
Two studies:
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Required Study: Mazas #5
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no tempo restrictions
Another study from any of the following books:
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Wohlfahrt
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Kinsey
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Kayser
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Mazas
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Kreutzer
Violin Category Pre-A Final Round
Required Modern Piece:
One of the following:
Piece for solo violin of your choice:
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Modern work highly recommended.
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Can be a caprice or solo violin Bach or Telemann piece (no transcriptions).
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The selection needs to be different than the selection in the Preliminary Round.
Violin Category A
Violin Category A Preliminary Round
One of the following choices:
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Telemann Fantasia #1: Movements 1 and 2
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Telemann Fantasia #3: Movements 1 and 2
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Telemann Fantasia #4: Entire Fantasia
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Telemann Fantasia #12: Movements 1 and 2
Two studies
Another study from the following books:
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Kayser
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Mazas
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Fiorillo
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Kreutzer
Violin Category A Final Round
Required Modern piece:
One of the following:
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Cadenza to Mozart Casadesus Adelaide Concerto by Kaempfert (Schott edition)
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Cadenza to Haydn C Major Concerto by Flesch
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Cadenza to Mozart G Major Concerto by Franco or others
Piece for solo violin of your choice
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Modern work highly recommended.
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Can be a caprice or solo violin Bach or Telemann piece (no transcriptions).
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The selection needs to be different than the selection in the Preliminary Round.
Violin Category B
Violin Category B Preliminary Round
Two contrasting movements of a Sonata or Partita for solo Violin by Bach:
Two studies:
Required Study: Fiorillo #28
Another study from the following books:
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Fiorillo
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Kreutzer
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Rode
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Dont, op. 37
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Mazas, Book 2 or Book 3
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Dancla, op. 73
Violin Category B Final Round
Required Modern Piece:
One of the following:
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Cadenza to Viotti Concerto #22 by Joachim
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Cadenza to Mozart D Major Concerto #4 1st Movement by Joachim
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Cadenza to Mozart A Major Concerto #5 1st Movement by Joachim
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any cadenza from Category C
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no Category D cadenzas will be accepted.
Piece for solo violin of your choice:
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Modern work highly recommended.
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Can be a caprice or solo violin piece by Bach (no transcriptions).
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The selection needs to be different than the selection in the Preliminary Round.
Violin Category C
Violin Category C Preliminary Round:
2 contrasting movements of a Sonata or Partita for solo Violin by Bach
Two studies:
Required Study:
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Dont, op. 35 no. 5
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no tempo restrictions
Another etude from the following books:
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Rode
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Gavinies
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de Beriot, op. 123
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Dont, op. 35
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Vieuxtemps
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Rovelli
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Wieniawski, op. 18
Violin Category C Final Round
Required Modern piece:
One of the following:
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Cadenza to Vieuxtemps Concerto #5 (2nd cadenza)
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Cadenza to Conus Violin Concerto
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Cadenza to Mendelssohn E Minor Concerto
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any cadenza from Category D
Piece for solo violin of your choice
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Modern work highly recommended.
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Can be a caprice or solo violin piece by Bach (no transcriptions).
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The selection needs to be different than the selection in the Preliminary Round.
Violin Category D
Violin Category D Preliminary Round
2 contrasting movements of a Sonata or Partita for solo Violin by Bach OR just the Chaconne from the 2nd Partita.
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Must be from the same Sonata or Partita.
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Doubles in the 1st Partita are not counted as a single movement. It must be paired with the corresponding dance movement. The dance movement and double will be counted as one movement.
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Repeats are optional.
