Entrance examinations for horn, trumpet, euphonium, trombone, and tuba

You can choose to take the audition at several levels at the Academy

The entrance examination consists of the following elements:

Principal study (duration: 30 minutes incl. assessment)

A list of repertoire for the entrance examination must be enclosed with the application form. The audition in the principal study consists of these three tests:

Horn

  • An etude by C. Kopprasch
  • C. Saint-Saëns: Romance in F major
  • A piece chosen by the applicant with a degree of difficulty similar to, e.g. L. Cherubini: 1st Sonata

Trumpet

  • From P. -Fr. Clodomir: 70 Little Studies, Op. 158 (IMC 1389), one of the following etudes: Nos. 63, 64, 65, or 66
  • Hummel: Concerto in E flat major, 1st movement
  • A piece chosen by the applicant with a degree of difficulty similar to, e.g. Thorvald Hansen: Romance and Scherzo, or H. Busser: Andante et Scherzo (1911)

Euphonium

  • An etude by Marco Bordogni at the candidate's own choice
  • J. B. Senaillé: Introduction and allegro spiritoso
  • A piece chosen by the applicant with a degree of difficulty similar to, e.g. the 2nd movement from J. Horovitz: Euphonium Concerto

Tenor trombone

  • Robert Müller: Technische Studien, Vol. 3, No. 10 in G minor
  • N. Rimskij-Korsakov: Trombone Concerto, 1st and 2nd movement
  • A piece chosen by the applicant with a degree of difficulty similar to, e.g. Alexandre Guilmant: Morceau Symphonique

Bass trombone

  • Lew Gillis: 70 Progressive Etudes for the Modern Bass Trombonist, Nos. 51 and 52
  • Lebedev: Concerto, up to and including the cadenza
  • A piece chosen by the applicant with a degree of difficulty similar to, e.g. one or more movements from a sonata by J.E. Gaillard

Tuba

  • 2 etudes, one from each of the following collections: M. Bordogni (Roberts): 43 Bel Canto Studies and C. Kopprasch: 60 ausgewählte Etüden, Vol. 1, Nos. 1-30
  • E. Gregson: Tuba Concerto, 1st movement
  • A piece chosen by the applicant with a degree of difficulty similar to, e.g. Troje Miller: Sonatina Classica

Second test: Set task

A proposed task is e-mailed to the applicant 7 days before the entrance examination takes place.

Third test: Sight-reading

Sight-reading of a composition.

Trumpet will be tried in sight-reading and transposition in A, and C. Horns will be tried in transposition in Eb. At the candidate's own choice, euphonium will be tried in either the bass clef or G clef in Bb. Tenor trombone will be tried in bass and tenor clef. Bass trombone will be tried in bass clef.

Assessment

The entrance examination is assessed by two internal examiners and one external examiner. Three separate marks are awarded according to the 7-point grading scale. One for each of the above-mentioned tests. The test will be passed successfully only if the applicant has achieved a minimum of 02 in all three tests. If the applicant passes the principal study audition, they then take further examinations in supporting subjects. These examinations are identical for all Bachelor programmes.

The entrance examination for the Bachelor's programme is online. It consists of four rounds, an audition in piano as a supporting subject, and an online screening of aural training and theoretical skills. Applicants must pass the first round to proceed to the second, and the second round to proceed to the third and so on—these rounds are sequential and prohibitive.

  1. Audition recording – part 1
  2. Audition recording – part 2
  3. Set task
  4. Interview

All four parts of the entrance exam must be passed. 

The audition in piano as a supporting subject and the screening of aural training and theoretical skills are mandatory but not prohibitive.

1st round - Audition recording – part 1
A recording of the audition repertoire.  Requirements for the repertoire and the recording are listed below.

2nd round - Audition recording – part 2
A recording of the audition repertoire.  Requirements for the repertoire and the recording are listed below.

3rd round - Set task
RDAM will provide applicants with a set task 7 days before the application deadline. 

The set task must be uploaded together with the rest of the application before the deadline. The aim of the set task is to assess how far an applicant can progress with a piece they likely have not encountered before. It is important to underline that there are no formal requirements to the quality of the recording of the proposed task. I.e. using a smartphone on the music stand is perfectly fine.

The set task will be available here 20 November 2026.

4th round - Interview
The conversation will assess language skills and general communication and reflection abilities in English. The submitted letter of motivation and repertoire list will form the basis for the interview, but many different subjects may be addressed. 

Based on the above, RDAM will decide if the applicant is recommended for admission.

