Audition and Major Field Requirements for Graduate Students

All graduate applicants must complete an audition, interview, or some other demonstration of their ability in the major field.  If at all possible, a visit to the campus is strongly encouraged.  However, submission of a high quality cassette tape or CD--or a research paper or video, as appropriate for the proposed major--is acceptable.  Applicants in the following areas must submit a pre-audition screening recording:  Voice (master’s and doctorate) and Strings (doctorate only).  Some units in the College have specific requirements for auditions.  If so, you may select the appropriate link below.  Otherwise submission of the following is requested:

Composition 
Scores of original compositions along with recordings.  Recordings should be of live music, not synthesized reproductions of orchestrations.

Conducting 
A personal audition/interview or a video tape.  Applicants in orchestral conducting must also pass an audition on an orchestral instrument. 

Musicology
A writing sample (term paper) is required of all PhD musicology applicants.  The document should demonstrate ability in critical thinking, appropriate research techniques, and skill in the cogent use of English.

Performance or performance/pedagogy degrees
An audition and/or recording that demonstrates an ability to perform in various styles. Depending upon the applicant's specialty, selections in various media such as chamber music or orchestral repertoire may be appropriate. Additionally, if available, applicants in pedagogy are requested to submit examples of research and writing in pedagogy or video demonstrations of teaching. Please see individual departments for specific requirements.

• Brass and Percussion
Horn, Percussion, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba/Euphonium

• Music Education Essay Requirement

• Collaborative Piano (MM & DMA)

• Piano Performance & Pedagogy (MM)

• Solo Piano (MM & DMA)

• Strings (MM & DMA)

• String Quartet Professional Certificate

• Voice

• Woodwind
Bassoon, Clarinet, Flute, Oboe, Saxophone

All application materials, including non-returnable audition cassette tapes or CDs, should be sent directly to:  College of Music, Graduate Office, 301 UCB, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO,  80309-0301.  Please do not send these items to the Graduate School, the Admissions Office or a faculty member.  Recordings, scores and video tapes will be returned to applicants upon request if return postage is included (stamps only, please). 

Audition and application deadlines:  February 15 for scholarship consideration—All application materials, including the application fee, must be received prior to a prospective student's audition.  Graduate voice applicants should note an earlier deadline--materials for the voice area (including a pre-audition recording for screening) must be postmarked by December 1.  Applicants in musicology must have completed applications by January 15 for scholarship/assistantship consideration.  Beyond February 15, scholarship consideration in most areas is given only as funds become available.  While there is no specific cutoff date for domestic applications, many of our programs have limited capacity for entering students, and available positions may be filled after February 15.

Auditions and interviews for most majors will be held on Saturdays early in February. Graduate voice auditions have been scheduled for the last week of January. Additionally, auditions and interviews may be scheduled individually by communicating with the faculty representative for your area
or by contacting the graduate music office at gradmusc@colorado.edu or (303) 492-2207.