Vocal Arts Prescreening & Audition Procedures

Requirements for Vocal Arts

Vocal Arts applicants must submit a prescreen video in order to be considered for an invitation to an in-person or recorded audition.

Include ALL required repertoire for the degree level you are applying to, as listed in the dropdown menu below.
Upload your prescreen recordings directly to your application by December 1.
Videos do not have to be a professional or studio recording, but the sound quality should be of high quality and should accurately reflect your musicianship.
Each piece or movement should be uploaded as a separate video. However, each individual video must be unedited.
All works must be performed from memory.

Step 1: Prescreen

Carefully review the specific repertoire requirements for your degree level in the dropdown menu below. Please upload your videos to your application.

Undergraduate: Bachelor of Music (BM)
Three songs are required:
- One song in Italian from the 17th or 18th century
- One song in English (not a translation)
- A song of your choice. This can be in French or German, in your native language (other than English or Italian), or a work by a composer from a historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group, gender, and/or culture. Allow this selection to tell us something special about you!
Master of Music (MM)
Seven songs/arias* are required:
- One song in English
- One song in German
- One song in French
- One song in Italian
- An operatic aria*
- An oratorio aria OR a second operatic aria*
- A selection of your choice. This can be one that is in your native language (other than English, French, German or Italian), or a work by a composer from a historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group, gender, and/or culture. Allow this selection to tell us something special about you!
*Note: Your repertoire list must contain no more than two (2) arias. Of the seven required pieces, an aria in English, French, German or Italian can count as either your aria selection OR your art song selection in that language, but not both. Your selections should be no more than four minutes in length. Any work that exceeds four minutes may be stopped due to time constraints.
Professional Studies (PS), Professional Performance Diploma (PPD), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) & Artist Diploma (AD)

A full-length recital consisting of at least four (4) contrasting style periods, including compositions in English, French, German, and Italian. The program should contain 60 minutes of music and include no more than two operatic arias. In addition, candidates are encouraged to include pieces in their native language or other global languages as well as works by composers from historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, genders, and/or cultures.

Step 2: Audition

Prepare ALL of the required audition repertoire for the degree level you are applying to, as listed in the dropdown menu below.
Be prepared to introduce yourself at the beginning of your audition, saying your name clearly. Also be prepared to pronounce the composer and librettist’s names correctly.
Note that audition repertoire requirements may differ from prescreen requirements. However, applicants may choose to include selections from their prescreen submissions in the audition where requirements overlap.
MSM offers in-person and recorded final auditions, except for the Doctoral of Musical Arts & Artist Diploma programs, which require an in-person audition.

Carefully review the specific repertoire requirements for your degree level in the dropdown menu below.

Undergraduate: Bachelor of Music (BM)
Three songs are required:
- One song in Italian from the 17th or 18th century
- One song in English (not a translation)
- A song of your choice. This can be in French or German, one that is in your native language (other than English or Italian), or one that is composed by a composer from a historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group, gender, and/or culture. Allow this selection to tell us something special about you!
Master of Music (MM)
Seven songs/arias are required:
- One song in English
- One song German
- One song in French
- One song in Italian*
- One operatic aria*
- An oratorio aria OR a second operatic aria*
- A selection of your choice. This can be one that is in your native language (other than English, French, German or Italian), or one that is composed by a composer from a historically underrepresented racial/ethnic group, gender, and/or culture. Allow this selection to tell us something special about you!
Be prepared to introduce yourself at the beginning of your audition, saying your name clearly. Also be prepared to pronounce the composer and librettist’s names correctly and know something about them and their contributions to the vocal canon.

*Note: Your repertoire list must contain no more than two (2) arias. Of the seven required pieces, an aria in English, French, German or Italian can count as either your aria selection OR your art song selection in that language, but not both. Your selections should be no more than four minutes in length. Any work that exceeds four minutes may be stopped due to time constraints.
Professional Studies (PS), Professional Performance Diploma (PPD), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) & Artist Diploma (AD)

A full-length recital consisting of at least four (4) contrasting style periods, including compositions in English, French, German, and Italian. The program should contain 60 minutes of music and include no more than two operatic arias. In addition, candidates are encouraged to include pieces in their native language or other global languages as well as works by composers from historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, genders, and/or cultures.