Question for violinists (or their parents)

D21 is applying to a few more selective summer programs as a violinist right now.

My question is, if you submitted a recording of long-ish first movement of a concerto with a long-ish cadenza to a HS summer program, did you include or omit the cadenza?

The particular concerto in question is the Khachaturian.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Any instructions from the festival? For example, “15 minutes of playing showing a variety of styles”? If instructions read something like, “first movement of a concerto”, I would include the cadenza. Will she also play a contrasting work?

Was Khachaturian her choice for auditions or her teacher’s?

Yes, in almost every case the other piece is a movement of solo Bach. The application instructions are completely silent on the cadenza question, as far as I can tell. For example BUTI says:

• One movement from the solo suites, sonatas, or partitas of J.S. Bach
• One work (or movement within a multi-movement work) representative of the
Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Contemporary eras

So in her case she’s recording a movement which typically includes a rather lengthy cadenza. She already recorded the 2nd movement of Mozart 3rd to contrast with a presto movement from a partita, but teacher wants her also to record the Khach, he says with cadenza, but I think it might be a pointlessly long video to submit. But maybe the Mozart isn’t a high enough degree of difficulty? She plays it very musically with nice intonation, is that enough? Khach has technically challenging passages and opportunities for lyricism both in the first movement. Certainly plenty of both, to my mind without even getting in to a cadenza.

My older summer program applicant was applying in voice, where things are somewhat different, so I just thought I’d ask what the expectations are, since I know HS violinists are further along than HS singers generally in tackling advanced rep.

Listen to the teacher! The cadenza demonstrates technique that is not used elsewhere in the first movement. I would find it strange as an adjudicator if the cadenza was skipped. I would assume if it was left out that the student hadn’t learned the cadenza or mastered the technique required. Khachaturian wrote the cadenza as an integral part of the movement.

The program suggested by your teacher is fine.

DO NOT OMIT THE CADENZA! It would be a huge red flag.

Yes, include the cadenza.

Late to the party here but I will chime in and agree - yes! Include the cadenza. The judges will most likely hear the exposition and then fast forward to the cadenza. It is an absolute must. Hoping for the best for her!