Violin Studio | Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

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Lamont offers an exceptional environment for violinists, combining individualized instruction with world-class resources and performance opportunities. Our violin studios are vibrant and collaborative, where violinists challenge and support one another in pursuit of artistic excellence. Guided by Professors Linda Wang, Igor Pikayzen, Yumi Hwang-Williams, and Laura Schleiger, students engage in intensive private lessons, chamber music, performance class, large ensembles, and masterclasses with renowned guest artists. In Lamont’s violin studios, students celebrate each other’s successes and push one another to reach new artistic heights.

Audition Requirements

Violin Auditions

Studying Violin at Lamont

At Lamont, violinists join inspiring environment where artistry, individuality, and opportunity come together. Our violin faculty are not only accomplished performers and teachers—they’re also deeply committed to helping you grow in the way you learn best. Every student is different, and at Lamont, your private lessons are tailored to your unique strengths, challenges, and long-term goals as a musician.

Composed of both graduate and undergraduate students, you’ll be part of a close-knit, collaborative community of violinists who support and inspire one another. Your weekly schedule is centered on your private lesson, a dedicated violin studio class focused on solo repertoire, etudes, orchestral excerpts, and audition preparation, as well as a weekly string performance class. There, you’ll get regular performance opportunities, refine your stage presence, give and receive peer feedback, and benefit from the insight of the entire string faculty.

At Lamont, you’ll spend a lot of time with your bow on the string. Every quarter, you’ll perform with the Lamont Symphony Orchestra and collaborate on fully staged productions with the Lamont Opera Theatre in the spring. You’ll also participate in chamber ensembles—string quartets, piano trios, sextets, and more—learning the essential skills of listening, leading, and blending as part of a small group. Recent masterclass guests have included Gil Shaham, Midori and Andres Cardenes.

Outside the studio, opportunities abound. Lamont’s size allows for personalized attention and meaningful connections, while the city of Denver offers a vibrant music scene with regional orchestras, gigs, and teaching opportunities. Our students are active performers in the community and often get paid work before they even graduate.

If you’re looking for a place to grow as a musician, artist, and individual, Lamont’s violin studios offer a vibrant and supportive home.

25-30 violin students at Lamont

Over 5 ensembles to participate in each quarter

300+ performance opportunities per year

Faculty

Since her debut with Zubin Mehta and the New York Philharmonic at the age of nine, Prof. Linda Wang has performed concerti with more than 70 ensembles and maintains a worldwide presence as a performer and educator. Prof. Igor Pikayzen performed his concerto debut at the age of eight with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra and has since appeared as a soloist with major orchestras spanning Europe, Asia, and North and South America. Prof. Yumi Hwang-Williams is the concertmaster of the Colorado Symphony and has performed as a soloist and chamber musician across the globe. Prof. Laura Schleiger is an accomplished pedagogue who maintains an active private Suzuki violin studio and teaches both children and adults.

Linda Wang

Professor, Violin

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Igor Pikayzen

Assistant Professor, Violin

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Yumi Hwang-Williams

Adjunct Faculty, Orchestral Studies and Excerpts

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Laura Schleiger

Adjunct Faculty, Suzuki Violin

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Violin student performs with the Lamont Symphony Orchestra

Degree Programs

The Celebrated Artist-Teacher String Series (CATS) brings together a unique, world-class series of celebrated artists-teachers from university music schools across the nation.
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Violin section performs with the Lamont Symphony Orchestra

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.

Audition Repertoire Requirements

Undergraduate (BA, BM, minor)

In-Person Audition Requirements
All auditions are approximately 15 minutes in length. The applicant will choose one of their prepared works to perform. The faculty will choose the second of the prepared works and possibly an additional work as well.

BM and BA
- One major and one minor scale of your choice with arpeggios (three octaves)
- One movement of a standard concerto, minimum difficulty level of Bruch Violin Concerto (memorization required)
- One movement of an unaccompanied Bach Violin Sonata or Partita (memorization required)
- One etude of your choice, minimum difficulty of Kreutzer, 42 Studies
Minor
- Two contrasting works that best demonstrate your technical and musical abilities
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.

