The Adolph “Bud” Herseth Scholarship
The Luther College Music Department is pleased to sponsor a competitive scholarship opportunity for highly skilled musicians. Graduating seniors – pursuing any academic area – may audition to receive a 4-year renewable scholarship named in honor of Adolph “Bud” Herseth, a 1943 Luther College graduate who majored in math and held the position of principal trumpet player of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 54 years.
The competitive audition process for this prestigious scholarship is open to students who exhibit the highest technical and expressive musical abilities. Auditions for the Herseth Scholarship are open to high school seniors in the United States, regardless of major or academic interest.
Winners of the Herseth Scholarship Audition are awarded either:
- Herseth Scholarship–up to $25,000 per year
- Herseth Honorable Mention Scholarship–up to $15,000 per year
- Weston Noble Excellence+ Scholarship–$7,000 per year
Herseth Scholarships will be combined with other merit-based scholarships, the total of which cannot exceed $50,000 per year for students entering fall 2025. In the event merit-based scholarships exceed the cap, the academic scholarship will be reduced accordingly. Need-based assistance does not count toward the annual cap.
Questions about the Herseth Scholarship should be directed to Andrew Whitfield, faculty chair of the music scholarship committee.
Herseth Scholarship Audition Process
Application and Pre-Screen Videos - DUE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2024 before 5:00 p.m.
- Apply for enrollment at Luther College. Your application must be completed before a Herseth audition can be considered.
- Hold both Saturday, January 18 and January 25, 2025, on your calendar for possible in-person competition. (Note: In the event of inclement weather, the competition will be held Saturday, January 25, 2025.)
- Complete the Music Scholarship Application form.
- Review the specific requirements for your instrument or voice, listed below, and practice accordingly.
- Submit your pre-screen audition video(s) by emailing hersethaudition@luther.edu.
- YouTube or Google Drive links are preferred. Multiple files are acceptable.
- Be sure to set the sharing settings so that all files are viewable by Luther faculty.
- Arrange for two (2) recommendation letters, written on your behalf, to be sent directly from the author to hersethaudition@luther.edu by the pre-screen deadline.
- Letters must be written by individuals that can speak specifically to your experience and skills as a musician.
- Authors may include, but are not limited to, band/choir/orchestra directors or private lesson instructors.
Notification of Invitation to Final Round
- Materials will be evaluated by Luther College music department faculty.
- Finalists will be notified by email no later than Friday, December 20, 2024, regarding their advancement into the next round of competition.
- Finalists must reply by email to confirm participation in the live competition by Friday, January 3, 2025. Late confirmations are only considered under extreme circumstances.
Live Audition
- The competition will be held at Luther College in the Jenson-Noble Hall of Music Noble Recital Hall on Saturday, January 18, 2025. (Note: In the event of inclement weather, the competition will be held Saturday, January 25, 2025. Please hold both dates on your calendar.)
- Prepare the required musical material for your instrument as listed in the drop-down menus below.
- Sheet music for any piano accompaniments must be sent as a PDF to hersethaudition@luther.edu.
- Luther faculty accompanists will warm-up with the student just prior to the live audition.
- Each live audition lasts approximately 20 minutes and is adjudicated by a panel of Luther College music department faculty, representing each area of the department.
Awaiting Results
- Recipients will be notified via email of the results within one week of the in-person audition.
- The Financial Aid Office will include the Herseth Scholarship in your complete college award package.
- Herseth Scholarships will be combined with other merit-based scholarships, the total of which cannot exceed $50,000 per year for students entering fall 2025. In the event merit-based scholarships exceed the cap, the academic scholarship will be reduced accordingly. Need-based assistance does not count toward the annual cap.
Herseth Scholarship Audition Requirements
Preliminary Round, Bass Trombone
Repertoire required:
1. Chromatic Scale
- Demonstrate comfortable range capabilities and clean technique.
- Articulation is at the performers discretion.
