Woodwinds, Brass & Percussion

Students of the Winds area in rehearsal

The Wind, Percussion & Brass Program at Cal State Fullerton offers an exciting and enriching variety of opportunities for a diverse education. From symphonic winds to orchestra and jazz bands to chamber ensembles, the School of Music at CSUF provides its students with a wide range of repertoire and performance skills to meet the demands of today’s musicians.

The University Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band and University Band, with an emphasis on musical performance, are part of an ongoing tradition aimed to perpetuate and maintain a great American cultural heritage. These ensembles perform music by composers including Sousa, Gershwin, Bernstein, Ives, Copland and others. Through the study and performance of this genré, musicians will not only develop an appreciation for the music of our time, but will further the tradition of excellence in wind performance at Cal State Fullerton, as well as the traditions of the American Concert Band.

University Orchestra is dedicated to the training of outstanding instrumentalists in the performance of a wide range of styles in the orchestral repertoire. In addition to the regular concert series, the orchestra collaborates with University choruses, Opera Theatre, CSUF faculty-artists and internationally renowned guest artists. Students have numerous opportunities to study orchestral repertoire in master class settings with CSUF faculty and other professionals from throughout the United States and abroad.

Faculty

Woodwinds

Jean Ferrandis   - flute


Boris Allakhverdyan* - clarinet

John Hallberg* - saxophone

Rong‐Huey Liu* - oboe

Andrew Lowy * - clarinet

William May* - bassoon

Michael Yoshimi* - clarinet

Damon Zick* - saxophone

 
Brass

Sycil Mathai - trumpet


Warren Gref* - horn

Michael Hoffman* - trombone

David Holben* - tuba

Phil Keen* - trombone and euphonium

Steven Mahpar* - horn

Robert Sanders* - trombone

Percussion

Rodolfo Zuniga   - Drum-Set


Raymond Llewellyn* - percussion

Kenneth McGrath* - percussion

 

*denotes part-time faculty

 

Degree Programs   
Bachelor of Music: Instrumental Performance
Bachelor of Arts in Music: Liberal Arts & Music Education
Master of Music: Performance
Master of Arts in Music
Minor in Music 
Artist Diploma

Undergraduate Auditions
 All students wishing to study woodwinds, brass or percussion at Cal State Fullerton must audition. Both scholarship and regular auditions for incoming students are scheduled in the spring of each year. Students who hope to begin study in a spring semester may make special arrangements for an audition through the area coordinator.

Contact

Woodwind Area Coordinator
Jean Ferrandis • (657) 278-3470

Brass and Percussion Area Coordinator
 Prof. Sycil Mathai • (657) 278- 7624

Graduate Auditions

Woodwinds
Repertoire and Other Audition Information
for the BM and BA in Music

Prescreening Requirements


All woodwind applicants must record one piece/etude out of the repertoire they will prepare for the live audition. This could be a complete standard etude for your instrument, or in the case of a movement of a major concerto, the exposition of that movement will suffice. The selection does not need to be longer than 5 minutes.

 

Note: If you are recording prescreening videos for another school and a piece you recorded is longer than 5 minutes, it is acceptable to submit that video without having to cut it down or redo a shorter section for our prescreening.


Prescreening Video Procedures and Instructions


  1. Video recordings of your repertoire must be recorded in one complete unedited take. Please announce the following before you start playing:  
  • Your name and instrument (i.e. flute, saxophone, oboe etc.)
  • Whether you are a First-time freshman OR a Transfer student OR a Graduate student
  • The title , movement(s) , and last name of the composer for the selection being performed.

 

Piano accompaniment is not required.

Note: If you are recording your repertoire for other schools’ prescreening requirements that don’t require an spoken introduction, it is acceptable to edit your video to attach your speaking introduction at the beginning of your video, but the playing portion MUST be unedited.


  1. You will submit your video recording through a link by uploading it as an Unlisted video to a YouTube channel, or uploading to Dropbox or Google Drive. School of Music Admissions will send out submission instructions via email once we have received your application information after you apply through CalStateApply.



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Undergraduate Applicants - BM, BA (includes Instrumental/Composition/Music Ed/Liberal Arts)

Please prepare two contrasting works from the categories below. No orchestral or band excerpts will be accepted. The two works should be of contrasting style (i.e. slow vs. fast, different stylistic periods).

  1. One work or movement from the standard solo repertory for your instrument.
  2. One etude from the standard etude repertory - OR - An additional solo from the standard solo repertory.

Accompaniment is not required.

Please see the following link for a comprehensive but not complete list of possible audition repertory for your instrument if you are not sure of what repertoire to choose.

→ Suggested Audition Repertoire List

Undergraduate Jazz Applicants - (BM Jazz/Commercial Music) Saxophone ONLY

Please prepare one etude from the standard etude repertory - OR - One solo from the standard solo repertory (if it’s a multi-movement work, only a single movement is needed). No orchestral or band excerpts will be accepted. Accompaniment is not required.

Please see the following link for a comprehensive but not complete list of possible audition repertory for classical saxophone if you are not sure of what repertoire to choose.

→ Suggested Audition Repertoire List

Graduate Applicants (MM, AD)

Please prepare three contrasting works from the standard solo repertory and two orchestral excerpts for your instrument (orchestral excerpts are not needed for saxophone applicants).  At least one piece should be a movement from a major concerto/standard repertory, and ideally at least two stylistic periods (i.e. baroque, classical, romantic, contemporary) should be represented. Accompaniment is not required.


