MM & DMA Auditions

Step-by-step instructions for auditioning for the Bienen School of Music are outlined below.

1. Submit your application Top

Please note that auditions for fall 2021 admission will be 100% virtual. 

All graduate degree programs require either a performance audition or an interview in order to be considered for admission. Many programs also require that prescreening materials be submitted with the application, which will determine whether you are invited for a final audition or interview.

Within the Graduate Application, you will answer questions about your musical background and upload your resume and personal statement.  After you have submitted your application (and following a review of any required prescreening materials) you will receive information on how to schedule your audition.

Submit your application

Important Audition Dates

February 4-14, 2021
Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts auditions and interviews
February 22 (DMA) & February 23 (MM)
Wind Conducting auditions

2. Prepare for Your Audition Top

See Audition Requirements

This year's audition format will vary based on instrument. Many programs will require a live virtual Zoom audition or interview component, and faculty also will consult prescreening or audition videos as needed. Specific audition procedures and information will be sent to all applicants via email.

If your program requires prescreening:

  1. Submit your prescreening requirements and application by December 1.
  2. If you are invited for a final audition, our office will contact you with further information about your audition format. Depending on instrument, you may be required to submit additional recordings and/or meet with faculty on Zoom for a live virtual audition/interview. Not all instrument areas' auditions will have a Zoom component, and some areas will only hold interviews over Zoom, not auditions. Details will be sent directly to applicants.  
  3. If needed, our faculty will consult your prescreening materials when making admission decisions.   

NOTE: Fall 2021 clarinet, euphonium, horn, trombone, trumpet, and tuba auditions must be entirely prerecorded and there will not be any live virtual auditions. Some programs may conduct live Zoom interviews. Further information will be sent directly to applicants.

If your program does NOT require prescreening:

  1. Submit your application by December 1 with audition videos uploaded no later than February 8. Please submit videos of all audition requirements.
  2. Our office will contact you with further information about your audition format. Depending on instrument, you may be required to meet with faculty on Zoom for a live virtual audition/interview. Not all instrument areas' auditions will have a Zoom component, and some areas will only hold interviews over Zoom, not auditions. Details will be sent directly to applicants. 
  3. Our faculty will consult your audition videos when making admission decisions. 

NOTE: Fall 2021 double bass and oboe auditions must be entirely prerecorded and there will not be any live virtual Zoom auditions. Further information will be sent directly to applicants.

We recommend starting early by taking the audition requirements to your music teacher. Prepare for your audition by bringing musical selections that best showcase what you do well.  It is better to beautifully perform a piece that requires moderate skill, as opposed to a mediocre performance of a very difficult piece.

For prescreening recordings and final audition recordings, it is not necessary to have them made in a professional studio. The most important aspect is that the sound quality of your recording is excellent, so find a good microphone and play your recording for multiple people before you submit it.

Accompaniment

Please see your program's individual Audition & Program Requirements page for information about accompaniment requirements. 

3. Audition Top

 The Bienen School will be holding live virtual auditions for fall 2021 admission. Please see more information above. 

In the event that you are unable to take part in a live virtual audition, please contact the Office of Music Admission after application deadlines have passed and prescreening results have been distributed to discuss submission options: musiclife@northwestern.edu.