2. Prepare two contrasting etudes. One etude must exemplify the ability to perform in a slow, lyrical or espressivo style. The second must exhibit technical capabilities specific to the instrument such as speed, range, articulations, etc. You may prepare etudes from your all state band/orchestra audition requirements (current or previous year) or select from the following:
- Bordogni (Rochut), Melodious Etudes, Book 1 (may play as written or down an octave)
- Tyrell, 40 Advanced Studies for B-flat Bass
- Grigoriev, 24 Studies
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? No
Final Round, Bass Trombone
Repertoire required:
1. Select one etude from the pre-screening audition requirements to perform during the live auditions.
2. Solo or movement from a larger work of your choosing.
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? Yes
Preliminary Round, Bassoon
Repertoire requirements:
1. Two contrasting movements from one of the following:
- Mozart, Bassoon Concerto in Bb Major, K 191
- Weber, Bassoon Concerto in F Major
- Vivaldi, Bassoon Concerto in a minor, RV 497
- Vivaldi, Bassoon Concerto in e minor, RV 484
2. From 50 Concert Studies by Ludwig Milde, chose either etude 3, etude 5, or etude 9.
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? No
Final Round, Bassoon
Repertoire requirements:
1. Jenni Brandon, Colored Stones, select any 2 movements
2. Select the First or Third movement from one of the following:
- Mozart, Bassoon Concerto in Bb Major, K 191
- Weber, Bassoon Concerto in F Major
- Vivaldi, Bassoon Concerto in a minor, RV 497
- Vivaldi, Bassoon Concerto in e minor, RV 484
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? Yes
Preliminary Round, Clarinet
Repertoire required:
Record one selection each from List A, List B and List C:
List A: Concertos (choose 1 of these)
1. C.M. von Weber, Concertino
- record measures 10-53, m. 60-70, m. 73-90, m. 96-111 (w/o repeat), and m. 164-end
2. C.M. von Weber, Concerto No. 1, 1st movement
- record measures. 48-145, m. 170-247, and m. 258-end
3. W.A. Mozart, Concerto K. 622, 1st movement
- May be played on Bb clarinet, though the original is for clarinet in A.
- record from the measure the soloist begins (m. 57) to the end of the exposition (m. 154)
List B: Etudes (choose 1 from the following)
Record completely, beginning to end, without cuts.
1. Rose 40 Studies, Number 13
2. Rose 40 Studies, Number 24
3. Rose 32 Studies, Number 19
List C: Unaccompanied Solos (choose 1 from the following)
1. Willson Osborne, Rhapsody for Clarinet
2. Miklos Rozsa, Sonatina for Clarinet Solo, opus 27, 1st movement only
3. Igor Stravinsky, Three Pieces for Solo Clarinet
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? No
Final Round, Clarinet
Repertoire required:
1. Debussy, Premiere Rhapsodie for Clarinet and Piano (with accompaniment)
2. Select one etude from the pre-screening audition requirements to perform during the live auditions.
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? Yes, for the Debussy.
Preliminary Round, Flute
Repertoire requirements:
- Bach: 2 movements from either the Eb Major Sonata (BWV 1031) or the C Major Sonata (BWV 1033)
- Choose one etude from:
- Élégie – Étude (in e minor), J. Donjon
- Tango Etude #5, Astor Piazzolla
- Flute Etudes, Op. 33: No. 5, Larghetto in D Major, Joachim Andersen
- Mozart: First movement from either the G Major Concerto or D Major Concerto
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? Please record without accompaniment.
Final Round, Flute
Repertoire requirements:
- Fantaisie pour flute et piano (1912) by Philippe Gaubert
-
“Adagio and Menuetto 1” from Sonata in C Major by J.S. Bach (BWV 1033).
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? Yes
Preliminary Round, French Horn
Repertoire required:
1. Chromatic scale
- Demonstrate comfortable range capabilities and clean technique.
- Articulation is at the performers discretion.
