• Advanced musical ability in the programme subject which must be demonstrated in the audition exam
• International applicants without German university entry permission must provide evidence of their German language skills through:
  1. Sprachzertifikat B.2.2 (GER) of the Goethe Institute or TestDaF – Level 4 from the TestDaF Institute.
  Language certificates must be submitted during enrolment at the latest.
  2. Technical German language skills in music will be assessed during the music theory examination.

• For winter semester: May/June
• For summer semester: January/February

Exact dates for the upcoming Examination Week can be found here.

Participation is only possible with an invitation.

The audition exam consists of two rounds. After the first round, the Exam Committee will decide who will proceed to the following round.

• fundamental knowledge of conducting technique
• experience with choral work
• artistic relationship to choral singing and relevant literature as well as musical theater

• Choir conducting (realized with three pianos)
  Compulsory piece: Orff Carmina Burana No. 7 “Floret silva”
• Presentation of a chosen discerning solo work on piano or an orchestra instrument (also solo concertos or piano-accompanied works in which case an accompanist must be organized by the applicant)

• Choir conducting (also in a teaching situation)
  Four compulsory pieces:
  • Hindemith Twelve Madrigals No. 8 “Der Judaskuss”
  • Beethoven “Fidelio” No. 10, to Allegro Vivace
  • Haydn “Schöpfung” No. 12 (In vollem Glanze)
  • Brahms Darthulas Grabgesang Op. 42, No. 3
• Correpetition
  • presentation of a chosen choir scene (opera or choir symphonic) on piano, singing the various voices (approx. 8 minutes)
  • sight-read simple passages from oratorios or choir movements
  • sight-read singing (atonal passages without rhythm)
• Score-reading
  • sight reading of a light vocal score (modern key)
  • playing of old notations (2-part with two different old notations
• Core Subject Piano
  • presentation of two chosen solo works, one of which must be a slow movement of a classical sonata or a baroque work in slow tempo

• notation in treble and bass clefs
• knowledge of keys and their accidentals in major and minor
• knowledge of major and minor scales, including modal keys
• determination and notation of intervals in designated octaves
• determination and notation of triads (major, minor, diminished, augmented) and dominant seventh chords, including reversals
• knowledge of the primary and secondary functions in major and minor
• spelling of a short cadence (four parts) according to the functional and level symbols
• analysis of two short excerpts from different musical epochs

• melody dictation (Baroque and/or classical melodies)
• rhythmic dictation (binary and ternary rhythms with slurs and/or syncopation)
• determination of major and minor scales as well as modal scales
• determination and notation of intervals of designated octaves
• determination of triads and dominant seventh chords with inversions (ascending and descending)
• aural analysis of two short music examples from different musical epochs

Small colloquium on general music questions in German language with the following issues:

• foundation of music history from Bach to present (problematic nature of era categories: baroque/classical/romantic/modern/postmodern)
• development of orchestral genres
• development of opera
• development of choir singing

• Applicants for undergraduate studies who have already studied at a German music school and are applying to transfer to HFM are exempt from taking the exams in piano, composition, and ear training if they are able to provide a matriculation certificate/certificate of enrolment.
• Applicants who have studied at a foreign music university/school are eligible for exemption from taking the exams in piano, composition, and ear training if they are able to provide appropriate evidence of academic assessments as decided informally by the Exam Commission.

• For winter semester: 15 April
• For summer semester: 15 November

• Bachelor of Music with 240 credits or equivalent in the same subject as the Masters programme
• Advanced musical ability in the programme subject which must be demonstrated in the audition exam

• For winter semester: May/June
• For summer semester: January/February

Exact dates for the upcoming Examination Week can be found here.

Participation is only possible with an invitation.

The audition exam consists of two rounds. After the first round, the Exam Committee will decide who
will proceed to the following round.

• Conducting at the piano (10 minutes)

• 45-minutes choir rehearsal
  Applicants must display their talent in handling the choir. The candidate is expected to show good rehearsal technique and the ability to execute own interpretative ideas.
  The works will be made known no later than four weeks before the exam date.

Applicants must prove

• their existing, solid rehearsal techniques.
• their ability to communicate with the choir through gesture.
• a precise, musical ear.

• For winter semester: 15 April
• For summer semester: 15 November