Undergraduate

All selections should be performed from memory

Pre-Screening

Undergraduate piano applications must upload a pre-screening video with their Peabody applications by the following deadlines:

  • Early Decision: November 1st
  • Regular Decision: December 1st

The video must include:

  • A complete classical sonata
  • A romantic work of at least 10 minutes in length Several shorter works can be combined, such as Brahms Op. 118, Nos. 1-3, or a movement of a large sonata (Chopin, Schumann, etc.). 
  • A virtuosic etude

Learn more about Pre-Screening

Audition Repertoire

The following is the subsequent audition repertoire to be submitted after pre-screening or performed at a live audition:

  • Baroque: a prelude and fugue or any other work containing a fugue by J.S. Bach
  • Classical: complete sonata by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, or Schubert.
    • Beethoven’s Sonata, Op. 49 Nos 1 and 2 may not be used to fulfill this requirement
  • Romantic: a major solo work by a 19th-century composer
    • For example, Chopin’s Ballades, Scherzi, or Sonatas; Brahms’ Op. 118 or 119 (complete); Liszt’s Dante Sonata, Vallee d’Obermann, or a Hungarian Rhapsody.
    • A Chopin nocturne or etude may not be used to fulfill this requirement
  • A representative 20th or 21st Century work
  • A virtuoso etude by one of the following composers: Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Debussy, Bartok, Ligeti, or Stravinsky
  • TRANSFER STUDENTS ONLY: Present one additional virtuosic etude by Chopin, Liszt, Debussy, or Rachmaninoff

Graduate

All selections should be performed from memory

Pre-Screening

Master of Music and Graduate Performance Diploma applicants who are not current Peabody students must upload a pre-screening video to the Peabody application by December 1. Repertoire includes:

  • A complete classical sonata
  • A complete major romantic work
  • A virtuosic etude

Doctor of Musical Arts applicants must upload a pre-screening video to the Peabody application by December 1.

  • The material on the video should be a 50-60 minutes of music that represents three style periods.
  • A video recording of a recital can be used if it was performed within the past two years.
  • Selections on the recording do not have to be the same ones you will perform for your audition.

Artist Diploma applicants must upload a pre-screening video to the Peabody application by December 1.

  • The material in the video should be 60-70 minutes of music of your choice.

PLEASE NOTE: Current Peabody students applying for the DMA and AD programs MUST submit videos for pre-screening.

Learn more about Pre-Screening

Audition Repertoire

Master of Music

  • Prepare a program of 50 to 60 minutes which includes three style periods.
  • A complete classical sonata, a major romantic work, and one virtuosic etude are required. Remaining works are to be chosen by the applicant.
  • All works must be prepared in their entirety.

Graduate Performance Diploma

  • Prepare a recital program, 60 minutes in length, of repertoire representing at least three style periods and including at least two large-scale works.

Doctorate of Musical Arts

  • Prepare a program of no less than 60 minutes’ duration, representing at least three style periods, and including at least two large-scale works.
  • Your audition schedule will include a mandatory advising session, most likely on the day of your audition. You will be advised on the next steps in the process based on preliminary results from your audition. Continuing with the DMA placement exams and interview will be an option for some. Alternative programs may be suggested for others. Official decisions will be made after considering all results. You will learn whether you advance to the DMA interview round late in the evening after all DMA auditions have been completed. Learn more about the process.

Artist Diploma

  • Prepare a program of no less than 70 minutes duration, representing at least three style periods and including at least two large-scale works.