Whether you are looking to advance in your current career path or perhaps make a career change, our graduate programs provide the opportunities to focus your studies even further. Take your education to the next level in one of dozens of programs available.
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Voice & Opera
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Woodwinds
Preparing students for diverse careers in teaching and performance.
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Woodwinds Admissions
Fostering students individually and in groups in a comprehensive manner that prepares them for the competitive world of woodwind performance.
Woodwinds
Key Admission Dates
Fall 2022
- Priority Deadline December 1
- Final deadline for all music materials February 1
- On-campus auditions January 28 (except flute), February 11, February 25 (except oboe); other dates by appointment
- Admission decisions released on a rolling basis February and March
Woodwinds
Application Requirements
1 Apply to Florida State University
Complete the Florida State University Application and pay the $30 application fee.
In order to meet the Florida State University requirements for graduate admission, applicants must have earned a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree. Applicants not meeting this requirement may be considered for admission, but only by special exception. To determine your upper-division GPA, please consult the GPA calculation worksheet. If your upper-division GPA is below a 3.0, please be sure to address this deficiency in your Statement of Purpose. You are also encouraged to have your referees address your academic preparedness for graduate study in their letters of recommendation.
The College of Music admissions requirements exceed University minimum standards. Official English Language Proficiency results are required of all international applicants whose native language is not English, including applicants who have already studied in an English speaking country for any length of time.
For admission, attain the minimum required score on one of the following exams:
- TOEFL
- Written Test = 590
- Internet-based Test = 97
- International English Language Testing System (Academic IELTS) = 7.5
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) = 68
- Duolingo = 120
- Cambridge C1 Advanced Level = 191
- Michigan Language Assessment = 64
Additionally, to be eligible for a graduate assistantship:
- Students must score a minimum of 26 on the speaking portion of the IBTOEFL or;
- Achieve a score of 50 on the SPEAK Test (offered by FSU) to qualify for a graduate assistantship.
2 Apply to the College of Music
Complete the College of Music Supplemental Application and any additional materials required for your program. The Supplemental Application allows you to select your audition date, and will be added to your Application Checklist within 1-2 hours of submitting your application to FSU.
- Comprehensive Solo Repertoire List
- This is a list of all significant solo works you have studied to date.
- Vita/Resume
- Include education, background, experience, honors and awards, publications, names of former teachers, and any other important information.
- Statement of Purpose
- There is no required format or prompt for the Statement of Purpose. Most are 1-2 pages in length and discuss the applicant’s background, career goals, and potential for success in the program. This may be formatted as a cover letter to accompany the Vita/Resume.
- Letters of Recommendation (3 required)
- You will enter your recommenders’ contact information through the Application Status Check.
- Comprehensive Solo Repertoire List
- This is a list of all significant solo works you have studied to date.
- Vita/Resume
- Include education, background, experience, honors and awards, publications, names of former teachers, and any other important information.
- Statement of Purpose
- There is no required format or prompt for the Statement of Purpose. Most are 1-2 pages in length and discuss the applicant’s background, career goals, and potential for success in the program. This may be formatted as a cover letter to accompany the Vita/Resume.
- Scholarly Writing Sample
- Acceptable scholarly writing sample may include either
- A paper of at least 5 pages submitted for an MM-level course, including proper citations and appropriate bibliography; or
- Program notes for the pieces to be performed for the audition (same criteria for minimum length, citations and bibliography apply)
- Please note that an anti-plagiarism monitoring program to ensure the originality of the work may be used to check papers.
- Acceptable scholarly writing sample may include either
- Letters of Recommendation (3 required)
- You will enter your recommenders’ contact information through the Application Status Check.
3 Submit transcripts from all previously attended institutions
For the purposes of the admission review, transcripts may be official or unofficial. Prior to matriculation, entering students are required to submit final, official transcripts.
4 Complete your audition
Be sure to review the audition requirements below for your instrument.
For those who choose the recorded audition option:
Video and audio is required. All audition materials should be recorded in separate, unedited videos. Please introduce yourself and the piece at the beginning of each video.
Woodwinds
Audition Requirements
Choose your instrument of choice to see specific audition requirements.
Master of Music Applicants:
- Three solo pieces of contrasting style, one selected from each of the three categories below. At least one solo repertoire piece must be performed from memory. These works should be appropriate to graduate level study. All movements should be prepared for the audition.
- Category 1 – Baroque or Classical:
Works by JS Bach, CPE Bach, Mozart, or similar - Category 2 – French:
Works by Demersseman, Faure, Gaubert, Hue, Taffanel, Sancan, Dutilleux, or similar - Category 3 – 20th or 21st Century:
Works by Aitken, Dick, Fukushima, Offermans, Ran, Takemitsu, or similar
- Category 1 – Baroque or Classical:
- Three contrasting standard orchestral excerpts.
Doctor of Music Applicants:
At least one solo repertoire piece must be performed from memory.
- J.S. Bach: Partita in A minor, BWV 1013; Corrente and Sarabande
- W.A. Mozart: One full concerto with cadenzas (G Major, K. 313 or D Major, K. 314)
- One piece composed by Luciano Berio, Elliott Carter, Robert Dick, Brian Ferneyhough, or Cristóbal Halffter, or similar
- One piece of your choice (contrasting style from above)
- Orchestral excerpts:
- Beethoven: Leonore; first and second excerpts
- Strauss: Salome
- Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphasis
Applicants who have questions about appropriate repertoire please contact Dr. Karen Large.
