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Jazz Voice
Master of Music
Application & Audition Requirements
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About this Program
Overview
The 2-year graduate Master of Music (MM) degree provides advanced musical training and focuses on studio and ensemble work, supplemented by academic course requirements and electives. The MM is the qualifying degree for entry into most doctoral degree programs.
The Music Division accepts a total of approximately 150 instrumentalists and vocalists, and approximately 6 to 8 jazz instrumentalists and vocalists, into the MM program every year.
For more detailed information about the program, please visit the Music Division webpage and navigate to your area of study.
Eligibility
In order to be admitted as a Master of Music student, you must have:
- A bachelor's degree or its equivalent by the time you enroll. If your undergraduate degree is in an area other than music, you may still apply to the Master of Music program. However, the assumption is that you have had training in your major sufficient to prepare the required repertoire and application materials.
- Prior artistic training.
- English language fluency.
You are NOT eligible to apply to this program if you will have earned a Master of Music in the same major from another institution by the start of your studies at Juilliard.
Transfer status is not offered for graduate students. If you are currently enrolled in a Master of Music (MM) degree program at another institution and choose to abandon that program to enroll at The Juilliard School, you will be required to start your MM program from the beginning. The Juilliard School does not recommend this option, and strongly encourages any applicant working toward their MM degree to complete that program and apply to Juilliard at the Artist Diploma or Doctor of Musical Arts level.
If you apply to this degree program and are denied admission, you can apply again. After three unfavorable results, you are no longer eligible to apply. A favorable result is defined as receiving admission to Juilliard or being placed on the waitlist. An unfavorable result is defined as a denial of admission after the prescreening, after the audition, or not showing up for your scheduled audition (“no-show”). Withdrawals do not count towards the three opportunities you have to apply to Juilliard.
Academic Requirements
The Juilliard School requires no specific courses, GPAs, standardized test scores, or class rankings for entry to this program.
However, we will carefully evaluate your academic record and required essay to make sure you have the scholastic competence necessary to succeed in graduate-level coursework.
There are additional requirements for:
Double Majors
Given the rigorous nature of the program, you are not able to double major.
Application Timeline
Application Timeline
Applications to the College Division open on September 1 each year for enrollment the following fall. Please note the various deadlines for individual materials below.
| APPLICATION REQUIREMENT | RECEIVED-BY DEADLINE |
|---|---|
| Online Application with Artistic Resume, Essay(s), and Introduction Video | December 3 |
| Application Fee ($USD) or Fee Waiver | December 3 |
| Prescreening Materials | December 3 |
| SAT/ACT Scores (homeschooled applicants only) | December 3 |
| Recommender Information | December 3 |
| Proof of English Language Proficiency | December 15 |
| Recommendation(s) Received | December 15 |
| Request for ADA audition accommodations | January 15 |
| Transcripts | December 15 |
| Scholarship / Financial Aid Application* | March 1 |
*Scholarship / Financial Aid Application required only if an invitation to an in-person audition is received.
| PRESCREENING NOTIFICATIONS |
|---|
| Results announced via email by Mid-January |
| Audition Date(s) |
|---|
| See "Audition Dates" Page |
Application Results
You will receive notification of your admission status (admit, wait list, or deny) through your application status page no later than April 1, if all required application materials have been received.
Application Fee & Waivers
Application Fee
The $110 application fee is nonrefundable and must be paid through your application status page upon submission of your application. Your application is not considered complete until the fee has been received.
Fee Waivers
The inability to pay a college application fee should not be a barrier to applying to The Juilliard School. We offer need-based fee waivers through the process described here, and in the application.
First-time College Students
Fee waiver requests are available for first-time college students who demonstrate significant financial need by uploading one of the following to the application:
- An official SAT or ACT fee waiver form signed by a high school counselor OR
- An official NACAC fee waiver form signed by a high school counselor OR
- A letter on school stationery from a school counselor stating one of the following:
- You are enrolled in or eligible to participate in the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch program (FRPL).
- Your annual family income falls within the income eligibility guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
- You are enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g., TRIO programs such as Upward Bound).
- Your family receives public assistance.