 

Brass
Repertoire and Other Audition Information
for the BM and BA in Music

Repertoire Requirements  Please prepare the following for your audition:

    1. Two contrasting movements from the standard solo repertory for your instrument
           OR
      One movement from a concerto and a standard etude.

      Accompaniment is not required.
      •  Excerpts from school band or orchestra repertoire will not be accepted as audition material.
    2. ​Scales (not concert pitch) :  Ab major, c minor natural, and G major (one or two octaves are both acceptable).

 

Percussion
Repertoire and Other Audition Information
for the BM and BA in Music 

Repertoire Requirements  Please prepare the following for your audition:

If you do not have access to percussion equipment, please contact Professor Sycil Mathai to discuss your audition options.  

Snare Drum : One etude from any of the following:

  • Intermediate or Advanced Snare Drum Etudes by Mitchell Peters
  • Portraits in Rhythm by Anthony Cirone
  • or equivalent 

Mallets : A two or four mallet marimba or xylophone solo

  • Examples include: JS Bach solo violin or cello transcriptions; Yellow After the Rain or Sea Refractions by Mitchel Peters; any Musser Etude; any GH Green Xylophone Rag, or a selection from the Unaccompanied Violin Sonatas by GF Handel, or equivalent. A selection from Masterpieces for Marimba published by McMillan would also be acceptable.

Timpani :

  • Any Etude by Mitchel Peters or any Etude from the Modern Method for Timpani by Saul Goodman, or a solo from The Solo Timpanist by Vic Firth, or equivalent.

Sight reading may be requested on any instrument.

Scales (mallets):  Ab major and E major (2 octaves)

  1. Auditions:   Sign up instructions
  2. Your university admission  Sign up for and complete your audition regardless of the status of your university application and admission. Even if you have been denied admission to the university, the School of Music may advocate that you be granted admission based on your musical talent.
  3. More information 
    Woodwind Area Coordinator  Prof. Jean Ferrandis  (657) 278-3259
    Brass and Percussion Area Coordinator Prof. Sycil Mathai  (657) 278-7624

Master of Music in Performance
Audition Requirements and Other Essentials

The Master of Music in Performance is an applied-based degree requiring 30 units of study in private lessons, ensembles, chamber music, history and literature, and theory. The Cal State Fullerton School of Music faculty include nationally and internationally recognized performers. Students thrive in an environment large enough to engage in challenging, vital music-making, but intimate enough for specialized individual attention. For those intending to pursue doctoral studies, the Master of Music degree normally leads to the DMA.

Auditions as well as Scholarship Auditions for the Master of Music in Performance degree are normally held in Spring (for Fall semester entrance) and each semester (Fall or Spring) during Registration Week, just prior to the start of school. It might be possible to arrange an audition at another time convenient to the student; however, this is unlikely to include scholarship consideration. Under certain circumstances, a video recorded audition may be used for preliminary assessments of ability; however, a live audition is always required.


Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone

The student should be prepared to perform three contrasting selections of their choice but representative of the major solo repertoire for their instrument (i.e., at least one piece should be a concerto or a sonata) and two orchestral excerpts. Ideally, at least two style periods would be represented. Accompaniment is not required for this year's audition.  However, applicants may use a piano accompanist at their own expense for their audition recording.

Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba

The student should video record three contrasting selections of their choice but representative of the major solo repertoire for their instrument (i.e., at least one piece should be a concerto or a sonata). Ideally, at least two style periods would be represented. Accompaniment is not required for this year's audition.  


Percussion

Graduate Percussion applicants please prepare:

If you do not have access to percussion equipment, please contact Professor Sycil Mathai to discuss your audition options.  

  1. Mallets:  1 two-mallet solo AND 1 four-mallet solo demonstrating graduate-level abilities.
    Two major orchestral excerpts on any mallet instrument (ex. Porgy and Bess Xylophone or Pines of Rome/ Sorcerers Apprentice Glockenspiel)
  2. Snare Drum: Any Delecluse Etude or equivalent, and two major orchestral excerpts (examples-Scherezade or Lt. Kije). Demonstrate a long roll on the snare drum starting ppp and gradually crescendoing to FF and then gradually back down to ppp. 
  3. Timpani (Due to pandemic, Timpani is optional for this year's entrance audition recording): Any 3-drum or 4-drum Etude from Peters Fundamental Method for Timpani OR any Delecluse Timpani Etude OR equivalent, AND two major orchestral excerpts (ex Beethoven 9,7 or 5, Tchaikovsky Sym. 4) 
  4. Scales:  Ab Major and C# Harmonic minor (both two octaves). 

These Selections should be representative of the major solo repertory of each instrument at the level of a Bachelor’s degree graduate in instrumental performance.

Letters of Recommendation
Arrange to have letters of recommendation from three music professionals familiar with your preparation for graduate study sent to the School of Music graduate program adviser.

More Information
Audition Dates
 Submission of Supporting Materials

Contact Information
School of Music Graduate Program Advisor Dr. John Koegel (657) 278-7685
Woodwind Area Coordinator Prof. Jean Ferrandis (657) 278-3259
Brass and Percussion Area Coordinator  Sycil Mathai (657) 278- 7624