Two studies:
Another study from the following books:
Violin Category D Final Round
Required Modern Piece:
One of the following:
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Cadenza to the 1st Movement of the Beethoven Violin Concerto by Kreisler or Joachim
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Cadenza from the 1st Movement of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
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Cadenza to the 1st Movement of the Brahms Violin Concerto by Joachim
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Cadenza from the 1st Movement of the Sibelius Violin Concerto
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Cadenza from the Glazunov Violin Concerto
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Cadenza from the Shostakovich Violin Concerto #1
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Cadenza to the 1st movement of the Khachaturian Violin Concerto by Oistrach
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Applicants who are auditioning to be a music major at a university or college for the Fall 2021 semester may substitute the first movement of their college audition concerto, in case it does not contain a cadenza (example: both Prokofiev concertos).
Piece for solo violin of your choice:
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Modern work highly recommended.
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Can be a caprice or solo violin piece by Bach (no transcriptions).
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The selection needs to be different than the selection in the Preliminary Round.
Viola Age Categories and Repertoire
1. Age categories (must be at the listed age, as of November 1, 2020):
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Category A-B: 14 and under
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Category C: 15-16 years old
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Category D: 17-senior in High School
2. All Bach pieces must be played from memory. Memorization of studies and other solo pieces is encouraged but not required.
Viola Category A-B
Viola Category A-B Preliminary Round
Please choose one of following choices from the Bach Cello Suites transcribed for Viola (repeats are optional):
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Minuet 1 and 2 from the 1st Suite
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Courante from the 1st Suite
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Bouree 1 and 2 from the 3rd Suite
Two studies:
Another study from the following books:
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Wohlfahrt
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Kayser
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Mazas Book 1, op. 36
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Kreutzer
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Palaschko
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Kinsey
Viola Category A-B Final Round
Required Piece:
Solo piece of the applicant’s choice
Viola Category C
Viola Category C Preliminary Round
Two contrasting movements from the Bach Cello Suites transcribed for Viola (repeats are optional).
Two studies:
Another study from the following books:
Viola Category C Final Round
Required Piece:
Solo piece of the player’s choice OR the completion of the remaining movements from the Bach Suite chosen from the Preliminary Round.
Viola Category D
Viola Category D Preliminary Round
Two contrasting movements from the Bach Cello Suites transcribed for Viola (repeats are optional).
Two studies:
Another study from the following books:
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Bruni
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Campagnoli
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Dont, op. 35
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Fuchs 16 Fantasy Etudes
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Paganini
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Palaschko
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Rode
Viola Category D Final Round
Required Piece:
Solo piece of the player’s choice OR the completion of the remaining movements from the Bach Suite chosen from the Preliminary Round.
Cello Age Categories and Repertoire
- Age Categories (must be at the list age as of November 1, 2020):
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Category Pre-A: 10 years old or younger
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Category A: 11-12 years old
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Category B: 13-14 years old
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Category C: 15-16 years old
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Category D: 17 years old, and up to HS senior
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All Bach and required contemporary works must be memorized. Memorization of studies and other works is encouraged, but not required.
Cello Category Pre-A
Cello Pre-A Category Preliminary Round
J.S. Bach: one movement from the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Suite
Two studies from any of the following (or from an older age category study list):
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Stephen De’ak: Modern Method for the Violoncello, Vol. 1
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Friedrich Dotzauer: Studies, Bk. 1 (Nos. 1-34)
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Sebastian Lee: 40 Melodic Studies, Op. 31, Bk. 1
Cello Pre-A Category Final Round
Preliminary Round selections cannot be duplicated in this round.
Required contemporary piece:
Choose one of the following unaccompanied pieces/movements (or from an older age category):
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Calixto Alvarez: Cinco Breve
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Hans Werner Henze: Serenade (1949)—1st or 2nd movement
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Alan Hovhaness: Yakamochi
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Rudolf Matz: 25 Etudes
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Robert Muczynski: Gallery Suite—any other movement
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Sergei Prokofiev: March, Op. 65
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Peter Schickele: Vermillion Suite—4th movement
Piece or movement of a piece for unaccompanied cello of applicant’s choice, or entire Bach Suite chosen from the preliminary round
Cello Category A
Cello Category A Preliminary Round
J.S. Bach: Two contrasting movements from either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Suite
Choose two studies from any of the following (or from an older age category study list):
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Stephen De’ak: Modern Method for the Violoncello, Vol. 2
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Friedrich Dotzauer: Studies, Bk. 2 (Nos. 35-62)
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Louis Feuillard: 60 Studies of the Young Cellist
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Aaron Minsky: Ten American Cello Etudes
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Rick Mooney: Position Pieces for Cello, Book 2
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Alwin Schroeder: Foundation Studies, Vol. 1
Cello Category A Final Round
Preliminary Round selections cannot be duplicated in this round.
