Auditions and Interviews

Below you will find essential information on audition requests, audition/portfolio materials submission, screening requirements, audition categories, supplemental recordings, and interview requests.

Audition Dates & Requirements

General Information

Jump to a section:

  1. Audition Categories
  2. Audition Requests
  3. Interview Requests
  4. Audition/Portfolio Materials Submission
  5. Screening Requirements
  6. Supplemental Recordings

1. Performance Audition Categories

Students may complete the entrance audition in the following ways:

  1. On-Campus Audition: Most auditions and interviews will take place over two weekends in February. Review the Audition Dates and Locations webpage for information specific to your area of study. To get the full experience of the campus community, we strongly encourage you to audition or interview in person. You can review the robust weekend offerings in our audition day sample schedule.

  2. Recorded Audition/Virtual Interview: If an on-campus audition is not possible, applicants may submit a video recording electronically through the Audition and Screening Dropbox on the Applicant Portal. Videos may be unaccompanied (except for voice auditions) and may be produced with high quality home recording equipment; studio quality recording is not necessary. Deadline for submission of Recorded Auditions is February 1. Recordings submitted may not be those used for screening, even in circumstances where the repertoire performed is the same.

  3. Regional Audition: In select U.S. cities, regional auditions are offered only for the Music Theater program for the 2024-2025 audition season. Further information can be found on the Music Theater audition page.  

2. Audition Requests

All performance areas require an audition. Composition, TIMARA, and Recording Arts and Production programs require an interview.

Undergraduate auditions will be scheduled by applicants following notification that they have passed the screening round. Please be sure to complete the Audition/Interview Request Form on the Applicant Portal, available after submission of the Common Application. Applicants will not be eligible to schedule auditions without submission of this form. For more information on application requirements, please see the Undergraduate Applicants webpage. Please note that the application deadline is December 1.

3. Interview Requests

Composition, TIMARA, and Recording Arts & Production applicants: no instrumental audition is required for consideration in these programs. Students do not perform instrumental auditions; rather, applicants who pass screening are required to interview with faculty.Interviews will be scheduled by applicants following notification that they have passed the screening round. Please be sure to complete the Audition/Interview Request Form on the Applicant Portal, available after submission of the Common Application. Applicants will not be eligible to schedule interviews without submission of this form. For more information on application requirements, please see the Undergraduate Applicants webpage.

4. Audition/Portfolio Materials Submission

All audition and portfolio materials, including screening recordings, final audition recordings, supplemental recordings, Composition portfolios, and TIMARA portfolios, and Recording Arts & Production portfolios should be uploaded via the Audition and Screening Dropbox located on your Applicant Portal. The Audition and Screening Dropbox is capable of accepting files up to 5 GB in the following formats: .avi, .flv, .m1v, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .webm, .wmv, .aac, .aif, .aiff, .iff, .fla, .m4a, .mpa, .mp3, .ra, .wav, .wma, .doc, .docx, .odg, .odp, .odt, .pdf, .ppt, .pptx, .rtf, .wpd. Additionally, students can include YouTube links when necessary, though direct media file upload is strongly encouraged and preferred.

5. Screening Requirements

Screening is a first round review prior to being granted an interview or final audition review. All applicants are required to submit screening materials. These auditions and portfolios can be submitted through the Audition and Screening Dropbox on your Applicant Portal. Auditions and/or interviews in these areas will be confirmed after review of the submitted screening materials. These materials are due December 4.

Screening materials received after this deadline will be reviewed at the discretion of the Conservatory Admissions Office. See the specific audition requirements for your instrument for more information on screening requirements. Any materials submitted will not be returned.

6. Supplemental Recordings

In addition to any required audition and screening materials (check the audition requirements for your specific area of study), we allow students to submit any additional performance recordings they feel highlight their abilities. This could include recordings of live performances, pieces not included in required audition repertoire, etc. Submissions should be made using the Audition and Screening Dropbox and can be included with all required screening and final audition materials.

As a high-level, performance-driven institute, the interview or final audition will be weighed most heavily in the review of applicants, and submitting supplemental materials is not required. However, we also want to provide the opportunity for students to represent themselves as musicians in the most complete way possible.

Additional Resources