Admissions

Music Admissions: Graduate

Acceptance into a Graduate music program requires academic acceptance by the University as well as acceptance by the Department of Music & Dance. Acceptance is based on the quality of your audition and/or supplemental materials.

The Graduate School will issue acceptance to the University to applicants who meet the admissions requirements upon Departmental recommendation. The Graduate School cannot process our Department's acceptances until your graduate application is complete.

GRADUATE MUSIC APPLICATION PROCESS

Overview: The graduate application process is composed of three equally important elements. Leaving any one of them incomplete will result in an incomplete application and/or lack of funding.

1. APPLY TO UMASS GRADUATE ADMISSIONS

Required Materials: College transcripts; Recommendations; Resume; TOEFL scores (if applicable)
Priority Deadline: December 1
Click here to access the graduate school “How to Apply” page. Once there, click the “secure online application” link to begin the application.

2. APPLY TO YOUR INSTRUMENT/AREA

Required Materials: Music Application plus an Audition and/or appropriate Supporting Materials
Priority Deadline: December 1 for Music Application and Supporting Materials.
Audition Deadline: February 28 to be considered for performance-based TA offerings.
Recommended: directly contact the applied instrument faculty for your audition instrument or area coordinator for your academic field to introduce yourself and your intentions.

3. APPLY FOR FUNDING

Required Materials: GenEd Teaching Assistantship Application, which requires at least 1 writing sample and a summary of teaching experience.
Priority Deadline: December 1
Click here to learn more about Teaching Assistantships in the music program.

GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS: Audition or Not?

Graduate programs which DO require an instrumental audition:

Master of Music in Collaborative Piano
Master of Music in Music Education (Performance)
Master of Music in Performance
Master of Music in Jazz Performance
Professional Performance Certificate (Graduate non-degree program; see webpage for description)
Jazz or Classical Performance Certificate (Non-degree supplemental programs for current MM students)

Click here for Graduate Audition Requirements.

Graduate programs which DO NOT require an instrumental audition:

Master of Music in Conducting*
Master of Music in Composition
Master of Music in Jazz Composition and Arranging
Master of Music in Music Education (Conducting*, Research, or Pedagogy)
Master of Music in Music History
Master of Music in Music Theory
Ph.D. in Music Education

*After submitting their Supporting Materials, applicants for any Conducting concentration may additionally require a live interview with the conducting faculty as well as conducting/rehearsing a UMass ensemble.

All Supporting Materials must be submitted to the Graduate Program Coordinator.

TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS & EXAMS

Teaching Assistantship: If your degree program does not require an audition, you may elect to perform an audition if you would like to be considered for a Teaching Assistantship (TA) that includes performing.

In addition, TA positions in the GenEd area may be combined with TAships awarded by studio faculty.

Diagnostic Exams: Graduate diagnostic exams are taken after enrolling and are not part of the application process. Click here to learn more about Graduate Music Diagnostic Exams.

Graduate Record Exam: The GRE is not required for any graduate program offered by the Department of Music & Dance at UMass Amherst.

SUMMARY OF DEADLINES, 2022-2023 Graduate Admissions Cycle

October 1, 2022 – Spring 2023 entry deadline for all graduate application materials (including audition).
December 1, 2022 – Priority deadline for the following materials for Fall 2023 entry:
- UMass Graduate School Application
- Music Application
- Supporting Materials (if required)
- GenEd Teaching Assistantship Application

January 15, 2023 – Final deadline for Music Applications if planning to attend an on-campus Audition Day.

February 28, 2023 – Audition deadline for performance-based TA consideration.

Submissions received after priority deadlines listed above will be reviewed in the order that they are received for purposes of admission and TA consideration.

MUSIC AUDITION DAYS

Graduate applicants can sign up for an Audition Day by completing the Music Application by January 15.

Click here for the Graduate Audition Requirements and Special Arrangement audition policy.

Music auditions take place at the Bromery Center for the Arts on campus. All audition days for Fall 2023 applicants take place in February: Saturday 2/11 and 18, Sunday 2/12 and 19, and Wednesday 2/8. Specific date availability in February for each instrument is as follows:

WOODWIND
Flute - 18, 19
Oboe - 11, 12, 18
Clarinet - 11, 18
Bassoon - 11, 12
Saxophone - 18, 19

BRASS
French Horn - 11, 12, 18
Trumpet - 11, 12, 18*
Trombone - 11, 18, 19
Euphonium - 11, 12, 18
Tuba - 11, 12, 18

STRINGS
Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass - 8, 12

VOICE (CLASSICAL)
All Voice ranges - 11, 18*, 19

PIANO
Classical Piano - 18, 19

PERCUSSION
Classical Percussion - 11, 12

JAZZ
Jazz Voice (all ranges) - 11, 12, 18
Jazz Guitar - 11, 12, 18
Jazz Piano - 11, 12, 18
Jazz Bass - 11, 12, 18
Jazz Drum Set - 11, 12, 18
Jazz Saxophone - 18, 19
Jazz Trumpet - 11, 12, 18*
Jazz Trombone - 11, 18

* This date is currently at capacity for the given instrument. New applicants should select a different date or contact musicadmissions@umass.edu to make alternate arrangements.

Contact Information

For inquiries pertaining to the Graduate School application and related materials:
UMass Graduate School Admissions, gradadm@grad.umass.edu, 413-545-0722

For general inquiries about the graduate program and supplemental materials:
Nicole Avakian, Graduate Program Coordinator, navakian@umass.edu, 413-545-0311

For inquiries about auditions and the Music Application:
Nate Gowen, Director of Music Admissions, musicadmissions@umass.edu, 413-545-6048

For inquiries about the graduate degree and its concentrations:
Erinn Knyt, Director of Graduate Music Studies, eknyt@umass.edu

The University of Massachusetts Amherst prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, mental or physical disability, or veteran status, in any aspect of the admission or treatment of students or in employment.