Applications for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, tuba, percussion, and timpani will be accepted for the 2026 Bursary Competition. Check back in December 2025 to apply!

Solo repertoire requirements

Choose your solo works as indicated in the repertoire lists for your instrument. Choose one of these solo works for the preliminary audition recording that you will include in your application form.

Note: It is not required that repertoire be memorized.

Approved solo repertoire list: String instruments and harp

The approved solo repertoire list has been carefully developed and is regularly reviewed by the NACO Bursary Committee. In drawing up this list the Committee has chosen pieces which, in terms of length, variety and level of difficulty, best meet the requirements of this Competition. No substitutions will be allowed.

Violin | Viola | Cello | Double Bass | Harp

Violin

A movement of J.S. BACH or another solo piece, with or without accompaniment, no longer than 10 minutes. Candidates are encouraged to choose from a diverse selection of composers.

AND

The first movement of one of the following concerti:

  • BÉLA BARTÓK Violin Concerto No. 2
  • LUDWIG v. BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61
  • JOHANNES BRAHMS Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77
  • MAX BRUCH Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26
  • ANTONIN DVOŘÁK Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53
  • ERIC WOLFGANG KORNGOLD Violin Concerto, Op. 35
  • ÉDOUARD LALO Symphonie Espagnole, Op. 21
  • FELIX MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
  • W.A. MOZART choose from concerti Nos. 1 – 5
  • SERGEI PROKOFIEV choose from concerti Nos. 1 & 2
  • CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61
  • JEAN SIBELIUS Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
  • PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35
  • HENRI VIEUXTEMPS choose from concerti Nos. 1 – 5
  • HENRYK WIENIAWSKI Violin Concerto No. 1 in F# minor, Op. 14
  • HENRYK WIENIAWSKI Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22

Viola

A movement of Bach or another solo piece, with or without accompaniment, no longer than 10 minutes. Candidates are encouraged to choose from a diverse selection of composers.

AND

The first movement of one of the following concerti:

  • BÉLA BARTÓK Viola Concerto, BB. 128
  • GEORGES ENESCU Konzertstück (complete)
  • JOHN HARBISON Concerto for Viola
  • PAUL HINDEMITH Der Schwanendreher
  • NICOLÒ PAGANINI Sonata per la Grand’ Viola
  • WILLIAM WALTON Viola Concerto

Cello

A movement of Bach or another solo piece, with or without accompaniment, no longer than 10 minutes.  Candidates are encouraged to choose from a diverse selection of composers.

AND

First movement of one of the following concerti:

  • SAMUEL BARBER Concerto in A minor, Op. 22
  • ERNEST BLOCH Schelomo B. 39 (from beginning to down beat of [30]; pick up from piu animato to 5 bars before [45])
  • LUIGI BOCCHERINI choose from concerti Nos. 1 – 9
  • ANTONIN DVOŘÁK Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191
  • EDWARD ELGAR Concerto in E minor, Op. 85
  • FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN choose from concerti Nos. 1 – 2
  • DMITRY KABALEVSKY choose from concerti Nos. 1 – 2
  • ÉDOUARD LALO Cello Concerto in D minor
  • SERGEI PROKOFIEV Sinfonia Concertante in E minor, Op. 125
  • CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS choose from concerti Nos. 1 – 2
  • ROBERT SCHUMANN Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129
  • DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH Concerto No. 1 in E flat major, Op. 107
  • PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY Rococo Variations, Op. 33 (opening, 1st variation, 3rd variation & last variation)

Double Bass

A movement of a J.S. Bach Cello Suite or another solo piece, with or without accompaniment, no longer than 10 minutes.  Candidates are encouraged to choose from a diverse selection of composers.

AND

First movement (unless otherwise indicated) from one of the following concerti:

  • GIOVANNI BOTTESINI Concerto No. 1 or No. 2
  • KARL DITTERS v. DITTERSDORF Concerto in D
  • DOMENICO DRAGONETTI Double Bass Concerto
  • FRANZ ANTON HOFMEISTER Double Bass Concerto No. 1, 2 or 3
  • SERGE KOUSSEVITSKY Concerto, Op. 3, 2nd and 3rd movements
  • ANDRÉS MARTIN Concerto for Bass and Orchestra, any movement
  • NINO ROTA Divertimento concertante for Double Bass and Orchestra, 3rd and 4th movements
  • JOHANN MATTHIAS SPERGER Double Bass Concerto No. 15 in D major
  • EDUARD TUBIN Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra (including cadenza)
  • JOHANN BAPTIST VANHAL Double Bass Concerto
  • ANTON ZIMMERMANN Double Bass Concerto in D major

Harp

Two contrasting pieces - one concerto and one sonata selected from the following lists:

Concerti

  • MICHAEL CONWAY BAKER Harp Concerto, complete
  • FRANÇOIS-ADRIEN BOÏELDIEU Harp Concerto in C major, 2nd and 3rd movements
  • CLAUDE DEBUSSY Danses Sacrée et Profane, complete
  • ALBERTO GINASTERA Harp Concerto, Op. 25, II. Molto moderato and III. Liberamente capriccioso
  • GEORGE FREDERIC HANDEL Harp Concerto in B flat Major, HWV294, II. Larghetto and III. Allegro moderato

Sonatas

  • SRUL IRVING GLICK King David Sonata, 1st and 2nd movements, OR 2nd and 3rd movements
  • PAUL HINDEMITH Harp Sonata, 1st and 3rd movements OR 2nd and 3rd movements
  • CAROLINE LIZOTTE Suite Galactique, 1st and 3rd movements OR 2nd and 3rd movements
  • NINO ROTA Sarabanda e Toccata
  • GERMAINE TAILLEFERRE Harp Sonata, 1st and 2nd movements OR 2nd and 3rd movements
  • MARCEL TOURNIER Sonatine, Op. 30, 1st and 2nd movements OR 2nd and 3rd movements