Piano Auditions

Welcome, piano students!

Below, you'll find the audition requirements for the piano area. For full audition and application information, please visit the Audition & Applications page.

If you have questions about your repertoire selections, please first consult with your current private teacher or other mentor. Current SFCM students are not required to submit a pre-screening but must upload the required video essay.

Application now open for Fall and Spring 2025!

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Important Details - All Applicants

All repertoire must be performed from memory except for Contemporary selections.
All recordings must be audiovisual.
Movements from multi-movement works may be uploaded in separate audiovisual files. Include the name of the piece or movement being performed at the very beginning of the recording and/or in your uploaded description.
As we strive to have a more equal representation of genders, ethnicities, and cultures in our repertoire, we encourage applicants to include one work composed by a woman and/or person from a historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group.

Prescreening Audition Requirements

Each selection of the prescreening repertoire must be submitted as an unedited audiovisual recording. Applicants will be informed if they are invited to attend an audition or have been denied in prescreening. If you have questions about your repertoire selections within these requirements, please first consult with your current private teacher or other mentor.

Applicants must have at least 20 minutes of recordings submitted.

One Allegro movement of a Classical period sonata
One work from the Romantic era. Individual movements from larger works are acceptable.
One étude of virtuosity by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Debussy, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Bartok, or Ligeti
Additional contrasting works may be included to fulfill the minimum time requirement.

Applicants must have at least 30 minutes of recordings submitted.

One Allegro movement of a Classical period sonata
One work from the Romantic era. Individual movements from larger works are acceptable.
One étude of virtuosity by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Debussy, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Bartok, or Ligeti
Additional contrasting works may be included to fulfill the minimum time requirement.

Applicants must have at least 30 minutes of recordings submitted.

One Allegro movement of a Classical period sonata
One work from the Romantic era. Individual movements from larger works are acceptable.
One étude of virtuosity by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Debussy, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Bartok, or Ligeti
Additional contrasting works may be included to fulfill the minimum time requirement.

Applicants must have at least 60 minutes of repertoire.

Solo repertoire representing three diverse musical periods. At least two must be large-scale works and performed in full.

Final Audition Repertoire

If you have questions about your repertoire selections within these requirements, please first consult with your current private teacher or other mentor.

Final auditions for undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies certificate are held either on-campus in San Francisco or via Zoom. Final recorded auditions are not permitted. Artist diploma applicants must attend on-campus auditions in San Francisco.

Applicants must have at least 30 minutes of repertoire.

One polyphonic work from the Baroque Period, such as a Prelude and Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier, or a fugal movement from a suite.
One complete Classical work by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert
One étude of virtuosity by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Debussy, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Bartok, or Ligeti
Two additional works or movements of contrasting style.

Applicants must have at least 50 minutes of repertoire.

One complete Classical work by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert
One étude of virtuosity by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Debussy, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Bartok, or Ligeti
Two additional works or movements of contrasting style.

Applicants must have at least 50 minutes of repertoire.

One complete Classical work by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert
One étude of virtuosity by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Debussy, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Bartok, or Ligeti
Two additional works or movements of contrasting style.

Applicants must have at least 70 minutes of repertoire.

Solo repertoire representing three diverse musical periods. At least two must be large-scale works and performed in full.