Repertoire requirements for the audition recording

Duration: 15-20 minutes

Horn

Audition recording – part 1:

  • An etude by C. Kopprasch

Audition recording – part 2:

  • C. Saint-Saëns: Romance in F major
  • A piece chosen by the applicant with a degree of difficulty similar to, e.g. L. Cherubini: 1st Sonata

Trumpet

Audition recording – part 1:

  • From P. -Fr. Clodomir: 70 Little Studies, Op. 158 (IMC 1389), one of the following etudes: Nos. 63, 64, 65, or 66

Audition recording – part 2:

  • Hummel: Concerto in E flat major, 1st movement
  • A piece chosen by the applicant with a degree of difficulty similar to, e.g. Thorvald Hansen: Romance and Scherzo, or H. Busser: Andante et Scherzo (1911)

Euphonium

Audition recording – part 1:

  • An etude by Marco Bordogni at the candidate's own choice

Audition recording – part 2:

  • J. B. Senaillé: Introduction and allegro spiritoso
  • A piece chosen by the applicant with a degree of difficulty similar to, e.g. the 2nd movement from J. Horovitz: Euphonium Concerto

Tenor trombone

Audition recording – part 1:

  • Robert Müller: Technische Studien, Vol. 3, No. 10 in G minor

Audition recording – part 2:

  • N. Rimskij-Korsakov: Trombone Concerto, 1st and 2nd movement
  • A piece chosen by the applicant with a degree of difficulty similar to, e.g. Alexandre Guilmant: Morceau Symphonique

Bass trombone

Audition recording – part 1:

  • Lew Gillis: 70 Progressive Etudes for the Modern Bass Trombonist, Nos. 51 and 52

Audition recording – part 2:

  • Lebedev: Concerto, up to and including the cadenza
  • A piece chosen by the applicant with a degree of difficulty similar to, e.g. one or more movements from a sonata by J.E. Gaillard

Tuba

Audition recording – part 1:

  • 2 etudes, one from each of the following collections: M. Bordogni (Roberts): 43 Bel Canto Studies and C. Kopprasch: 60 ausgewählte Etüden, Vol. 1, Nos. 1-30

Audition recording – part 2:

  • E. Gregson: Tuba Concerto, 1st movement
  • A piece chosen by the applicant with a degree of difficulty similar to, e.g. Troje Miller: Sonatina Classica

 

Requirements for the audition recording

  • The audition recording must be unedited except between performances (i.e. between pieces), and the audition must be recorded within six months of submitting your application.
  • The audition recording must clearly show the applicant, including face and hands.
  • Check that the recording submitted is accessible and that all recordings have been submitted successfully.
  • Accepted formats: mp4, mp3, webm and mpeg (not mov).
  • The maximum size of a file that can be submitted in the online application is 1GB. Therefore, it might be necessary to divide your audition recording into individual pieces (please remember not to edit within a piece of music).  

For extra guidelines on video recording, please watch our video. If YouTube is not available in your country, the video can also be accessed here.

Supporting information to be prepared when applying

Repertoire list: Applicants must submit a repertoire list with works/pieces/studies they have previously worked on in their application. 

Ensemble and/or orchestra playing: Applicants should describe their experiences in playing in orchestra/choir or smaller ensembles i.e. which kind of orchestra/ensemble, duration, repertoire.

The entrance examination consists of an audition in the principal study.

The examination requirements apply equally to applicants who already attend the Academy and wish to take a quota test for the Master's programme.

The applicant must perform:

Horn

1st movement of one of W. A. Mozart’s French Horn concertos
and a piece of the applicant's own choice, duration 5-7 minutes

Trumpet

1st movement of Joseph Haydn Trumpet concerto played on Bb trumpet and a piece of the applicant's own choice, duration 5-7 minutes

Euphonium

1st movement of Joseph Horowitz’ Euphonium concerto
and a piece of the applicant's own choice, duration 5-7 minutes

Tenor trombone

1st and 2nd movement of Ferdinand David’s Trombone concerto
and a piece of the applicant's own choice, duration 5-7 minutes

Bass trombone

Lebedev Concerto – you should play the entire concerto until the cadenza
and a piece of the applicant's own choice, duration 5-7 minutes

Tuba

1st movement of Ralph Vaughn Williams’ Tuba concerto
and a piece of the applicant's own choice, duration 5-7 minutes

Duration of the entrance examination max. 20 minutes (30 minutes including assessment).

Two internal examiners assess the entrance examination, and a grade is awarded according to the 7-point grading scale. The entrance examination can end with a five-minute conversation about the applicant's motivation for applying, career considerations, etc. The conversation does not affect the grade but is used for mutual matching of expectations about the education.

The entrance examination for the Master's programme is online. It consists of four rounds. Applicants must pass the first round to proceed to the second, and the second round to proceed to the third and so on—these rounds are sequential and prohibitive.