2. Prepare two contrasting etudes. One etude must exemplify the ability to perform in a slow, lyrical or espressivo style. The second must exhibit technical capabilities specific to the instrument such as speed, range, articulations, etc
- Etude no. 26, Andante con moto, langsam gehend, from page 79 of The Complete Method for French Horn by Oscar Franz
- Etude no. 34, Allegro (no repeats), from page 24 of Sixty Selected Studies (Book 1) by C. Kopprasch
The horn etudes are provided here.
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? No
Final Round, French Horn
Repertoire required:
1.Perform both etudes from the pre-screening audition requirements to perform during the live auditions.
2. Solo or movement from a larger work from the list below
- Malcolm Arnold, Fantasy for Horn (all)
- Reinhold Gliere, Concerto in Bb major, op. 91 (either Movement I (write your own cadenza) or Movement III)
- Richard Strauss, Horn Concerto, op 11 (either Movements I and II, or II and III)
- Paul Hindemith, Sonate, op39, (Movement I)
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? Yes
Preliminary Round, Guitar
Repertoire required:
1. Perform two solo pieces, two accompanied pieces, or one from each of the following categories:
Solo Guitar
- Classical
- J.S. Bach, “Bourree” from Lute Suite in E Minor, BWV 996
- H. Villa-Lobos, Prelude No. 4
- Brouwer, Simple Etudes, No. 1 & 2
- Jazz Chord Melodies
- Howard, Fly Me To the Moon, arr. William Leavitt
- Lennon & McCartney, Yesterday, arr. Mike Elliot
- Steel-string Fingerstyle Guitar
- Tommy Emmanuel, It’s Never Too Late
- Chet Atkins, Windy and Warm
- Pete Huttlinger, The Water is Wide
Accompanied Pieces
*Perform with a backing track, providing the melody, with improvisation and/or transcribed solo.
- Jazz
- Charlie Parker, Billie’s Bounce
- Sonny Rollins, Oleo
- Blues
- Stevie Ray Vaughan, Riviera Paradise
- Rock
- Eric Johnson, Cliffs of Dover
- Joe Satriani, Flying in a Blue Dream
2. A third piece of the candidate’s choosing will also be allowed.
Note: In order to maintain scholarship, the student must demonstrate dedication to the improvement of sight reading, reaching required goals in reading proficiency each semester.
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? Yes, by a backing track if selections from the “accompanied pieces” category are chosen.
Final Round, Guitar
If selected for the final round live audition, the student will select 2 of the solos performed on the pre-screen audition to perform for the live audition.
Preliminary Round, Harp
Repertoire requirements:
Prepare all of the following:
- Marcel Grandjany, Aria in Classic Style
- Alphonse Hasselmans, La Source
- Carlos Salzedo, Chanson dans la nuit
- Claude Debussy, La Mer (9 bars after 2 to number 6)
Memorization required? No
Final Round, Harp
Repertoire requirements:
- Alphonse Hasselmans, La Source (from pre-screening)
- In addition, prepare Alborada del Gracioso, Maurice Ravel, beginning to number 9
Memorization required? Yes, for the Hasselmans only.
Preliminary Round, Oboe
Repertoire required:
- One selection from:
- Mozart, Concerto in C major, K. 314: Mvt. I, including a cadenza
- Bellini, Concerto in E-flat: (All)
- Vaughan Williams, Concerto for Oboe: Mvt. I
- One selection from:
- Morris, Collision Etudes: IV. Rainbow
- Britten, Six Metamorphoses After Ovid: III. Niobe or V. Narcissus
- Ferling, 48 Famous Studies: One slow etude
- A free selection of your choice (up to 4 minutes). This could include:
- A work for English horn,
- A work you have written yourself, or that someone has written for you
- Any work in a contrasting style/genre to the others on this list
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? Please record without accompaniment
Final Round, Oboe
Repertoire requirements:
- Handel, Sonata in C minor, HWV 366: mvt. I & II.
- The same concerto movement that was performed for the preliminary round.
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? Yes
Preliminary Round, Organ
Repertoire required:
Prepare both of these:
- A major work of J.S. Bach (prelude and fugue, trio sonata movement, or large-scale chorale setting, i.e. Leipzig Autograph or Schübler Chorale).
