Piano Auditions

Welcome, piano students!

Below are the audition requirements for the Piano area. For complete application and audition details - including audition dates - please visit our Application & Auditions page.

Please note that audition requirements are updated each September for the upcoming application cycle. If you have questions about your repertoire selections, please first consult with your current private teacher or other mentor.

All live auditions will take place on campus in San Francisco.

Prescreening Requirements

Important Details:

Current SFCM Students: Current SFCM students are not required to submit a pre-screening but must upload the required video essay.
Prescreening Results: Applicants will be informed if they are invited to attend an audition or have been denied in prescreening.
Recordings: All applicants must submit unedited video/audiovisual recordings .
Memorization: All repertoire must be performed from memory except for Contemporary selections.
Multi-Movement Works: 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.
Underrepresented Groups: 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.

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

Important Details:

Memorization: All repertoire must be performed from memory except for Contemporary selections.
Multi-Movement Works: 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.
Underrepresented Groups: 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.
Artist Diploma: Artist diploma applicants must attend on-campus auditions in San Francisco.
Recorded Auditions: Final recorded auditions for undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies certificate are available upon request once the scheduling module opens. Please note, recorded auditions may be required to schedule a Zoom interview with the piano area. All recordings must be audiovisual.

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.