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.

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.

  • 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)

Faculty

 
Stephen Dombrowski

Stephen Dombrowski

Adjunct Faculty, Tuba

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