How many students are in the studio?

The goal is to have 14 students in the studio – 8 and 6 euphoniums. This is enough to fill our wind bands (2), orchestra, and our Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble (UMKC Tuba Band).

How many openings do you anticipate for next fall?

We will be looking for 3-4 tubas and 1-2 euphoniums.

What does the audition process look like?

Application is due December 15th. To schedule your audition date, please apply to the Conservatory. Details about audition repertoire can be found below. Three audition dates are available:

● Saturday, February 3, 2024

● Monday, February 19, 2024

● Friday, March 1, 2024 

If you live more than 300 miles from campus, you may request a video audition. Please note that full scholarship consideration may not be available to video auditions. All applicants are very strongly advised to audition on campus. If scheduling difficulties or distances are insurmountable, applicants may request to audition via recording. Contact [email protected] for approval.

Tuba Audition Repertoire:

Undergraduate level

● Two contrasting solo pieces of your choosing from the options below:

Air and Bourée (Bach trans. Bell)

Andante and Rondo (Capuzzi)

Concerto for Bass Tuba (Vaughan Williams)

Sonata (Hindemith)

Concerto in One Movement (Lebedev)

Sonatas 1-6 (Marcello)

Concerto for Tuba (Gregson)

Introduction and Dance (Barat)

• Choose selections you feel confident playing and show off your skills – please email Prof McCourt to approve alternate selections.

Graduate levels

● Concerto (complete) of the following: Vaughan Williams, John Williams, Bozza, Plau

● Snedecor Etude No. 3 or No. 5

● Orchestral Excerpts from the following list (please choose 2 contrabass and 2 bass tuba excerpts):

Contrabass Tuba

Bruckner – Symphony 7 finale P to S

Prokofiev – Symphony 5 1st Mvmt 3 to 6

Hindemith – Symphonic Metamorphoses L-N

Wagner – Ride of the Valkyries

Bass Tuba

Berlioz – Hungarian March

Berlioz – King Lear Overture

Mahler – Symphony 1

Stravinsky – Petrushka, Bear Solo

Euphonium Audition Repertoire:

Undergraduate level:

• Two contrasting solo pieces of your choosing from the options below:

Morceau Symphonique (Guillmant)

Andante and Rondo (Capuzzi)

Andante and Allegro (Barat)

Sonata in F Major (Marcello)

• Choose selections you feel confident playing and show off your skills – please email Prof McCourt to approve alternate selections.

Graduate levels

● Concerto (complete) of the following: Horovitz, Cosma, Linkola, Bourgeois.

● An etude of your choosing that represents your strengths.

● Band Excerpts from the following list (please choose 2 lyrical and 2 technical excerpts):

● Lyrical (choose two)

Holst – Suite No. 2 in F

Berlioz – Roman Carnival Overture

Schoenberg – Theme and Variations

Grainger – Colonial Song 

Technical (choose two) 

Shostakovich – Festive Overture

Smith – Festival Variations

Sullivan – Pineapple Poll

Williams – The Cowboys

Are there good scholarship opportunities?

Yes, a Graduate Teaching Assistantship available for Fall 2024. Primarily, this student will perform in the Volker Brass Quintet, the fellowship brass quintet at the UMKC Conservatory. This ensemble is top notch – they received the American Brass Quintet Prize in the Senior Division of the Fischoff Winds and Brass Competition in 2019, and more recently took first prize at the 1st Annual National Brass Quintet Competition at Texas State University last spring.

This award comes with a full tuition waiver, in addition to an annual $8000 per year stipend. Additionally, I anticipate ample scholarship availability for other undergraduate and graduate students, on both tuba and euphonium.

Why KC?

Kansas City is an affordable place to live with many musical opportunities available for students. This year we’re welcoming several guest artists, and the studio is a welcoming, thoughtful and encouraging group of great musicians and people. It’s a very exciting time at UMKC!