- You live in federally subsidized public housing, a foster home, or are homeless.
- You are a ward of the state or an orphan.
If you are unable to provide one of the above documents, you may provide the following:
- A letter from someone other than you (the applicant) that addresses your financial situation
All documentation must be in English. Original documents with translation are acceptable.
Transfer Students
Fee waiver requests are available for undergraduate transfer students who demonstrate significant financial need by uploading of one of the following to the application:
- If you are independent, a copy of your most recent tax form filed OR
- A letter on school stationery from your current college's Financial Aid Office stating that you have financial need of a fee waiver
If you are unable to provide one of the above documents, you may provide the following:
- A personal letter describing your financial situation
All documentation must be in English. Original documents with translation are acceptable.
Fee waiver requests will be evaluated after you have submitted a complete application. If you are requesting a fee waiver, please submit your application (including fee waiver documentation) but do not pay the application fee.
How to Upload
Fee waiver documentation (translated into English if not originally in that language) must be uploaded directly within the online application and submitted by the appropriate deadline. Documents must be in either .doc or .pdf format. (Convert your file to another format if you have scanned your document as a jpg.)
Fee waiver requests are processed on an ongoing basis. You will receive an email with the results of your request as soon as it is processed. Note that we have a heavy volume of requests to process at the deadline, so you may not receive your results until after the deadline has passed. This does not disqualify your application. Do not pay the application fee if your waiver request is still pending.
Your application status page will show an application fee payment due until your request is approved. If you are notified that your request for an application fee waiver is denied, you will be required to pay the application fee. Your application is not considered complete until the fee has been received. If your fee waiver request is processed after the deadline, and is denied, you will still have a grace period in which to pay the fee.
Your Application Materials
Your Online Application
Your application must be submitted online by the appropriate deadline. To begin, create your Juilliard Admissions Account, gather all of the required application materials, and follow the instructions to complete your application.
Your Resume
An artistic resume must be uploaded as part of the online application. The purpose of submitting a résumé is to provide the Admissions Committee with a document that quickly sums up your background and accomplishments. The résumé should contain lists, not full prose paragraphs such as in a program bio. The elements to include in your résumé are as follows:
- Your name and major (violin, jazz trumpet, soprano, etc.)
- Your contact information (including address, phone, and email)
- Education: Where you studied, degree or diploma earned (or to be earned)
- Teachers: Particularly for classical instrumentalists and vocalists, listing your most recent teachers and the dates when you studied with them is important information for the Committee
- Master classes where you performed: List teacher and date (for example, June 2020)
- Ensemble experience: Youth orchestras, choirs, jazz bands, etc.
- Competitions and awards: Include dates
- Performances: If including orchestral performances, only include those if you were the soloist; otherwise list recitals and chamber music performances
- Other experience: If you have done volunteer work, held a job, etc., those can be listed here
You do not have to use these exact categories in this exact order. Use what is logical for your background, but make sure to put your name at the top of the document, and include your education and your teachers. DO NOT SUBMIT A PROGRAM BIO. It is not useful for purposes of applying to Juilliard.
Your Essay(s)
A written essay is one of Juilliard’s application requirements. Our Admissions Committee uses your essay(s) to learn more about you as an individual, and to gain a sense of who you are beyond your application, transcript, and audition. Your essay helps the Admissions Committee understand how your past experiences have informed your life as a musician, and how Juilliard fits into your pursuit of a career in music.
Essays are evaluated on the way you express your ideas, the written flow of your thoughts, and your use of language (including grammar and mechanics). Using outside help to write your essay—whether generative AI, including tools such as Google Bard and ChatGPT, or help from another person—undermines the ability of the Admissions Committee to evaluate your potential for success at Juilliard. Submission of your essay confirms that the writing was produced by you, with no assistance from another person or electronic resource.
Essay Requirements
- 1–2 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font
- written in English (not translated from another language)
- must be your own original work
- submitted within the online application
Essay Topic
Please choose one of the following topics:
Option 1:
In his audio book, "Beginner's Mind", Yo-Yo Ma talks about the importance of reclaiming a "beginner's mind", in which he describe approaching each performance with an "open, unbiased, curious mind...remembering the discovery and wonder of music as if for the first time."
