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Each year, Bienen School faculty will listen to thousands of the nation’s most promising young musicians to determine who will be selected for admission to Northwestern University.
Step by step instructions for auditioning for the Bienen School of Music are outlined below.
In most cases, a performance audition is required. If your program requires a recorded “example of musicianship,” or if you are unable to attend an on-campus audition and want to submit a recording for your final audition, these recordings are due by February 1. If your desired program requires a performance audition, you must register for the audition by dates below.
Register for your Audition*Composition applicants for Regular Decision have until February 1 to upload the required portfolio. However, if you wish to apply to both Composition and to a performance major, you should register for the performance audition by December 1, and then submit a second registration for your Composition portfolio.
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
Voice applicants are required to submit prescreening recordings with accompaniment. For on-campus voice auditions, an accompanist will be provided for you. However, you are required to bring your own music for the accompanist to use. We recommend making photocopies of your music and neatly organizing your selections in a three-ring binder. Please do not place music in plastic sleeves as this causes glare for our pianists. For safety, do not use staples on your music. Do not send music in advance, but instead bring the music with you when you arrive for your audition.
Jazz Studies applicants require prescribed combo instrumentation, as described in the Audition and Program Requirements booklet.
Classical instrumental prescreening recordings and auditions must be unaccompanied. If you are performing a required excerpt that includes measures of rests, it is not necessary to count out the rests—you can move on to your next entry.
If you are visiting us on a regular class day, feel free to observe a class or rehearsal. To be considered for an on-campus audition, you must register online by December 1 and upload any required prescreening recordings. If you are invited for the final round of auditions, you will receive notification after your Common Application has been submitted. This notification will include information on how to schedule your audition.
Do not book your travel arrangements until you have received official, written confirmation from the Bienen School of Music. Information for parking, hotel accommodations, transportation, and on-campus events will be sent with confirmation of an on-campus audition.
Early Decision Auditions are held on an ad-hoc basis during the month of November.
NOTE: Applicants applying via QuestBridge to the Bienen School of Music must complete their performance audition (or upload a final recording) before November 25, regardless of whether applying Early or Regular Decision.
If you cannot complete an on-campus audition, you must upload a recording to use as your final audition. If you are not planning to visit campus for the live audition, you should upload your final recording during your Audition Registration by December 1.
Prepare for your audition
View Audition & Program Requirements