Required contemporary piece:
Choose one of the following unaccompanied pieces/movements (or from an older age category):
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Calixto Alvarez: Cinco Breve—any other movement
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William Bolcom: Suite No.1 in C Minor (1994)—3rd movement (Badinerie)
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Joseph Dall’Abaco: 11 Capricci for Violoncello Solo: No. 1
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Philip Glass: Songs and Poems (2007)
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John Harbison: Suite—3rd movement (Sarabanda: Lento molto)
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Hans Werner Henze: Serenade (1949)—1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 10th movement
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Alan Hovhaness: Yakamochi
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Dorothy Rudd Moore: Baroque Suite for Solo Cello
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Robert Muczynski: Gallery Suite—any movement
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Sergei Prokofiev: March, Op. 65
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Peter Schickele: Vermillion Suite
Piece or movement of a piece for unaccompanied cello of applicant’s choice, or entire Bach Suite chosen from the preliminary round
Cello Category B
Cello Category B Preliminary Round
J.S. Bach: Prelude and 1 dance movement from any Suite
Two studies (contrasting etudes recommended) from any of the following (or from an older age category study list):
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Stephen De’ak: Modern Method for the Violoncello, Vol. 2
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Friedrich Dotzauer: Studies, Bk. 3 (Nos. 63-85)
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Auguste Franchomme: 12 Studies, Op. 35
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Rick Mooney: Position Pieces for Cello, Bk. 2
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David Popper: Preparatory to the High School of Cello Playing, Op. 76
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Alwin Schroeder: Foundation Studies, Vol. 2
Cello Category B Final Round
Preliminary Round selections cannot be duplicated in this round.
Required contemporary piece:
Choose one of the following unaccompanied pieces/movements (or from an older age category):
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Calixto Alvarez: Cinco Breve—2nd or 5th movement
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William Bolcom: Suite No.1 in C Minor (1994)—any movement
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Benjamin Britten: Suite No. 1, Op. 72—1st movement (Canto Primo)
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Joseph Dall’Abaco: 11 Capricci for Violoncello Solo—No. 1
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José Elizondo: Fairy Tale Princess
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José Elizondo: Limoncello
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Hans Werner Henze: Serenade (1949)—any movement
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Jerome Kessler: Kol Nidrei
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Jonathan Leshnoff: Three Minute Chaconne (2012)
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Donald Martino: Suite of Variations on Medieval Melodies
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Robert Muczynski: Gallery Suite—5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, or 9th movement
Piece or movement of a piece for unaccompanied cello of applicant’s choice, or entire Bach Suite chosen from the preliminary round.
Cello Category C
Cello Category C Preliminary Round
J.S. Bach: Prelude and 2 dance movements from any Suite
- Movement must be from the same Suite.
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Repeats are optional.
Choose two studies from any of the following (or from category D study list):
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Jean-Louis Duport: 21 Studies
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Carl Flesch: Scale System—thirds or sixths scales, or octave exercises (#6, 7, or 8 in any of the keys)
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Auguste Franchomme: 12 Caprices, Op. 7
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Auguste Franchomme: 12 Studies, Op. 35
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Friedrich Grützmacher: 24 Etudes, Op. 38
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David Popper: High School of Cello Playing, Op. 73
Cello Category C Final Round
Preliminary Round selections cannot be duplicated in this round.