As you look to begin your conservatory training, how do you plan to maintain a "beginner's mind" in your work? What do you hope to discover about yourself, or your artform, during your time at Juilliard, and how do you plan to continually discover the wonder of music?
Option 2:
In his book Creativity, Inc. (Catmull, 2014, p. 101), Ed Catmull wrote, “The key is to look at the viewpoints being offered, in any successful feedback group, as additive, not competitive. A competitive approach measures other ideas against your own, turning the discussion into a debate to be won or lost. An additive approach, on the other hand, starts with the understanding that each participant contributes something.”
Tell us about a creative performance project that you have undertaken in collaboration with other people. How did you promote an additive approach to the collaboration? What elements contributed to the success of the project, and what did you learn from the experience?
Additional Essay Requirements
Optional Essay
Should you have a personal or academic circumstance to share that you feel can provide context for a particular point on your resume - for example, a gap year, unusually low grades in a semester or year, etc. - you have the option to submit an additional short essay.
Your Introduction Video
A one-minute video uploaded to the application in which you record yourself giving the following information:
- Your name
- Your major (i.e. flute, composition, organ). Voice applicants: please include your voice type
- Your current music teacher
- Your current school and level of study (for example, first-year undergraduate, 12th grade, etc.)
- One fact that you want the faculty and Admissions Committee to know about you that they cannot learn from your application materials, and that would give the faculty more insight into who you are as a person.
- Tell us about one piece of music that excites you and why.
In order to record your video via the online application, please use one of the following web browsers that support the ability to record your video: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, or Microsoft Edge. Please note that a computer should be used to upload your video (mobile devices are typically not supported for this functionality). To record your video, navigate to the "Music Introduction Video" tab in your application. There you will find instructions for starting the recording. Because the video will be recorded directly from the application, not uploaded as a video file, we recommend allowing yourself ample time to prepare and test your recording in the application module. You can record and save your video at any time before submitting your application, and can delete and re-record your video as needed prior to submission.
Your Transcripts
Transcripts are an important component of the decision process. They help us determine if you have sufficient scholastic competence to succeed in coursework at the level for which you are applying. Please send your transcript by the requested deadline found in the application timeline above.
The Juilliard School accepts both official and unofficial transcripts during the application process. Students who are admitted and plan to enroll in the fall will be required to submit a final official transcript of their studies.
We understand that the current academic year has not ended, and that, if you are currently enrolled, you have not yet completed your program. Please submit your incomplete transcript as is by the deadline; an official final transcript will be required later, if you are admitted and choose to enroll.
You may view the status of transcripts at any time by logging into your application account. Please note that it may take the Office of Admissions up to 7 business days to process your transcript after it has been received
Unofficial versus Official Transcripts
- An unofficial transcript is one that you upload to your application or status page.
- In addition to what is listed below in Transcript Requirements, unofficial transcripts must include your name and the name of your institution.
- Unofficial transcripts must be uploaded to your application or status page as a PDF.
- An official transcript is one that is sent from your school directly to Juilliard. You should follow the process outlined by the Office of the Registrar at your school. If your school does not have an Office of the Registrar, please work with the school department or administrator that oversees course registration, grades, and the conferral of degrees.
- Many schools use secure electronic sending services such as National Student Clearinghouse, Parchment, eSCRIP-SAFE, or other systems. Electronic sending services must use this email address: [email protected].
- Alternatively, your school can send us your official transcript via regular or express mail. Mailed transcripts must be sent in a sealed envelope directly from the issuing institution(s) to the Juilliard Office of Admissions.
Office of Admissions
The Juilliard School
60 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York, NY 10023
Transcript Requirements
- Your transcript(s) must show all prior and current post-secondary coursework.
- For students studying outside of the United States, your coursework must be equivalent or similar to a U.S. undergraduate curriculum. Typically, this includes at least 24 credits of liberal arts courses.
- You will be notified if an official evaluation of your transcript is required in order to verify your academic level. Companies such as The Evaluation Company (use this link for a discounted evaluation: SpanTran Pathway - The Juilliard School), WES, or ECE can provide this service for a fee.
