Undergraduate Auditions
1. Submit the Bienen School Supplement
In most cases, a performance audition is required.*
*NOTE: Bachelor of Arts and Music Composition programs do not have an audition component, but applicants must submit music materials via the Bienen School Supplement following the deadlines listed on our Application & Timeline page.
Important Application/Audition Dates
Date
Registration Rule
October 15
BM and BA applicants: Early Decision prescreening materials (if applicable) and Bienen School Supplement due
November 15
Deadline to submit Early Decision recorded auditions
November 15
QuestBridge auditions must be completed by
November 22
Early Decision auditions must be completed by
December 1
BM and BA applicants: Regular Decision prescreening materials (if applicable) and Bienen School Supplement due
February 1
Deadline to submit Regular Decision recorded auditions (virtual auditionees only)
February 6-19
Regular Decision auditions
Regular Decision round composition applicants have until February 1, 2023 to upload their required portfolio. However, if an applicant wishes to apply to both the composition program and to a performance major, they should submit a second supplement with the necessary performance major prescreening (if applicable) requirements.
2022-23 Audition Dates
Bassoon
Early Decision: November 12 ||| Regular Decision: February 11 & 18
Cello
Early Decision: November 14 ||| Regular Decision: February 10 & 17
Clarinet
Early Decision: November 11 & 19 ||| Regular Decision: February 8-9 & 15
Classical Guitar
Early Decision: November 14 & 18 ||| Regular Decision: February 10, 13, & 17
Double Bass
Early Decision: TBD ||| Regular Decision: February 8-9 & 15
Euphonium
Early Decision: November 17 ||| Regular Decision: February 10 & 17
Flute
Early Decision: November 11 ||| Regular Decision: February 11 & 12
Harp
Early Decision: November 12 ||| Regular Decision: February 8
Horn
Early Decision: November 4 ||| Regular Decision: February 9, 11, & 16
Jazz Studies
Early Decision: November 14 ||| Regular Decision: February 8-10
Music Composition
There is no audition component. Finalists will interview with composition faculty on Zoom; dates TBD
Music Education
All Music Education auditions will be held on the same day as the applicant's audition for performance faculty
Oboe
Early Decision: November 12 ||| Regular Decision: February 11 & 18
Percussion
Early Decision: November 14 ||| Regular Decision: February 18 & 19
Piano
Early Decision: November 10 ||| Regular Decision: February 10-11, 14, 17-18
Saxophone
Early Decision: November 14 ||| Regular Decision: February 17 with options for February 10-11 if applicants unavailable on 17th
Trombone - Bass/Tenor
Early Decision: November 21 ||| Regular Decision: February 11 & 18
Trumpet
Early Decision: November 19 ||| Regular Decision: February 11 & 18
Tuba
Early Decision: November 17 ||| Regular Decision: February 10 & 17
Viola
Early Decision: Dates flexible ||| Regular Decision: February 10 & 14; other dates possible based on applicant schedules
Violin
Early Decision: November 21 ||| Regular Decision: February 10-11 & 17
Voice
Early Decision: November 7, 14, & 21 ||| Regular Decision: January 30, February 6, 10-11, 17-18
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 giving a mediocre performance of a very difficult piece.
It is not necessary to produce prescreening recordings and final audition recordings 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
The Bienen School of Music will offer on-campus auditions for fall 2023 admission. This modality is subject to change based on the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic. For those unable to audition on campus, a two-part virtual audition option is available (please note: those whose instruments are prescreened must pass the prescreening round in order to move ahead with the virtual audition round)*:
- Submit a recorded audition via the Portfolio section of your Bienen School Supplement. After submitting your Bienen School Supplement and Common/Coalition Application and receiving your prescreening results (if applicable), you will receive an email that includes a link to the specific recorded audition repertoire requirements and video duration specifications. The recorded audition deadline is November 15 for the Early Decision round and February 1 for Regular Decision. Repertoire requirements will be pulled from the audition requirements found on individual Audition & Program Requirements pages.
- Complete a 10-minute Zoom meeting with faculty. Information on the meeting format will be available via the aforementioned email. The meeting may include playing/singing. Applicants will receive their Zoom link 3-5 days before the meeting.
*Piano applicants auditioning virtually will only submit a recorded audition. There will be no Zoom component.
Early Decision and QuestBridge auditions are held on an ad-hoc basis during the month of November. Regular Decision auditions will be held February 8-19, 2023.
COVID-19 Policies for On-campus Auditions
The Bienen School requires that all visitors to our buildings adhere to the following policies and guidelines to participate in an on-campus audition:
- While it is not required, visitors are welcome to wear a mask covering their mouth and nose while inside. If you do not bring a mask, they will be available in various areas around the Ryan Center for the Musical Arts.
- A student may be accompanied in our buildings by up to two guests. However, guests may not enter the audition room with the student.
- Students and guests must follow all University guidelines.
- Visiting students and/or guest(s) who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 or test positive for COVID-19 must notify the faculty member and cancel the in-person audition.
- Visiting students and/or guests who do not follow safety guidelines and policies or faculty/staff instructions will be asked to leave.