When the opportunity came around for me to compose audition études for the state of Illinois, I JUMPED at the chance! If you are familiar with my music/études, then you know that pedagogy is always a huge priority in my writing. So, students and teachers, I genuinely hope you enjoy learning these études that hopefully check ALL of the boxes: appropriate challenges for an audition, sensible lines with tunes and phrasing that make sense, music that sits well on the clarinet and/or highlights pedagogical opportunities for the clarinet, and just plain fun to learn, play and teach!
For teachers, students, and clarinetists who are completely out of the ILMEA network, you are certainly welcome to use these ètudes in lessons or for your own learning/enjoyment. Please note that the études are under copyright and can only be used in teaching or learning settings (in other words, using these études as audition pieces in another region/state would be a breach of the copyright).
For more information on the ILMEA auditions and audition process, click HERE.
An in-person WORKSHOP of all of the audition études took place at Northeastern Illinois University on May 18, 2026 and the video from that workshop, along with the handouts that I distributed, will be shared here soon.
See below for direct links to the official ILMEA audition études (recommended for those auditioning), and for all others, PDFs of my original versions of each étude (using my typical software and formatting) AND reference audio tracks that I recorded. Please note that the low clarinet tracks were recorded on a Bb clarinet. YouTube coaching videos will be added soon!
There are a few errors in the official ILMEA études and you can view those on the CORRECTIONS page.
SENIOR Bb Clarinet – LYRICAL Étude
ILMEA OFFICIAL VERSION (recommended for those auditioning)
My version included below for all others (same notes, etc. – just with my typical software/formatting)
SENIOR Bb Clarinet – TECHNICAL Étude
ILMEA OFFICIAL VERSION (recommended for those auditioning)
My version included below for all others (same notes, etc. – just with my typical software/formatting)
SENIOR Low Clarinet – LYRICAL Étude
ILMEA OFFICIAL VERSION (recommended for those auditioning)
My version included below for all others (same notes, etc. – just with my typical software/formatting)
SENIOR Low Clarinet – TECHNICAL Étude
ILMEA OFFICIAL VERSION (recommended for those auditioning)
My version included below for all others (same notes, etc. – just with my typical software/formatting)
JUNIOR Bb Clarinet – LYRICAL Étude
ILMEA OFFICIAL VERSION (recommended for those auditioning)
My version included below for all others (same notes, etc. – just with my typical software/formatting)
JUNIOR Bb Clarinet – TECHNICAL Étude
ILMEA OFFICIAL VERSION (recommended for those auditioning)
My version included below for all others (same notes, etc. – just with my typical software/formatting)
JUNIOR Low Clarinet – LYRICAL Étude
ILMEA OFFICIAL VERSION (recommended for those auditioning)
My version included below for all others (same notes, etc. – just with my typical software/formatting)
JUNIOR Low Clarinet – TECHNICAL Étude
ILMEA OFFICIAL VERSION (recommended for those auditioning)
My version included below for all others (same notes, etc. – just with my typical software/formatting)