- If you are pursuing post-graduate studies, you must send us both your undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
- If you have already completed your program of study, your transcript must also include the degree/diploma conferred and your graduation/completion date.
- If your transcript is not in English, we require the transcript in its original language as well as a certified translation.
Your Recommendations
In your application you will be required to identify an individual who will provide your recommendation.* This recommendation should:
- be from a teacher, conductor, coach, or artistic mentor
- address your talent and accomplishments
- discuss the following individual characteristics that indicate potential for success in the field: perseverance, dedication, collegiality, and leadership
*Please note that currently enrolled Juilliard students are also required to have a letter of recommendation in support of their application. This letter can come from an internal faculty member or someone not affiliated with The Juilliard School.
The recommendation itself is not due until later in the application timeline. Your recommender will receive an email with a link to securely upload the letter to our application system. We will only accept recommendations received through our application system.
You may view the status of recommendations at any time by logging into your application account.
Scholarship & Financial Aid Forms
To be considered for financial aid and scholarship, you are required to submit the following items by the appropriate deadline:
| US Applicants |
|---|
| FAFSA |
| CSS Profile |
| Student Tax Forms |
| Parent Tax Forms |
| International Applicants |
|---|
| CSS Profile |
| Parent Income Documentation |
More information about our awarding policies can be found on the Financial Aid section of the website.
For information about tuition, fees and expenses, please visit Student Accounts.
Prescreening
Prescreening Type
Format
You are required to upload your files in a Video format. Acceptable file types include:
- .3g2, .3gp, .avi, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .mxf, .webm, .wmv
PLEASE NOTE: Some .mov files use a codec which is not supported by the application. We recommend that .mov files be converted to another accepted format to avoid uploading difficulties.
We support media files as large as 5GB, but please be advised that larger files will take longer to upload from your Internet connection and may stall if you are on a wireless connection or one that cannot sustain a connection for the necessary period of time.
Prescreening Requirements
Your major is required to submit prescreening recordings within the online application by the appropriate deadline.
Procedures
- Upload and arrange your recordings so that the file that represents your best work is first.
- Individual movements or excerpts should be uploaded as separate digital files.
- Clearly label each of the uploaded files with the name of the composer and work/movement.
- Complete your uploads well in advance of the appropriate deadline, as upload times vary depending on file size and internet signal strength.
- Insufficient or incomplete audition repertoire may affect consideration for admission.
- Where specific works are required, substitutions are not allowed.
- Please note that audition requirements which state a complete piece or work are indicating all movements must be prepared.
- Unless otherwise specified in the prescreening requirements listed below, all works written with accompaniment must be accompanied for your recording.
Quality
- Please note that submitted prescreening recordings do not need to be filmed in a particular setting. Videos filmed in a practice room, a living room, a concert hall, a recording studio, or any other setting may be submitted.
- Recordings must be genuinely performed by you. Composition applicants: live recordings of your works may include others.
- Recordings must not be edited, nor should any effects such as “reverb” be added.
- Play back and check your entire recording for any distortion or excessive “buzz”.
- If accompaniment is required, ensure that it does not drown out your playing.
- Review your recordings before uploading to ensure that they are of good quality and represent your best work to date.
You will be notified as to whether or not you have passed the prescreening round by the date on the application timeline. Please note that prescreening materials become the property of The Juilliard School and will not be returned. We encourage you to keep copies for your records.
Additional Instructions
Prescreening Repertoire
Categories
- Applicants must submit one selection from each of the four categories below, for a total of four tunes. Recommended recordings are listed to aid you in your preparation.
- Applicants must record with either instrumental accompaniment or a sounding metronome. If using a metronome as accompaniment, the metronome should beat half notes on 1 and 3 or 2 and 4. If purposely rubato, the metronome can be stopped.
- Jazz Voice applicants should perform the full melody (at least two of the four must be with lyrics), a single wordless chorus of improvisation and the melody out on their chosen selection from each category. Applicants may choose different keys from the ones listed, but must clearly label the keys chosen for each piece and are expected to perform in those keys if invited to the live audition.
- All selections should be under four minutes in length.
