Lamont offers an exceptional environment for tubists, combining individualized instruction with world-class resources and performance opportunities. Our studio is vibrant and collaborative, where tuba players challenge and support one another in pursuit of artistic excellence. Guided by Prof. Stephen Dombrowski, students engage in intensive private lessons, chamber music, performance class, large ensembles, and masterclasses with renowned guest artists. In Lamont’s tuba studio, students celebrate each other’s successes and push one another to reach new artistic heights.
Audition Requirements
2-3 tuba students at Lamont
Over 5 ensembles to participate in each quarter
300+ performance opportunities per year
Degree Programs
Auditions
Applicants may choose to either audition in person in Denver OR submit a recorded video audition.
Applications received after January 15 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. You may indicate your preference for a live or virtual audition on the Lamont application.
Click here to view the current year’s audition dates and the full steps for how to apply.
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In-Person Audition Requirements
All auditions are approximately 15 minutes in length.
Undergraduate (BM, BA and Minor)
- A melodious etude (to demonstrate sound, intonation, and musicianship)
- A technical etude (to demonstrate technical facility)
- A solo of your choice
- Two orchestral excerpts of your choice (transfer applicants should prepare several)
- A 2-octave C or Bb major scale and a 3-octave Eb or F major scale
Graduate (MM and Certificate in Performance)*
- Two contrasting solos
- Several of the major orchestral and/or excerpts
- A low-range etude
- A melodious etude
- A technical etude
*Graduate applicants should be able to demonstrate both the CC and F (or Eb) tubas at an advanced level.
Review Requirements for Artist Diploma
Review Requirements for Certificate in Orchestral Studies -
Video Audition Requirements
Applicants unable to travel to Denver for a live audition may submit a video audition via the Lamont application. Repertoire may be recorded separately in multiple takes; editing within each take is prohibited.
Undergraduate (BM, BA and Minor)
- A melodious etude (to demonstrate sound, intonation, and musicianship)
- A technical etude (to demonstrate technical facility)
- A solo of your choice
- Two orchestral excerpts of your choice (transfer applicants should prepare several)
- A 2-octave C or Bb major scale and a 3-octave Eb or F major scale
Graduate (MM and Certificate in Performance)*
- Two contrasting solos
- Several of the major orchestral and/or excerpts
- A low-range etude
- A melodious etude
- A technical etude
*Graduate applicants should be able to demonstrate both the CC and F (or Eb) tubas at an advanced level.
Review Requirements for Artist Diploma
Review Requirements for Certificate in Orchestral Studies -
*Recommended Repertoire
Recommended undergraduate repertoire
Etudes:
- Arban - Complete Method for the Tuba, ed. Young;
- Blazevich - 70 Studies;
- Bordogni - Bel Canto Studies for Tuba;
- Kopprasch - 60 Studies for Tuba;
- Phil Snedecor - Low Etudes;
- Tyrell - Advanced Etudes for BB Flat bass
Solos:
- Bach - Air and Bouree - arranged by Bill Bell;
- Bruce Broughton - Sonata;
- Don Haddad - Suite for Tuba;
- Hindemith - Sonata;
- Vincent Persichetti - Serenade No. 12 for Unaccompanied Tuba;
- Robert Schuman - Adagio and Allegro - arranged by Floyd Cooley;
- Halsey Stevens - Sonatina;
- Alec Wilder - Effie Suite;
- Gregson - Concerto;
- Vaughan Williams - Concerto
Excerpts:
- Berlioz - Hungarian March;
- Mahler - Symphony No. 1;
- Prokofiev - Symphony No. 5;
- Wagner - Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg;
- Wagner - The Ride of the Valkyries
Recommended graduate repertoire
Solos:
- Bruce Broughton - Sonata
- Jacques Casterede - Sonatine
- Paul Hindemith - Sonata
- Anthony Plog - Three Miniatures
- Anthony Plog – Sonata
- Martin Ellerby - Tuba Concerto
- Eric Ewazen - Concerto for Tuba or Bass Trombone
- Ralph Vaughan Williams - Concerto for Tuba
- John Williams - Concerto for Tuba
- James Grant - Three Furies
- William Kraft - Encounters II
- Penderecki - Cappriccio
- Bach - Sarabande from Cello Suite No 5
- Bach - Sonata in Eb - arranged by a Floyd Cooley
Excerpts:
- Richard Wagner - Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg
- Richard Wagner - The Ride of the Valkyries
- Hector Berlioz - Benvenuto Cellini (rehearsal #15 through the third measure of rehearsal #17; rehearsal #18 through the fifth measure of rehearsal #19)
- Hector Berlioz - Hungarian March
- Hector Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique
- Johannes Brahms - Symphony No. 2 (Mvt. IV, rehearsal "O" to the end)
- Anton Bruckner - Symphony No. 7 (Mvt. IV, rehearsal "P" to rehearsal “S”)
- Paul Hindemith - Symphonic Metamorphoses (Mvt. II: Turandot, Scherzo, complete)
- Gustav Mahler - Symphony No. 1 (Mvt. III, complete)
- Gustav Mahler - Symphony No. 2 (Mvt. V: Chorale, from the second measure of rehearsal #10 through rehearsal #11)
- Gustav Mahler - Symphony No. 5 (Part II. Mvt. 3: Scherzo, from the sixteenth measure of rehearsal #15 through rehearsal #17)
- Sergei Prokofiev - Symphony No. 5 (Mvt. I, complete)
- Sergei Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet, Suite No. 2 (Mvt. V, from the fourth measure of rehearsal #49 through rehearsal #51)
- Respighi - Fountains of Rome
- Silvestre Revueltas - Sensamaya (rehearsal #2 to rehearsal #11, rehearsal #33 to rehearsal #41)
- Dimitri Shostakovich - Symphony No. 8: Scherzo
- Richard Strauss - Ein Heldenleben
- Richard Strauss - Till Eulenspiegel (from rehearsal #13 to two measures before rehearsal #14; from rehearsal #25 to seven measures before rehearsal #26; from three measures before rehearsal #37 to four measures before)
- Igor Stravinsky - Petrouchka (Peasant with Bear, from rehearsal #189 through rehearsal #191
- Masqueraders, from rehearsal #240 through three measure before rehearsal #242)
Life After Lamont
Lamont students have worked with some of the most prestigious music organizations in the world. Alumni have performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Philadelphia Orchestra, Wolf Trap, Vancouver Symphony, Broadway, the West End, and San Francisco Opera. Lamont composers have premiered works at Carnegie Hall and the Monterey Jazz Festival, and conductors have led orchestras from Brazil to Hungary. Graduates of our Musicology and music theory programs hold posts at prestigious institutions nationwide. And our recording and production students have launched careers in Hollywood, editing soundtracks for films like Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
James Andrus - MM 2021
Principal Tuba, Colorado Ballet; Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra
