Learn about your audition process here.
MSM is committed to offering a high-quality audition experience while also ensuring the health and wellbeing of auditionees and the entire MSM community. At present, we still plan to hold in-person auditions at our NYC campus for Classical, Jazz, Contemporary, and Orchestral Performance applicants from February 25 & 27 – March 4. We are hopeful that the current spike in COVID infections will have passed and that we can welcome you to experience the warmth of our musical community for yourself. Should external factors necessitate any changes to this plan, we will notify applicants with as much notice as possible. As previously communicated to Musical Theatre applicants, January’s Musical Theatre auditions will be entirely virtual.
In-person auditions for Classical, Jazz, Contemporary, and Orchestral Performance will be held on MSM’s NYC campus February 25 & 27 – March 4. Applicants who are invited to the final audition rounds will have the opportunity to schedule their specific audition date and time after prescreening results are released.
In-person auditions for orchestral conducting applicants will be held on the evening of January 24.
In-person auditions for Musical Theatre applicants will be held in January. Applicants who are invited to the final audition round will have a choice of audition dates within January 15-17 & 29-30.
Classical Bass Trombone: February 28 Classical Bassoon: March 1 Classical Cello:Â February 27 – March 1 Classical Clarinet: March 3 & 4 Classical Composition Interviews: March 1 – 4 Classical Composition Exam: Virtual. Available late January, Due Feb. 1. Classical Double Bass:Â February 28 Classical Flute: March 2 & 3 Classical Guitar:Â February 27 Classical Harp: Harp Practice March 3, Audition March 4 Classical Horn: March 2 & 3 Classical Oboe: March 1 Classical Orchestral Conducting:Â January 24 Classical Choral Conducting:Â February 24 Classical Organ:Â March 4 Classical Percussion:Â March 2 – 4 Classical Piano: February 25 & February 27 – March 4 Classical Saxophone:Â February 27 Classical Tenor Trombone:Â February 28 Classical Trumpet: March 1 & 2 Classical Tuba: March 3 Classical Viola:Â February 27 Classical Violin:Â February 28 – March 4 Classical Voice:Â February 25 & February 27 – March 4 Collaborative Piano: February 27 – March 1
Contemporary Performance Program: March 1 – 2
Jazz Arts DMA: March 2 – 3 (both) Jazz Composition: March 3 Jazz Double Bass: March 3 Jazz Drumset: February 27 Jazz Flute: February 28 – March 1 Jazz Guitar: March 4 Jazz Piano: February 27 Jazz Saxophone: February 28 – March 1 Jazz Trombone:Â March 2 Jazz Trumpet: February 28 Jazz Vibraphone: February 28 Jazz Violin: March 3 Jazz Voice: March 2
Musical Theatre: January 15-16 & 29-30
Orchestral Bass Trombone: February 28 Orchestral Bassoon: March 1 Orchestral Cello: March 4 Orchestral Clarinet: February 27 Orchestral Double Bass: February 28 Orchestral Flute:Â March 4 Orchestral Harp: Harp Practice March 3, Audition March 4 Orchestral Horn: March 2 & 3 Orchestral Oboe: March 1 Orchestral Percussion:Â March 2 – 4 Orchestral Tenor Trombone: February 28 Orchestral Trumpet:Â March 1 & 2 Orchestral Tuba: March 3 Orchestral Viola:Â February 27 Orchestral Violin:Â February 27
Prescreening results will be released by December 21.
Applicants who are invited to an in-person audition will receive an Audition Repertoire form where they will list all of the repertoire they have prepared for their audition. For most auditions, you will choose your first piece, and the faculty will choose the subsequent piece(s). You must be prepared to play all of the pieces you have listed on your repertoire form.
Specific information about prescreening and audition requirements can be found on the program page to which you are applying.
Please review your specific requirements using the links to specific program pages are below.
*Graduate studies only
The programs and instruments listed below require an accompanist. If your instrument requires an accompanist, MSM will provide one for you at your audition at no cost. If your instrument does not require an accompanist, please do not bring one.
Classical Program: Bassoon, Cello, Clarinet, Flute, Violin, Viola, and Voice Jazz Arts Program: All Jazz majors will have a combo provided Orchestral Performance Program: Bassoon, Cello, Clarinet, Flute, Violin, and Viola
A rhythm section is provided at no cost to you for your audition. You will not meet the rhythm section in advance of your audition. You are required to bring three copies of music for each tune you prepare to perform at your audition.
Your accompanist’s contact information will be provided to you in advance of your audition. At least three weeks prior to your audition, you must contact your accompanist and inform them of your audition repertoire so they can review your music. You may arrange rehearsal time directly with your accompanist at your own expense. The accompanists have a limited amount of rehearsal time. Therefore, it is necessary to contact them well in advance if you wish to set up a rehearsal. Please note that our professional accompanists are familiar with standard repertoire. Therefore, a pre-audition rehearsal, while helpful, is not necessary.
At your audition, you must bring hard copy scores for your accompanist. If you are using photocopies, please make sure to secure them in a binder so that it will be easy for your accompanist to turn pages.
If you wish to bring your own accompanist, you may do so at your own expense. You must inform the Office of Admissions and your assigned MSM accompanist at least two weeks prior to your audition if you choose to bring your own accompanist.
Virtual Auditions may be available to you, depending on your program of study and place of residence. You may review the eligibility requirements below.
Please note that a recorded audition does not replace prescreening. If your major requires prescreening, you must submit prescreening videos in order to be considered for an audition.
*All DMA and AD applicants must audition in person, with the exception of composition.
Recorded auditions are due February 1.
Regardless of your standard eligibility for a virtual audition, if you are unable to attend an in-person audition, please email the office of admission at admission@msmnyc.edu to see if a virtual audition accommodation may be possible for your unique circumstances.
A strong audition is the primary factor in any successful admission result, but it is not the only point of consideration. The MSM Admissions Committee reviews all required application materials before determining admissibility. To review the required materials for your desired major and intended degree program, please visit our What You’ll Need to Apply page.
Admissions results are available no later than April 1, provided that we have received all of your required materials. We will email you when your admission result is available for viewing in your Admission Portal. Admissions results are not disclosed over the phone.
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