- NOTICE: By clicking the links below, you will be redirected to a third party website. Juilliard exercises no control over and is not responsible for any content on linked third party websites, nor does it guarantee or endorse the information, products or services offered on those sites.
Category I: Hymns and Folksongs (vernacular music)
- "Nearer, My God to Thee" by Sarah Flower Adams
- "900 Miles from My Home" (traditional folksong)
- "Danny Boy" Irish air with lyrics by Frederic Weatherly
Category II: Swing Era and American Songbook Standards
- "Jitterbug Waltz" by Fats Waller
- "The Song is You" by Jerome Kern
- "I Should Care" (ballad) by Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl, and Paul Weston
Category III: Jazz Standards
- "The Moontrane" by Woody Shaw
- "Quicksilver" by Horace Silver
- "Ask Me Now" by Thelonious Monk
Category IV: The Spanish Tinge (Cuban and Puerto Rican music)
- "Son de La Loma" by Miguel Matamoros (a son)
- "Soñando con Puerto Rico" by Bobby Capó (a bolero)
Preparation tips: You should listen closely to the suggested recordings to make sure you understand the style of each tune your select. For example, on an Afro-Latin piece such as “Mambo Inn” (not given as an option), one would listen to how all soloists as well as the layered horn figures and rhythm section parts interact with the clave and try to incorporate those rhythms into your improvisations. Pianists should be able to play a montuno, Bassists should be able to play a songo pattern over the form, and Drummers should be able to play a mambo groove adapting the cascara pattern you hear from the cowbell on the recording to the ride cymbal/tom shell, the congas to the snare/toms, and the clave to the hi-hat.
Please know that we are listening for the quality of your sound, swing feel, improvisation ideas, and demonstrated knowledge of the music (i.e. accurate melodies, harmonies, underlying rhythms, and form) and the appropriate emotional and stylistic aesthetics inherent in the source recordings, including lyrics where applicable.
Additional Requirements
English Language Proficiency
Requirement
The ability to speak, read, and understand English fluently is an important factor in admissions decisions. You are required to show proof of English language proficiency by the application deadline if your native language is not English, regardless of citizenship. The Juilliard School defines native language as the language first spoken as a child and the primary language spoken at home.
Exemption
You may be exempt from the requirement to provide proof of English language proficiency if you meet certain criteria. Exemptions are determined by your answers to questions on the application form. To qualify for an exemption, BOTH of the following must be true:*
- You have attended an English language high school/secondary school for four years AND
- You have completed or will complete an undergraduate degree (3-4 years in length) at an English language institution.
*Note that this is a TOTAL of 7-8 years of instruction at English language institutions, including BOTH high school AND undergraduate degree studies.
An exemption to provide a test score as proof of English language proficiency is granted automatically if you meet the aforementioned criteria. Applicants who are exempt from providing a test score also are exempt from the ELP interview requirement.
Waiver
A waiver excuses an applicant from the requirement to provide a test score as proof of English language proficiency. Waivers are granted by Juilliard upon request of the applicant, and following a review by the School’s Director of ESL of the materials submitted by the applicant in support of their request for the waiver.
A waiver of the requirement to provide a test score as proof of English language proficiency may be granted at the school’s discretion if the following criteria are met:
- The applicant has earned (or will have earned by the time of matriculation) a THREE- or FOUR-year undergraduate degree from a school where the language of instruction is English AND
- The applicant submits two academic papers written in English, for review by our Director of ESL. The papers must have been written in the applicant’s most recently completed academic term. Each paper must be a minimum of 1200 words in length AND
- The applicant submits an unofficial transcript for review.
To request consideration for a waiver, follow the instructions on the application form.
An interview is still required of applicants whose test score requirement is waived.
Helpful tool: To see if you may qualify for an exemption or a waiver of the requirement to submit a test score as proof of English language proficiency, our online form can help you. Although this form does not grant exemptions or waivers, it can help you plan ahead should the result indicate that you need to schedule an ELP test.
English Language Proficiency Assessment Criteria
We assess your English language abilities using the following criteria:
- The results of a standardized English language proficiency test
- An online interview with staff from our English language office
- Your previous academic record
Note that your test score alone is not sufficient for admission; you must still meet our artistic and academic standards.