Required contemporary piece:
Choose one of the following unaccompanied pieces/movements (or from category D):
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Benjamin Britten: Cello Suites
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Gaspar Cassadó: Suite
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George Crumb: Solo Sonata
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Joseph Dall’Abaco: 11 Capricci for Violoncello Solo (any caprice)
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José Elizondo: La Alborada de la Esperanza
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Philip Glass: Orbit
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John Harbison: Solo Suite
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Paul Hindemith: Solo Sonata
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Jerome Kessler: Kol Nidrei
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Mario Lavista: Cuaderno de Viaje—1st movement
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György Ligeti: Solo Sonata
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Jeffrey Mumford: Variazioni Elegiaci
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Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson: Lamentations: “Black Folk Song Suite”
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Carlo Alfredo Piatti: 12 Caprices, Op. 25 (any caprice)
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Kaija Saariaho: Sept Papillons
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Bright Sheng: Seven Pieces Heard in China
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Augusta Read Thomas: Bells of Summer
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Augusta Read Thomas: Fantasy on Two Klee Studies
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Augusta Read Thomas: Spring Song
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Judith Weir: Unlocked (1999)
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Chen Yi: Memory
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Eugène Ysaÿe: Sonata, op. 28
Piece or movement of a piece for unaccompanied cello of applicant’s choice, or entire Bach Suite chosen from the preliminary round.
Cello Category D
Cello Category D Preliminary Round
Pick one of the following options:
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J.S. Bach: Prelude and 2 dance movements from 4th, 5th, or 6th Suite
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J.S. Bach: Prelude and 3 dance movements from 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Suite
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Movements must be from the same Suite.
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Repeats are optional.
Two contrasting studies from any of the following:
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Jean-Louis Duport: 21 Studies
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Carl Flesch: Scale System—thirds or sixths scales, or octave exercises (#6, 7, or 8 in any of the keys)
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Auguste Franchomme: 12 Caprices, Op. 7
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Friedrich Grützmacher: 24 Etudes, Op. 38
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Carlo Alfredo Piatti: 12 Caprices, Op. 25
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David Popper: High School of Cello Playing, Op. 73
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Adrien-François Servais: 6 Caprices, Op. 11
Cello Category D Final Round
Preliminary Round selections cannot be duplicated in this round.
Required contemporary piece:
Choose one of the following unaccompanied pieces/movements:
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Benjamin Britten: Cello Suites
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Gaspar Cassadó: Suite
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George Crumb: Solo Sonata
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Joseph Dall’Abaco: 11 Capricci for Violoncello Solo (any caprice)
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Paul Desenne: Jaguar Songs
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José Elizondo: La Alborada de la Esperanza
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José Elizondo: Unter dem Sternenhimmel des Rheins
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Adolphus Hailstork: Sonata for Solo Cello
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Adolphus Hailstork: Theme and Variations on “Draw the Sacred Circle Closer”
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John Harbison: Solo Suite
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Paul Hindemith: Solo Sonata
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Zoltán Kodály: Solo Sonata
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Mario Lavista: Cuaderno de Viaje
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György Ligeti: Solo Sonata
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Jeffrey Mumford: Variazioni Elegiaci
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Krzysztof Pendecki: Capriccio per Siegfried Palm (1968)
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Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson: Lamentations, “Black Folk Song Suite”
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Carlo Alfredo Piatti: 12 Caprices, Op. 25 (any caprice)
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Kaija Saariaho: Sept Papillons
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Bright Sheng: Seven Pieces Heard in China
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Stephen Siegel: Rhapsode for solo cello
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Augusta Read Thomas: Bells of Summer
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Augusta Read Thomas: Fantasy on Two Klee Studies
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Augusta Read Thomas: Spring Song
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Judith Weir: Unlocked (1999)
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Eugène Ysaÿe: Sonata, op. 28
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Current seniors or applicants for music college or conservatory may substitute a movement of their college audition concerto (in consultation with applicant’s teacher).
Piece or movement of a piece for unaccompanied cello of applicant’s choice, or entire Bach Suite chosen from the preliminary round