Audition Requirements (MM and DM):
- Solos:
- Mozart: Concerto in C Major, K.314 (1st movement) or Mozart: Quartet for Oboe and Strings, K.370 (1st movement)
- Britten: Six Metamorphoses After Ovid, (Movement III: Niobe)
- If you play English horn you may select a solo of your choice in place of the Britten
- Etudes:
- Ferling: 48 Famous Etudes, Number 4
- Barret: Grand Study Number 14
- Orchestral excerpts:
- JS Bach: Adagio from the Easter Oratorio (Ferrillo Orchestral Excerpts for Oboe, page 25)
- Mendelssohn: Symphony number 3, Vivace non troppo (Ferrillo, pp. 53-54)
- Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin, Prelude (Ferrillo, pp. 64-65)
Applicants who have questions about appropriate repertoire please contact Dr. Eric Ohlsson.
Master of Music Applicants:
- Two contrasting solo pieces (or movements). Selections should be appropriate to graduate level study. Examples given below.
- Two contrasting orchestral excerpts. Examples given below.
Doctor of Music Applicants:
- Three contrasting solo pieces (or movements) including one unaccompanied piece. Selections should be appropriate to graduate level study. Examples given below.
- Three contrasting orchestral excerpts. Examples given below.
Examples of solo pieces:
- Concert pieces by Copland, Mozart, Nielsen, Francaix
- Sonatas/sonatinas by Bernstein, Brahms, Hindemith, Poulenc, Tedesco
- Debussy Premiere Rhapsodie, Francaix Theme & Variations, Muczynski Time Pieces, Penderecki Miniatures, Schumann Fantasy Pieces
Examples of unaccompanied pieces:
- Bassett soliloquies
- Carter Gra
- Denisov Sonata
- Kovacs Hommages
- Larsen Dancing Solo
- Mandat (various)
- Martino Set
- Ran Monologue
- Tower Wings
Examples of orchestral excerpts:
- Bartok Concerto for Orchestra; Miraculous Mandarin
- Beethoven Symphonies 4, 6, 8
- Brahms Symphonies 2-4
- Kodaly Dances of Galanta
- Mendelssohn Scherzo; Symphonies 3, 4; Hebrides Overture
- Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2
- Ravel Daphnis & Chloe, Suite 2
- Respighi Pines of Rome
- Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio Espagnol; scheherazade
- Shostakovich Symphonies 9, 10
- Stravinsky Firebird
- Tchaikovsky Symphonies 5, 6
Applicants who have questions about appropriate repertoire please contact Dr. Deborah Bish or Dr. Jonathan Holden.
Audition Requirements (MM and DM):
- W.A. Mozart: Concerto for Bassoon, K. 191, entire (any edition)
- One complete major work in 18th or 19th century style
- One etude from Ludwig Milde: Concert Studies, Op. 26, volumes I or II (any edition)
- One etude from Ludwig Milde: Studies on Scales and Chords, Op. 24 (any edition)
- Work of your choice (can be 20th/21st century)
- At least 4 standard orchestral excerpts
Applicants who have questions about appropriate repertoire please contact Prof. Jeff Keesecker.
Audition Requirements (MM and DM):
Prepare 2-4 works for saxophone demonstrating the highest level of musical and technical development (ex: Albright Sonata, Denisov Sonata, Dahl Concerto, Bolcom Lilith, Berio Sequenza VIIb or IXb, Schmitt Légende, Stockhausen In Freundschaft, or equivalent; transcriptions of works written in the 19th century or earlier are also encouraged).
Graduate Applicants, especially at the Doctoral level, are encouraged to program thoughtfully and artistically in a way that expresses their unique musical voices.
Applicants who have questions about appropriate repertoire please contact Prof. Geoff Deibel.
Woodwinds
Audition Day Itinerary
Meet Dean Todd Queen, Associate Dean Michael Thrasher, and key staff members from the College of Music. Learn more about the programs and opportunities for graduate students, including details regarding the admission process, student funding, and life in Tallahassee. Question and answer session will follow.
Have all of your final questions answered! Speak one-on-one with an admissions representative.
Common Questions
Expand AllEveryone who completes the application process (including interview and/or audition, if required) is automatically considered for scholarships and assistantships, and no additional application is necessary. Only graduate students interested in auditioning for accompanying or group piano teaching assistantships are required to take an additional audition. Contact College of Music Admissions for further details.
Prescreenings are required for the following instruments/degree programs:
- MM or DM in Brass Performance (Trumpet, Euphonium and Tuba only)
- MM or DM in String Performance (Violin only)
- MM or DM in Voice Performance
- MM or DM in Piano Performance
- MM in Piano Pedagogy
- MM or DM in Accompanying
- MM in Opera Coaching
Prescreening submissions are due by December 1 and results will be released by December 15. Applicants who are successful in this first round will be invited to campus for a full audition on one of the dates listed above. (Music Theatre will have a second round via Zoom, followed by a final round on campus).
An accompanist is provided, free of charge, for all voice and music theatre auditions on campus. Rehearsal time is not provided, however, and scores should not be submitted in advance. Please bring neat copies, in a book or organized in a binder, in the appropriate key(s). Students may bring their own accompanist to the audition if they wish.
Instrumental auditions will be unaccompanied.
Students are allowed a maximum of three audition attempts per instrument/voice, per degree level (bachelors, master’s, doctoral). Applicants are allowed one audition per application.