Test Scores
You must submit one of the following test types to document your current level of English language proficiency. If your score falls below the minimum scores listed here, you should carefully consider whether to continue the application and audition process. We reserve the right to deny an audition based on scores that fall considerably below our minimum.
| Test Type | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| Cambridge English | C1 |
| TOEFL | 89 |
| IELTS Academic Test | 6.5 |
The official test results must be sent directly from the testing company and received in the Office of Admissions by the appropriate deadline.
Interview Requirement
- Any Master of Music (MM) and Graduate Diploma (GD) applicant with a test score of 94 TOEFL and below (or the equivalent score for other tests) is required to interview with Juilliard’s Director of ESL in order to demonstrate fluency in the English language.
- MM and GD applicants who are exempt from the test score requirement also are exempt from the interview requirement.
- MM and GD applicants whose test scores are waived are still required to interview with the School’s Director of ESL.
- The Office of Admissions will contact applicants to schedule required interviews.
Formerly Enrolled Juilliard Students
Definition
You are considered a former Juilliard college student if you have not been in attendance during the previous academic year. You must submit all required application materials, in addition to the requirements below.
Essay
As a formerly enrolled Juilliard student, you are required to submit an additional essay explaining your motivation for resuming your studies or applying to another major at Juilliard. You may choose to address academic, artistic, or professional goals that you believe could be accomplished by returning.
Transcript Requirements
- You are required to provide transcripts from all institutions attended after Juilliard
- Transcripts are already on file from your time at Juilliard and do not need to be submitted
Proof of English Language Proficiency
As a formerly enrolled Juilliard student, you do not need to submit proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, ITP Plus).
Decisions
We reserve the right to review your Juilliard enrollment record to assist with admissions decisions.
Currently Enrolled Juilliard Students
Online Application
You must apply if you meet one of the following criteria:
- You are seeking to change majors
- You are applying to a new program of study (changing your degree level)
Application Fee
As a currently enrolled student in the College Division, you are not required to submit an application fee as long as you submit your application by the appropriate deadline.
Essay
You are required to submit an additional essay explaining your motivation for continuing your studies at Juilliard. You may choose to address academic, artistic, or professional goals that you believe could be accomplished by remaining at Juilliard.
Recommendation(s)
Currently enrolled Juilliard students are also required to have recommendation(s) in support of their application. This can come from an internal faculty member or someone not affiliated with The Juilliard School.
Transcripts
As a current student, you do not need to provide your transcripts, as they are already on file.
Prescreening Requirement
Prescreening is required only if both of the following are true:
- You are applying to a new major AND
- The major to which you are applying is prescreened
Proof of English Language Proficiency
You do not need to submit proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, ITP Plus).
Decisions
We reserve the right to review your Juilliard enrollment record to assist with admissions decisions.
Applicants with Disabilities
In compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990 (ADA), The Juilliard School is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible application and audition process. Through our Office of Academic Support and Disability Services (OASDS), Juilliard can provide reasonable disability accommodation to applicants and auditioners with disabilities.
Juilliard will not make pre-admissions inquiries about whether an applicant has a disability, which has no bearing on acceptance. Applicants who meet the technical requirements of the program or course are encouraged to apply regardless of disability. However, applicants to the College Division with documented disabilities who require reasonable accommodations to participate in the application/audition process must follow these steps:
- Submit the Disability Request Form. This form is available to applicants who need accommodations in order to audition.
- Submit all supporting documentation.
- Schedule and complete an intake meeting with an OASDS representative. Intake appointments may be conducted via Zoom, phone, or in person.
The Disability Accommodation Request Process is private and confidential. All records are securely stored in the Juilliard Accommodate Portal and are not included with any "permanent" record. Only qualified OASDS staff can access this information, ensuring your privacy is respected. Applicants who are offered admission and who choose to enroll must schedule and complete an intake meeting with an OASDS representative to discuss accommodations needed as a student.
For more information on the Disability Accommodation Request process, please visit the OASDS webpage. If you experience an online or on-campus disability barrier, please complete this form so that we may address the issue.