  1. Audition recording – part 1
  2. Audition recording – part 2
  3. Set task
  4. Interview

All four parts of the entrance exam must be passed. 

The audition in piano as a supporting subject is mandatory but not prohibitive.

1st round - Audition recording – part 1
A recording of the audition repertoire.  Requirements for the repertoire and the recording are listed below.

2nd round - Audition recording – part 2
A recording of the audition repertoire.  Requirements for the repertoire and the recording are listed below.

3rd round - Set task
RDAM will provide applicants with a set task 7 days before the application deadline. 

The set task must be uploaded together with the rest of the application before the deadline. The aim of the set task is to assess how far an applicant can progress with a piece they likely have not encountered before. It is important to underline that there are no formal requirements to the quality of the recording of the proposed task. I.e. using a smartphone on the music stand is perfectly fine.

The set task will be available here 20 November 2026.

4th round - Interview
The conversation will assess language skills and general communication and reflection abilities in English. The submitted letter of motivation and repertoire list will form the basis for the interview, but many different subjects may be addressed. 

Based on the above, RDAM will decide if the applicant is recommended for admission.

Repertoire requirements for the audition recording

Duration: 20-25 minutes

Horn

Audition recording – part 1:

  • 1st movement of one of W. A. Mozart’s French Horn concertos

Audition recording – part 2:

  • A piece of the applicant's own choice, duration 5-7 minutes
  • Orchestra extract: Tchaikovsky: Symphony no. 5
  • Orchestra extract: Beethoven: Symphony no. 3

Trumpet

Audition recording – part 1:

  • 1st movement of Joseph Haydn Trumpet concerto played on Bb trumpet

Audition recording – part 2:

  • A piece of the applicant's own choice, duration 5-7 minutes
  • Orchestra extract: Mussorgskij: Pictures at an exhibition - Opening
  • Orchestra extract: Stravinskij: Petruchka - Ballerina Dance

Euphonium

Audition recording – part 1:

  • 1st movement of Joseph Horowitz’ Euphonium concerto

Audition recording – part 2:

  • A piece of the applicant's own choice, duration 5-7 minutes
  • Orchestra extract: Mussorgskij: Pictures at an exhibition - Bydlo 
  • Orchestra extract: Mahler: Symphony. No. 7 (rehearsal number [43]-[45])

Tenor trombone

Audition recording – part 1:

  • 1st movement of Ferdinand David’s Trombone concerto

Audition recording – part 2:

  • A piece of the applicant's own choice, duration 5-7 minutes
  • Orchestra extract: Mozart: Tuba Mirum
  • Orchestra extract: Saent-Saint: Organ symphony

Bass trombone

Audition recording – part 1:

  • Lebedev Concerto – you should play the entire concerto until the cadenza

Audition recording – part 2:

  • A piece of the applicant's own choice, duration 5-7 minutes
  • Orchestra extract: Wagner: Ride of the Valkyries
  • Orchestra extract: Schuman: Symphony no. 3

Tuba

Audition recording – part 1:

  • 1st movement of Ralph Vaughn Williams’ Tuba concerto

Audition recording – part 2:

  • A piece of the applicant's own choice, duration 5-7 minutes
  • Orchestra extract: Meistersinger: Ouverture
  • Orchestra extract: Berlioz: Hungarian March

 

Requirements for the audition recording

  • The audition recording must be unedited except between performances (i.e. between pieces), and the audition must be recorded within six months of submitting your application.
  • The audition recording must clearly show the applicant, including face and hands.
  • Check that the recording submitted is accessible and that all recordings have been submitted successfully.
  • Accepted formats: mp4, mp3, webm and mpeg (not mov).
  • The maximum size of a file that can be submitted in the online application is 1GB. Therefore, it might be necessary to divide your audition recording into individual pieces (please remember not to edit within a piece of music).  

For extra guidelines on video recording, please watch our video. If YouTube is not available in your country, the video can also be accessed here.

Supporting information to be prepared when applying

Repertoire list: Applicants must submit a repertoire list with works/pieces/studies they have previously worked on in their application. 

Ensemble and/or orchestra playing: Applicants should describe their experiences in playing in orchestra/choir or smaller ensembles i.e. which kind of orchestra/ensemble, duration, repertoire.

Piano skills: As part of their application, the applicant must describe their experience with piano playing. Piano playing as a supporting subject in all programs and is an important part of the studies at RDAM. If the applicant has no prior experience in piano playing before starting their studies, RDAM will try to adjust the classes accordingly.