- An additional piece from the organ literature written/published during or after the Nineteenth century.
Memorization required? No
Final Round, Organ
Repertoire required:
- Choose one piece from the Preliminary Round, plus an additional composition.
- The total timing for the final round should not exceed twenty minutes.
Memorization required? No
Preliminary Round, Percussion
Repertoire required:
Prepare works from three of the five categories listed below, one of which must be mallet percussion.
Mallet Percussion
- Prepare a two or four-mallet work that demonstrates technical skill and musicality on mallet percussion.
- Repertoire may include pieces by Abe, Burton, Burritt, Creston, Ewazen, Ford, Gillingham, Mayuzumi, Smadbeck, Trevino or equivalent.
Snare Drum
- Prepare a work for snare drum that demonstrates technical skill and musicality.
- Repertoire may include pieces by Delecluse, Pratt, Peters, Cirone, Masson, Gerassimez, Martynciow or equivalent.
Timpani
- Prepare a solo work that demonstrates technical skill and musicality on timpani.
- Demonstrate a strong sense of pitch, tone, and technique (preferably for at least 4 drums).
- Repertoire may include pieces by Beck, Peters, Carter, Bergamo, Wilmarth or equivalent.
Multiple Percussion
- Prepare a solo work that demonstrates technical skill and musicality on multiple percussion.
- Repertoire may include pieces by Hollinden, Keown, Milhaud, Kraft, Kopetzki or equivalent.
Drumset
- Using the list below as a guide, prepare performances of various styles demonstrating your ability to play time and solo in each style.
- Medium Swing, quarter note = 130 bpm,
- Up-tempo Swing, quarter note = 240 bpm.
- Jazz Waltz, quarter note = 176 bpm
- Bossa Nova, quarter note = 116 bpm
- Samba, half note = 90 bpm
- 12/8 Afro-Cuban, dotted quarter note = 116 bpm
- 16th Note Funk, quarter note = 94 bpm
- 8th Note Rock, quarter note = 110 bpm
- Mambo or other Cuban grooves
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? No
Final Round, Percussion
Repertoire required:
Be prepared to play the same material that you submitted for the preliminary round.
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? Yes, if the piece requires it.
Preliminary Round, Piano
Repertoire requirements:
Submit a 15-20 minute video including:
- First movement of a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert.
- One or two additional pieces from piano literature of these eras:
- Baroque
- Romantic
- Impressionistic
- Twentieth Century
Memorization required? Yes, for all selections
Final Round, Piano
Repertoire requirements:
- Choose one piece from the Preliminary Round, plus an additional composition.
- The total timing for the final round should not exceed twenty minutes.
Memorization required? Yes, for all selections.
Preliminary Round, Saxophone
Repertoire requirements:
1. Choose one of the following:
- Bozza, Improvisation and Caprice
- Bozza, Piece Breve (both are unaccompanied)
2. Choose any movement of either of the following, for a total of 15 to 20 minutes of performance time:
- Any piece by Pierre Max Dubois, with accompaniment
- Any piece by Bernhard Heiden, with accompaniment
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? For some pieces, as listed above.
Final Round, Saxophone
Repertoire requirements:
Prepare Tomasi, Introduction et Danse
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? Yes
Preliminary Round, Violin/Viola/Cello
Repertoire requirements:
- A movement of unaccompanied Bach from the Sonatas & Partitas or the Suites
- A complete first movement of a standard concerto.
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? No. Bach requirement should be unaccompanied.
Preliminary Round, Double Bass
Repertoire requirements:
- A movement of an unaccompanied work (may be Bach)
- A complete first movement of a standard concerto.
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? Accompaniment strongly encouraged.
Final Round, Violin/Viola/Cello
Repertoire requirements:
- Material submitted for the preliminary round, AND
- A piece or single movement of your choice – not Bach.
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? Yes, an accompanist will be provided for the final round auditions on campus.