Auditioning for Juilliard
Audition Repertoire
Fall 2025 Auditions
Music auditions at The Juilliard School are held in person on our New York City campus; limited funds are available for need-based travel grants. All applicants invited to audition are expected to attend on their scheduled date and time, and are expected to have the entire audition repertoire prepared. While faculty may not hear entire works, they may ask you to perform any part of a required work.
Audition Repertoire and Procedures
The audition is composed of two parts: a Musicianship Assessment (used for class placement) and the 1st Round Audition.
Applicants invited to the live audition will be asked to submit a creative project and their repertoire list of jazz tunes with the composer and key noted. Applicants will receive big band excerpts from the School to prepare in advance.
To be considered for the Jazz Program, you must pass the 1st Round Audition and be invited to the Callback.
The 1st round will consist of the components below.
- Perform your prescreening selections from memory and without written arrangements along with a professional rhythm section of Juilliard Jazz alumni
- Perform “St Louis Blues” by W.C. Handy, and to vocalize through their full range to demonstrate proficient vocal technique
- Perform vocalise excerpts which you will receive when invited to the 1st Round and are expected to prepare in advance
- Perform Lesson #15 from “Practical Vocal Method” by Nicola Vaccai
Please note: Etudes are required so that applicants can demonstrate their technical proficiency, not their knowledge of any particular style of classical music. Please bring two copies of your etude to the audition.
Callbacks
After the first round of auditions conclude, faculty will determine a group of applicants to hear in the callbacks. The callback round occurs on the same date as your live, first-round audition. If called back, you should be prepared to stay at The Juilliard School until 10 p.m.
The callback will consist of the components below.
- Perform your four prescreening selections from memory, and without written arrangements along with a professional rhythm section of Juilliard Jazz alumni.
- Be prepared to perform any of the other selections, as requested by the panel, in:
- Category II for undergraduate applicants.
- Categories II & III for graduate applicants.
- You will submit and be prepared to briefly discuss your motivation and process behind a creative project (i.e. a poem, original composition, photography, etc.) Applicants are asked to submit an example of their creativity outside of your instrument performance. This could be a poem, a drawing, a cookbook, a composition, etc. The purpose is to enable us to have a conversation with you about what inspires you, and for us to gain insight into who you are a person and artist.
- Instrumentalists may be asked to sight read and improvise a new composition. Vocalists will be asked to perform a “St Louis Blues” by W.C. Handy, and to vocalize through their full range to demonstrate proficient vocal technique.
If you are not called back, you may reasonably conclude that you are not under consideration for admission.
Accompanist Information
All prescreening selections require accompaniment. It must be either instrumental accompaniment or a sounding metronome. For your in-person audition, an alumni rhythm section, knowledgeable of all the prescreening selections, will accompany you.
Decisions & Enrolling
Decisions
There are three possible outcomes to the audition process:
Admit
- The faculty recommends you to the Admissions Committee based on your potential and artistry as demonstrated in the audition.
- The Admissions Committee evaluates your academic record and supplemental materials in order to determine your capacity to succeed at Juilliard.
- The Admissions Committee makes the final determination of whom to admit based on their own evaluation, faculty recommendations, and the number of available openings in your major.
- The Office of Admissions releases your decision letter.
Waitlist
- The faculty recommends you to the Admissions Committee based on your potential and artistry as demonstrated in the audition.
- The Admissions Committee evaluates your academic record and supplemental materials in order to determine your capacity to succeed at Juilliard.
- You are placed on the waitlist because, although you are found admissible to the school, we have a limited number of openings.
- Should a place become available, the Admissions Committee evaluates the waitlist, making offers of admission as necessary.
Deny
During the application process, there are three points at which you can be denied admission:
- As a result of prescreening
- At various points in the application and audition process
- Following review by the Admissions Committee
A denial at any of these stages results in notification that you are no longer under consideration for admission.
These decisions will be posted to your application status page as noted on the timeline.
Scholarship & Financial Aid
Juilliard admits without considering your ability to pay. All monies awarded require completion of the scholarship and financial aid forms. To learn more about the awarding process, visit our Office of Financial Aid.
For information about tuition, fees and expenses, please visit Student Accounts.