Form, content, and assessment of the examination

The entrance examination consists of a principal study audition, which is taken in two rounds. If you apply for the specialisation Soloist Artistic Research or Soloist with teaching qualifications (advanced level), there will also be a third round in your chosen specialisation.

You can read about the different specialisations and the content of the entrance exams here.

1st round – Video

The 1st round consists of a video recording with a duration of 20 minutes, where you play your chosen repertoire for the 1st round. The video recording must be uploaded in the application form.
You find the repertoire requirements below.

If you pass the 1st round, you will continue to the 2nd round.
We will send you the result from the 1st round in an email in the middle of May.

The 1st round will be assessed by two internal examiners and one external examiner with pass/fail.

Requirements for the video recording

  • The recording of the entire 1st round must be one-take. You are allowed to take a sip of water or a short break between the pieces – like you would do, if it had been a live entrance exam.
  • The video recording must be unedited.
  • The video recording must be a maximum of six months old.
  • If the piece normally is performed with accompaniment, it must be recorded with an accompanist.

Recommendations for the video recording

2nd round – At RDAM

The 2nd round will be held at RDAM between mid-May and end-June. If you pass the 1st round, you will be summoned for the 2nd round.

From mid-March, you can find a preliminary schedule of the dates for the 2nd round on How to apply - EU/EEA applicants and How to apply - non-EU/EEA applicants.

In the 2nd round, you will be asked to perform a programme of 30 minutes' duration. Please find the repertoire requirements below.

The 2nd round ends with a five-minute conversation about the applicant's motivation for applying, career considerations, etc.. The conversation does not affect the grade but is used for mutual matching of expectations about the education.

The 2nd round will be assessed by two internal examiners and one external examiner according to the 7-point grading scale.

Repertoire
 

Repertoire for the 1st round - must be played by heart

You choose the 20 minutes from the repertoire yourself - but the compulsory piece must be recorded.

Horn

  • Compulsory piece: W. A. Mozart: Concerto No. 2
  • Hindemith: Sonata for horn (in F) and piano, 1st movement
  • R. Strauss: Concerto No. 1, 1st movement
  • N.V. Bentzon: Sonata, 1st movement

Trumpet

  • Compulsory piece: Haydn: Concerto, 1st and 2nd movement played on Bb trumpet
  • Tartini: Concerto in D major played on piccolo trumpet
  • Honegger: Intrada played on C trumpet

Euphonium

  • Compulsory piece: J. Horowitz: 1st and 2nd movements of concerto
  • Albert Dupuy: Solo de Concours
  • J. S. Bach: Prelude, Sarabande and Gigue from Cello Suite No. 2
  • Torstein Aagaard-Nielsen: "Svart Ren"

Tenor trombone

  • Compulsory piece: F. David: Trombone Concerto, 1st and 2nd movement
  • Mozart: Concerto for Alto Trombone
  • Rabe: Basta
  • Tomasi: Concerto for Trombone

Bass trombone

  • Compulsory piece: Lebedev: Concerto
  • Bach: Prelude from suite in D minor
  • R. Premru: Prelude and Dance
  • Müller: Introduction, Chorale, Variations, and Fugue

Tuba

  • Compulsory piece: Vaughan Williams: Concerto
  • K. Penderecki: Capriccio
  • William Craft: Encounter II

Repertoire for the second round

You must offer 50 minutes of self-chosen music which must contain works from at least 4 stylistic periods. At least one piece must be written after 1945. From this list, the internal examiners choose 30 minutes. The examiners' choices will be sent to your email address 1 week before the 1st round of your entrance examination

Examples of works for the second round:

Horn

  • R. Strauss: Concerto No. 2
  • Haydn: Concerto No. 2
  • Sigurd Berge: Hornlokk

Trumpet

  • Jolivet: Concertino
  • H. Tomasi: Concerto
  • Charles Chaynes: Concerto

Euphonium

  • Brian Bowen: Euphonium Music
  • Gordon Jacob: Fantasia
  • Lars Graugaard: Concerto
  • Gaillard: Sonata No. 5

Tenor trombone

  • Gunnar de Frumerie: Trombone Concerto
  • Nina Rota: Trombone Concerto
  • Axel Jørgensen: Suite
  • Launy Grøndahl: Trombone Concerto
  • L. Berio: Sequenza V
  • Albrechtsberger: Concerto for Alto Trombone
  • Paul Creston: Trombone Concerto

Bass trombone

  • Ciekmann: Concerto
  • Bozza: New Orleans
  • Sven David Sandström: Inside

Tuba

  • Trygve Madsen: Sonata
  • Ole Schmidt: Concerto
  • Hindemith: Sonata
  • Edvard Gregson: Alarum