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Graduate Admissions and Audition Information

Graduate Audition Days

Please note the following procedures for applying to graduate programs in music:

Priority Application Deadline

All graduate applicants are expected to submit required application materials (for both the School of Music and the Graduate School) by January 15 for fall semester matriculation, in order to receive full consideration for admission and assistantship or scholarship support. Applications submitted after January 15 will be considered as space permits on a rolling basis. Applicants interested in spring semester matriculation should contact the Associate Director of the School of Music (see below).

Application Process

  1. Apply online directly to the Graduate School.
  2. Register for an audition or interview.
  3. Submit an essay explaining professional goals to Professor Dan Willett in the School of Music (contact information below) or online to the Graduate School (supplemental application materials).
  4. For all programs except Music Education, submit three letters of recommendation directly to Professor Dan Willett in the School of Music (contact information below).
    Note: The School of Music does not require GRE scores.

Audition Information

A visit to the School of Music and in-person audition are strongly encouraged for applicants planning to major in an applied area (brass, classical guitar, percussion, piano, strings, voice, woodwinds), either on one of the graduation audition days (see below) or at another arranged time. In-person auditions are required for all conducting applicants. If you are an international student or a resident who has extenuating circumstances and cannot audition in-person, please notify Professor Dan Willett (contact information below) and submit a video recording, with repertoire representing three of the following periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Contemporary. (See additional information for voice applicants below.) Applicants who audition initially by recording may be required to audition on campus at a later time.

Graduate Audition Days

For students planning to enter in the Fall 2012 semester:
           
Audition Date 1: Friday, February 3, 2012
Applicants interested in auditioning and/or interviewing on this date must register by Friday January 20, 2012 (for domestic students) or by Friday January 15, 2012 (for international students).
 
Audition Date 2: Monday, February 27, 2012
Applicants interested in auditioning and/or interviewing on this date must register by Monday, February 13, 2012  (for domestic students) or by Monday, February 6, 2012 (for international students).
 
Audition Date 3:  Monday, March 5, 2012
Applicants interested in auditioning and/or interviewing on this date must register by February 20, 2012 (for domestic students) or by Monday, February 13, 2012 (for international students).

Students who are unable to audition on one of these dates must contact the Associate Director of the School of Music (contact information below) to determine if an alternate date can be arranged.

Students interested in spring semester matriculation should contact the Associate Director of the School of Music (contact information below).

Audition/Interview Information by Area

Piano: click here for detailed audition requirements for all MM piano programs (collaborative, pedagogy, and performance).

Voice: eight selections required, including at least one operatic aria and selections in French, Italian, German, and English.

Other Applied Areas: contact the appropriate applied faculty member for information about audition repertoire and procedures.

Composition: submit representative original compositions and register for an interview. Portfolio materials are due by the Priority Application Deadline.

History/Theory: submit examples of written scholarly work and register for an interview. Portfolio materials are due by the Priority Application Deadline.

Conducting applicants should arrange an audition and interview with the appropriate faculty member:
Dr. R. Paul Crabb, Choral Conducting
Professor Edward Dolbashian, Orchestral Conducting
Dr. D. Bradley Snow, Wind Ensemble Conducting

Additional information for Choral Conducting applicants: Students applying for MM in Choral Conducting will rehearse one MU choir for 15-20 minutes (music will be assigned to you before the audition); take a short conducting lesson on the same music; sing a prepared aria or art song; demonstrate proficiency in sight-reading and ear-training; demonstrate basic piano proficiency.

For additional information about graduate programs in the School of Music, contact

Professor Dan Willett, Associate Director
School of Music
215 Fine Arts Building
Columbia, MO 65211-6120
Email: WillettD@missouri.edu
Phone: 573-882-0933

Music Education Graduate Programs

The Master of Education, Master of Arts in Education, Specialist, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in music education are conferred by the College of Education.

Click here for more information and contact:

Dr. Wendy Sims, Director of Music Education
School of Music
268 Fine Arts Building
Columbia, MO 65211-6120
Email: SimsW@missouri.edu
Phone: 573-882-3238