Auditioning can be a confusing experience. To help applicants navigate the process more easily, they can find general information about Manhattan School of Music's auditions below.
All applicants who intend to audition must first submit the online application. Find out how to apply >
Many departments use a prescreening process to select applicants who will be invited to the live audition. Find out if your instrument is prescreened >
All applicants must audition in order to be admitted to Manhattan School of Music.
IMPORTANT: Applicants should not purchase travel tickets until MSM has notified them that their individual audition has been scheduled. Seoul, Korea Auditions: Applicants who live in or around Seoul will have the opportunity to audition live for Manhattan School of Music faculty in person rather than traveling to New York during the March 2012 audition week. Please note, interested applicants must submit an MSM application to be considered. Applicants will receive their audition times from MSM's partner in Korea. To learn more about this opportunity and to complete audition registration, visit www.msmaat.com. New York, NY Auditions (held at Manhattan School of Music): Applicants must complete the MSM application to be considered. General audition dates are posted by program on the right-hand side of this page. Individual audition dates will be emailed to applicants by February 1, 2012, including a specific date, time, and location that MSM will determine.
Manhattan School of Music works hard to lessen audition conflicts for applicants. For a short time (listed below), applicants may inform MSM of their pre-existing conflicts for the New York, NY audition. MSM will take those conflicts into consideration, however all requested audition dates must fall within the specified dates and times available for each major and degree. Possible audition dates are listed on the right-hand side of this page.
Inform MSM About Conflicts With Seoul, Korea Audition: Please visit www.msmaat.com for more information. MSM's Korean partner will arrange auditions.
The email should contain the following information: Applicant’s name (as it appears in the online application). Complete date of birth (Month-Day-Year). The intended degree level (BM, MM, PS, DMA, or AD). The intended division and major (i.e. CLASSICAL Violin, CONTEMPORARY Violin, ORCHESTRAL Violin, JAZZ Violin). Specific details about the conflict.
Find audition repertoire guidelines on each Academic Department page > On the day of the audition,applicants will fill out a repertoire form with the pieces that they will present to the faculty. Applicants ARE NOT required to submit their audition repertoire to the Office of Admissions prior to their audition day.
MSM will provide accompanists for the audition (at no cost) for the following majors : Classical Voice, Bassoon, Cello, Clarinet, Flute, Violin, and Viola Orchestral Bassoon, Cello, Clarinet, Flute, Violin, and Viola All Jazz Performance Majors Classical accompanists make themselves available for rehearsals prior to the audition, however their rehearsal time slots can fill up quickly. The rates for rehearsals are negotiated directly between the applicant and the accompanist. Contact information for accompanists will be emailed to classical applicants approximately two weeks prior to audition week. Jazz applicants will meet the rhythm section immediately before their audition.
Eligible applicants include those residing outside North America, Conductors, those who play Cello, Tuba, Harp, or Double Bass, and those applicants for the Barnard/MSM Cross-Registration Program (except composers). Ineligible applicants are those residing in North America and those applying for Composition, Accompanying, and all Doctoral Programs.
Submissions are due February 1, 2012 Upload Files to www.ArtsApp.com/msmnyc Each piece must have its own file. Maximum file size of 1 GB. Total portfolio size must be under 6 GB. Cost to upload is $10 per application, payable through the ArtsApp Website. Get Technical support at support@artsapp.com >
Audio .mp3, .m4a Video .asf, .avi, .flv, .mov, .m4v, .mp4, .mpg, .mvb, .swf, .wmv
Provided all required materials have been received, admissions results will be emailed by April 1. A successful audition is not indicative of one's final admissions status at Manhattan School of Music. An applicant's audition results are only one of many criteria used to determine admissions eligibility. The Admissions Committee reviews all application materials listed on the Application, Dates, & Deadlines and International Applicants pages, and an invitation to attend Manhattan School of Music cannot be made without them. Admissions results are not available over the phone. Visit the Application, Dates, & Dealines page > Visit the International Applicants page >
**Applicants should not make travel plans until notified by MSM that their individual audition has been scheduled.**
(Last updated 12/8/2011) For New York, NY Auditions held at Manhattan School of Music:
** For performance audition dates, review classical or jazz sections.
Round 1 - Audition for Faculty Review audition dates in classical section below. Round 2 (callback) - AD Finals Thurs, March 8 - Evening
Accompanying Sun, March 4 - All Day Mon, March 5 - All Day Tues, March 6 - All Day Bassoon Thurs, March 8 - TBD Cello Sunday, March 4 - All Day Monday, March 5 - All Day Clarinet Tues, March 6 - Afternoon/Evening Composition Mon, March 5 - Morning (EXAM for all degrees) Tues, March 6 - All Day (Interview: DMA/MM) Wed, March 7 - All Day (Interview: MM/BM) Thurs, March 8 - All Day (Interview) Double Bass Mon, March 5 - All Day Flute Tues, March 6 - All Day Wed, March 7 - All Day Guitar Sun, March 4 - All Day Mon, March 5 - All Day Harp Sun, March 4 - Afternoon Horn Sun, March 4 - TBD Mon, March 5 - TBD Low Brass Tues, March 6 - TBD Oboe Thurs, March 8 - Afternoon Organ
Fri, March 2 - All Day Percussion Tues, March 6 – All Day (Classical Daytime, OP Evening) Wed, March 7 – All Day (OP) Thurs, March 8 – All Day (Classical) Piano Fri, March 2 - All Day (BM) Sun, March 4 - All Day (MM/PS/BM) Mon, March 5 - All Day (MM/BM) Tues, March 6 - All Day (DMA/PS/BM) Wed, March 7 - All Day (MM/BM; AD Afternoon) Thurs, March 8 - All Day (AD Morning/MM/BM) Fri, March 9 - All Day (MM/BM) Saxophone Mon, March 5 - TBD Trumpet Mon, March 5 - All Day Tues, March 6 - All Day Viola Thurs, March 8 - All Day Fri, March 9 - All Day Violin Mon, March 5 - All Day Tues, March 6 - All Day Wed, March 7 - All Day Thurs, March 8 - All Day Voice
Fri, March 2 - All Day Sun, March 4 - All Day (BM) Mon, March 5 - All Day (BM) Tues, March 6 - All Day (DMA/PS Morning; BM Afternoon) Wed, March 7 - All Day Thurs, March 8 - All Day (PS/MM All Day; AD Morning) Fri, March 9 - All Day (PS/MM)
**All OP auditions will occur on the classical dates EXCEPT for the instruments listed below: Cello TBD Clarinet Tues, March 6 - Afternoon Flute Wed, March 7 - Afternoon Percussion TBD Viola Mon, March 5 - Morning Violin Sun, March 4 - Afternoon
Bass, Violin, Viola, & Cello Thurs, March 8 - All Day Composition Fri, March 9 - All Day DMA in Jazz Arts Advancement Mon, March 5 - Performance, Composition Review, & Lecture Tues, March 6 - (callback) Exams & Interview Percussion & Vibraphone Wed, March 7 - All Day Guitar Tues, March 6 - TBD Piano Sun, March 4 - All Day Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, & Harmonica Tues, March 6 - Afternoon Thurs, March 8 - All Day Trombone Mon, March 5 - Morning Trumpet Mon, March 5 - TBD Voice Tues, March 6 - TBD
Sun, March 4 - All Day Wed, March 7 - All Day Percussion Mon, March 5 - All Day