BM and BA
- One major and one minor scale of your choice with arpeggios (three octaves)
- One movement of a standard concerto, minimum difficulty level of Bruch Violin Concerto (memorization required)
- One movement of an unaccompanied Bach Violin Sonata or Partita (memorization required)
- One etude of your choice, minimum difficulty of Kreutzer, 42 Studies
Minor
- Two contrasting works that best demonstrate your technical and musical abilities

Graduate (MM, certificate, Suzuki pedagogy, AD)

In-Person Audition Requirements
All auditions are approximately 15 minutes in length. The applicant will choose one of their prepared works to perform. The faculty will choose the second of the prepared works and possibly an additional work as well.
MM in Performance
- One major and one minor scale of your choice with arpeggios (three octaves)
- Two movements of a major Romantic or contemporary concerto
- Two movements (slow and fast) of an unaccompanied Bach Sonata or Partita
- A composition of your choice
Certificate in Performance
- One major and one minor scale of your choice with arpeggios (three octaves)
- One movement of a major Romantic or Contemporary concerto
- One movement of an unaccompanied Bach Sonata or Partita
- A composition of your choice
Review Requirements for Artist Diploma
Review Requirements for Certificate in Orchestral Studies

MM in Suzuki Pedagogy
- One major and one minor scale of your choice with arpeggios (three octaves)
- Two movements of a concerto, minimum difficulty level of the Barber Concerto
- Two movements (slow and fast) of an unaccompanied Bach Sonata or Partita
- One etude of your choice, minimum difficulty level of the Rode 24 Caprices
Certificate in Suzuki Pedagogy
- Level 1: Two contrasting pieces of your choice, minimum difficulty level of Seitz's Concerto No. 5, 1st movement or Vivaldi's Concerto in A minor, 3rd movement
- Level 2: Two contrasting pieces of your choice, minimum difficulty level of Mozart's Concerto No. 4 or 5, 1st movement with cadenza
Students are required to receive acceptance for teaching training through the Suzuki Association of the Americas. The Suzuki Association is responsible for all Suzuki teacher training that takes place in the Americas and approves and supports the University of Denver Lamont School of Music as a university long-term training center for Suzuki Method Violin and Cello. A video of your performance must be sent into the Suzuki Association. For audition guidelines, please click here.
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.
MM in Performance
- One major and one minor scale of your choice with arpeggios (three octaves)
- Two movements of a major Romantic or contemporary concerto
- Two movements (slow and fast) of an unaccompanied Bach Sonata or Partita
- A composition of your choice
Certificate in Performance
- One major and one minor scale of your choice with arpeggios (three octaves)
- One movement of a major Romantic or Contemporary concerto
- One movement of an unaccompanied Bach Sonata or Partita
- A composition of your choice
Review Requirements for Artist Diploma
Review Requirements for Certificate in Orchestral Studies

MM in Suzuki Pedagogy
- One major and one minor scale of your choice with arpeggios (three octaves)
- Two movements of a concerto, minimum difficulty level of the Barber Concerto
- Two movements (slow and fast) of an unaccompanied Bach Sonata or Partita
- One etude of your choice, minimum difficulty level of the Rode 24 Caprices
Certificate in Suzuki Pedagogy
- Level 1: Two contrasting pieces of your choice, minimum difficulty level of Seitz's Concerto No. 5, 1st movement or Vivaldi's Concerto in A minor, 3rd movement
- Level 2: Two contrasting pieces of your choice, minimum difficulty level of Mozart's Concerto No. 4 or 5, 1st movement with cadenza
Students are required to receive acceptance for teaching training through the Suzuki Association of the Americas. The Suzuki Association is responsible for all Suzuki teacher training that takes place in the Americas and approves and supports the University of Denver Lamont School of Music as a university long-term training center for Suzuki Method Violin and Cello. A video of your performance must be sent into the Suzuki Association. For audition guidelines, please click here.

Life After Lamont

Notable Violin Alumni

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.

Jordan Curry - MM 2020

Assistant Concertmaster, Richmond Symphony Orchestra
Evan De Long - MM 2021

Principal Second, Colorado Springs Philharmonic
Tom Hagerman - Pedagogy Cert. 2021

Multi-instrumentalist, Devotchka
Joy Yamaguchi - PC 2020

Cofounder Alliance for Music Education Equity with the Colorado Symphony