From first solo to final audition—how a carefully curated repertoire list becomes a student’s personal record of growth, readiness, and artistic identity.
If you plan to major in music in college, there's one document that tells your story before you even play a note: your solo repertoire list.
A solo repertoire list includes all the solo pieces you’ve performed since you began playing your instrument or singing—often starting with your very first Solo and Ensemble Festival performance in middle school. This list doesn’t just show what you’ve played. It reflects your growth, your dedication, and your readiness for what’s ahead.
For many students, this journey begins as early as 7th or 8th grade—often with a solo prepared for a district or state Solo & Ensemble Festival. From there, each year brings a new piece, another performance, and another step forward in skill. Over time, your list becomes more than a record; it becomes a reflection of your commitment and progress.
When your college audition finally arrives, you're ready with your most advanced, polished solo—the one you’ve rehearsed to perfection. You begin performing with confidence, hoping to win over the audition panel.
Then, midway through, an adjudicator stops you.
“Thank you,” they say. “As I was reading down your repertoire list, I see that you performed The Clarion Suite in the eighth grade. Could we hear a performance of that solo?”
Suddenly, you're scrambling through your folder, trying to locate a piece you haven’t looked at—or played—in four years. Still, you give it your best, performing from memory and muscle.
And just as you take a breath, the panel requests another piece from your list.
Moments like this are not uncommon. They reveal one important truth: if it’s on your list, you should be ready to perform it.
To avoid last-minute stress and hard-to-find music, always purchase four original copies of any solo the same year you perform it:
Keep all four in a safe place.
Many pieces go out of print over time, and tracking them down your senior year—when your audition folio is due—can be nearly impossible.
Plan ahead.
Preserve your portfolio.
Protect your opportunities.
When building your list, don’t just focus on the title and composer. Consider what each piece says about your journey—what it challenged in you, how it shaped your style, and how you might approach it differently today.
Only include pieces you’ve learned, performed, and can revisit with confidence. Collegiate adjudicators expect your technique to be solid—but even more than that, they’re listening for a mature, expressive interpretation. They're looking for the whole musician—not just fast fingers.
The best repertoire lists don’t just show skill. They tell a story.
Your repertoire list is a promise. It tells the panel what you’ve mastered, what shaped you, and what you’re prepared to share again—even years later.
So be honest. Stay prepared. And be ready to speak through your music—past and present—with clarity, artistry, and heart.
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ARTICLE GLOSSARY
Accompanist: A pianist or instrumentalist who plays alongside a solo performer to support their musical performance.
Adjudicator: A judge or evaluator at a music audition, competition, or festival who provides scores, feedback, or decisions based on a student’s performance.
Audition Panel: A group of music faculty members who evaluate student performances to determine placement, admission, or scholarship awards.
Baroque: A style of classical music from the 1600s–1700s, often studied by young musicians. Composers include Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi.
College Audition: A live or recorded performance used by colleges or universities to evaluate prospective music majors for admission or scholarships.
Composer: The person who wrote the music being performed.
Flute Solo: A musical piece written to be performed by a single flutist, often used in festivals or auditions.
Middle School Repertoire: The solo music typically assigned to students in grades 6–8, often for their first adjudicated performance experiences.
Musical Interpretation: How a musician adds emotion, phrasing, and expression to a piece to make it uniquely their own.
Performance-Ready: Being prepared to perform a solo piece confidently and accurately at any time, even if it was learned years ago.
Repertoire List (Solo Repertoire List): A written record of all the solo pieces a student has learned and performed over time, often submitted with college applications.
Romantic-Era Music: A style of music from the 1800s–early 1900s known for emotional expression and dramatic dynamics. Composers include Tchaikovsky, Schumann, and Brahms.
Score (Sheet Music): The printed music that shows the notes, rhythms, and instructions for performing a piece.
Solo & Ensemble Festival: A state- or district-level music event where students perform solos or small group pieces for adjudicators and receive feedback and ratings.
Technique: The physical skill required to play an instrument well, including finger movement, breath control, and articulation.
Vibrato: A slight fluctuation in pitch used by musicians to add warmth and emotion to a note. Common in vocal and instrumental solos.
