Apply here to MSM's College programs; Precollege Saturday program (ages 5-18); or MSM Summer (ages 8-17).
Applications for academic year 2019-2020 at Manhattan School of Music are due December 1, 2018. At this time, the application is not available. We will begin to accept applications starting on September 1, 2018.
Apply now for our Saturday program for students ages 5-18 for academic year 2018-2019. For more information about how to apply to Precollege and to learn more about the program, visit our Precollege pages on this site.
Apply now to our summer music program for students ages 8-17 for summer 2018. Deadline for application submissions: January 10, 2018. For more information visit our MSM Summer pages on this site.
When you click the Apply Now button, you’ll be asked to start an application for either Precollege or College. For College programs:
Once you have submitted your application, you will be able to view an Application Checklist, which indicates the additional materials that MSM requests (including Artistic Résumé, Personal Photo, Repertoire Studied, and Essay).
Please note: the conservatory is not for beginning students on any instrument.
Manhattan School of Music admits students of any race, color, nationality, or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national or ethnic origin, marital status, citizenship or veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs.
Apply Online here.
If you are a current or former MSM student, please click here for details about your application process.
To find out if your instrument is prescreened and to see the requirements for your instrument, please look at the program page to which you are applying. Prescreening videos are uploaded directly to your application.
Current MSM students and Precollege students who are applying directly to another MSM program are exempt from submitting prescreening videos. (Please note: This excludes MSM students applying to OP Flute, DMA Piano, and the DMA in Jazz Arts. You will still have to submit prescreening as applicants to these majors.)
You are required to upload unofficial transcripts for the initial phase of the admission process. Transcripts may be uploaded within the application itself or after the application is submitted, instructions are provided throughout. Unofficial transcripts are due no later than February 1st. If you are offered admission and choose to enroll, you will be required to provide official transcripts which list your degree and date of graduation. International students and students who have studied abroad must provide proof of degree or diploma as well as an official translation for all non-English documents.
Applicants for Bachelor of Music
Please submit transcripts from your current high school as well as any other high schools you have attended. We do not require the SAT/ACT scores, but if you have them, we’ll be happy to add them to your file. If you are a homeschooled student or a transfer student, please click here to learn more about our transcript requirements.
Applicants for Master of Music or Professional Studies Certificate
Please list all high schools and colleges that you have attended; however, you only need to submit transcripts from all colleges you have attended. We do not require the GRE or any other tests for graduate or post-graduate studies.
We ask that all applicants have a minimum GPA of a 3.0 or its equivalent.
An artistic résumé will be a requirement on your application checklist once you have submitted your online application. Your résumé should include: academic study (institutions, dates and degrees awarded), applied/private study (e.g. subjects, with whom, dates, where), performance experience, awards, distinctions, festivals, and summer programs.
While your audition and music credentials give us an understanding of you as a musician, we’d like to get to know you a little more outside of your musical life. You should have fun with your answer, be creative, and show us the real you! Please find this year’s essay prompt below. The essay should be about 500 words and it will be a requirement on your application checklist once you have submitted your online application. Please do not mail us a copy of your essay.
If you could be any fictional character (from a novel, movie, comic book, TV show), who would you be and why?
All applicants are required to submit letters of recommendation. Recommendation letters must be received by February 1st. You will be asked to supply your recommender’s name and email address while you are filling out your online application. Once you submit your application, your recommender will receive an email asking him or her to write a letter on your behalf that will load directly to your application. Your recommender may also mail us their recommendation.
Applicants for Bachelor of Music:
Applicants for Master of Music, Professional Studies Certificate, Artist Diploma:
Applicants for Doctor of Musical Arts:
When you are ready to submit your application, you will be asked to pay a $125 non-refundable application fee. Current MSM and Precollege students, MSM alumni, and applicants to the Barnard/MSM Lesson Exchange Program pay a reduced fee of $50. All application fees are non-refundable. There is no application fee for exchange applicants applying from one of MSM’s partner institutions abroad. Late applicants must be approved by the Admissions Office. If approved, late applications will be assessed an additional $25 late fee.
Introducing ZeeMee: In an effort to get-to-know our applicants, Manhattan School of Music has partnered with ZeeMee, a free service that helps students bring their application to life. As part of a holistic review, we are committed to learning about the person behind the application. If you join the ZeeMee community of likeminded applicants, we invite you to copy and paste your Zeemee link into your Manhattan School of Music application. You can learn more and sign up at ZeeMee.com. Please note, submitting a ZeeMee profile is completely optional and evaluation of your admissions application is not dependent upon a membership with Zeemee.
College Admissions: 917-493-4436 admissions@msmnyc.edu
“As a New York institution for almost 100 years, Manhattan School of Music plays an important role in one of the great musical cities of the world.” James Gandre President of Manhattan School of Music
“As a New York institution for almost 100 years, Manhattan School of Music plays an important role in one of the great musical cities of the world.”
James Gandre
President of Manhattan School of Music
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