The tuba studio at Lamont is highly selective, providing students with an abundance of individual attention, rigorous training and performance opportunities.
Tubists at Lamont study with celebrated performer and pedagogue Steve Dombrowski, the principal tuba of the Colorado Symphony.
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.
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.
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)
Go to the graduate admission application to submit your information. For information on admission requirements, visit the graduate academic programs page and locate your program of interest.