Final Round, Double Bass
Repertoire requirements:
- Material submitted for the preliminary round, AND
- A piece or single movement of your choice.
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? Strongly encouraged.
Preliminary Round, Tenor Trombone or Euphonium
Repertoire required:
1. Chromatic scale
- Demonstrate comfortable range capabilities and clean technique.
- Articulation is at the performers discretion.
2. Prepare two contrasting etudes. One etude must exemplify the ability to perform in a slow, lyrical or espressivo style. The second must exhibit technical capabilities specific to the instrument such as speed, range, articulations, etc. You may prepare etudes from your all state band/orchestra audition requirements (current or previous year) or select from the following:
- H. Voxman, Selected Studies
- Tyrell, 40 Progressive Studies
- Bordogni (Rochut), Melodious Etudes, Book 1
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? Yes
Final Round, Tenor Trombone or Euphonium
Repertoire required:
1. Select one etude from the pre-screening audition requirements to perform during the live auditions.
2. Solo or movement from a larger work of your choosing.
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? Yes
Preliminary Round, Trumpet
Repertoire requirements:
1. Chromatic scale
- Demonstrate comfortable range capabilities and clean technique.
- Articulation is at the performers discretion.
2. Prepare two contrasting etudes. One etude must exemplify the performer’s ability to perform in a slow, lyrical or espressivo style. The second must exhibit technical capabilities specific to the instrument such as speed, range, articulations, etc.
3. Etudes must be selected from the following sources (both etudes may be from the same source):
- H. Voxman, Selected Studies for Trumpet
- W. Wurm, 40 Studies for Trumpet
- Theo Charlier, 36 Transcendental Etudes for Trumpet
- Sigmund Hering, 30 Etudes for Trumpet
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? No
Final Round, Trumpet
Repertoire requirements:
1. Select one etude from the pre-screening audition requirements to perform during the live auditions.
2. Select and perform one piece from the following options:
- Movements I or III from the Sonata for Trumpet by Kent Kennan
- Movement I from the Sonata for Trumpet by Paul Hindemith
- Movement I or III from the Concerto for Trumpet by Johann N. Hummel
- Movement I or III from the Concerto for Trumpet by Franz J. Haydn
- Concert Etude by Alexander Goedicke
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? Yes
Preliminary Round, Tuba
Repertoire required:
1. Chromatic scale
- Demonstrate comfortable range capabilities and clean technique.
- Articulation is at the performers discretion.
2. Prepare two contrasting etudes. One etude must exemplify the ability to perform in a slow, lyrical or espressivo style. The second must exhibit technical capabilities specific to the instrument such as speed, range, articulations, etc. You may prepare etudes from your all state band/orchestra audition requirements (current or previous year) or select from the following:
- Blazhevich, 70 Studies, Volume 1 or 2
- Bordogni, 43 Bel Canto Studies (King), Complete Vocalises (Jacobs) or any other edition for tuba/bass trombone is acceptable
- Tyrell, 40 Advanced Studies for B-flat Bass
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? No
Final Round, Tuba
Repertoire required:
1. Select one etude from the pre-screening audition requirements to perform during the live auditions.
2. Solo or movement from a larger work of your choosing.
Memorization required? No
Accompaniment required? Yes
Preliminary Round, Voice
Repertoire requirements: Sing 3 selections in contrasting styles and in three different languages.
The three selections may consist of either:
- 3 art songs
or
- 2 art songs and 1 aria from opera, operetta, or oratorio
Memorization required? Yes, for all selections.
Accompaniment required? Yes. Live piano preferred. If necessary, use an accompaniment track with good sound quality and singer/accompaniment balance.
Final Round, Voice
Repertoire requirements: Sing 4 selections in contrasting styles and in at least three different languages.
- 1 selection must be in English
- 1 selection must be an aria from opera, operetta, or oratorio; the other 3 selections should be art songs
- A selection from classical musical theater (lyrical musical theater; prior to 1965) may be substituted for one of the 3 art songs
Memorization is required for all selections.
Piano accompaniment will be provided.