Music Admissions: Undergraduate
Acceptance into the Music Program requires both a successful audition and academic acceptance by the University. Music majors work towards either a Bachelor of Music degree (BMus) or a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree (BA). Students may also minor in music.
Click here for Audition Requirements by instrument.
Music Audition dates for 2019: (Fall 2019 entry)
All Instruments & Voice (except Strings, see below):
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Violin, viola, cello, double bass only:
Wednesdays, Feb. 13 and Feb. 20, 2019
High school seniors, college transfer, and current UMass Amherst students are accepted into the Music Program (music major or minor) on the basis of auditions, which are held on campus.
Incoming students (new freshman and transfers) must additionally satisfy the University Admission standards.
How to Apply
Prospective undergraduate music majors will be able to complete an online Music Program application (including signing up for an audition) after filing their University application. Applications for admission to the University are available at the Admissions web page or by contacting the Admissions Center, (413) 545-0222, or via email at mail@admissions.umass.edu.
Current students and those auditioning for the music minor must complete an Audition Request Form on the Music Program website. The forms will be opened in August 2018 and links will be posted here.
Summary of deadlines:
January 5 - Music Program application due (Fall 2019 entry), and deadline for all Audition Request Forms for the Music Audition dates. For prospective freshman and transfers, completing the music application requires first filing a University application.
January 15 - University applications complete for prospective freshman. All students must have their applications complete before auditioning.
March 1 - Final day for prospective freshman auditions (2019 Fall entry).
April 15 - University applications complete for transfer students
May 1 - Final audition date for minors and transfer applicants; also the candidate reply date for Fall 2019 incoming freshman.
June 1 - Candidate reply date for Fall 2019 transfer students.
October 1 - Spring 2019 entry applications for the University & Music Program due (transfers and freshman)
November 1 - Final audition date for Spring 2019 entry applicants; also the Early Action deadline for University applications. (Learn more about Early Action)
Scheduling an Audition
Students should schedule an audition as early as possible by filling out the Music Application (freshman and transfer music majors) or Audition Request Form (current students and minors). The priority deadline to have an audition requested for Music Audition dates is January 5.
Prospective incoming students must have their University application completed prior to auditioning. Any Music Applications and Audition Request Forms filed after January 5 will not guarantee a slot for the Audition dates.
If you are unable to attend on any of the available Music Audition dates, or are auditioning for Spring semester entry, please contact the appropriate faculty member after completing your Music Application or Audition Request Form to set up a Special Arrangement date ("Special Arrangement" will be a date option on the application/form). Please note that all auditions for fall entry incoming freshman music majors must be complete by March 1.
Live auditions are required for all students; video recorded or streamed auditions are only accepted under exceptionally extenuating circumstances. Learn more about the policies on Special Arrangement and Recorded/Streaming auditions here.
For questions about the Music Audition process, arranging a visit, or the Music Program in general, please contact our Music Admissions office, Nathaniel Gowen, director: musicadmissions@umass.edu, 413-545-6048.
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.
