Concert Bands:
Placement/Seating auditions are on a first come / first served basis during the assigned ensemble audition period, and therefore, no appointment or individual scheduling is necessary. Audition excerpts for all bands are available at University of Illinois Bands website.

Choral Ensembles:
The choral division holds auditions for ensembles on the Monday (9am-12:00pm) and Tuesday (9am-4pm) prior to the start of fall classes. Auditions are scheduled on a first-come, first-sing basis. The audition consists mainly of vocalization, scales, and sight-reading. Auditions will take place in the basement of the Music Building.

Orchestras:
An audition is required for admission to any University of Illinois orchestra. Excerpts may be found at: Audition Excerpts.
Excerpts must be prepared and played by:
*all music majors; and
*any student who wishes to play in the Symphony Orchestra
*those students whose major is other than music who wish to play in Philharmonia or Illini Strings play 5 minutes of their favorite piece. (A 5-minute section from a longer work is also acceptable.)

All string students who audition will be placed in an orchestra.

Jazz Bands:
Auditions are held the week that classes begin. Sign up in Room 5E in Smith Music Hall when you arrive on campus. The audition is based on sight-reading and improvisation (optional).

If you have further questions, please contact the music admissions office at musicadmissions@uiuc.edu.

All questions regarding admissions should be directed to the School of Music Admissions office: (217) 244-7899 – musicadmissions@uiuc.edu.

There is a variety of material available to aid you in your decision regarding applying to the University of Illinois School of Music. By filling out the School of Music online request for information form, you will receive information regarding the School of Music as well as the audition and application process. You may also visit campus. To schedule an appointment contact the Music Admissions Office at (217) 244-7899, or musicadmissions@uiuc.edu.

Undergraduate: Applying to the University of Illinois School of Music at the undergraduate level is a two-step process. Step One: Submit the University of Illinois application to the Office of Admissions and Records. Step Two: Submit the School of Music Supplemental Application. This form serves as both your application to the School of Music as well as your request for an audition. Once this form has been received by the School of Music Admissions Office, a confirmation will be sent to the student with the date and time of their audition. The Supplemental Application can be completed online or mailed to:
Music Admissions Office
1114 West Nevada Street
Urbana, IL 61801

Graduate: Applicants at the graduate level are encouraged to apply to the University online. Paper applications may be downloaded and mailed to the Music Admissions Office. All candidates applying for a degree in performance, piano pedagogy, conducting, or vocal accompanying and coaching, and the Master of Music Education with Certification must also submit the School of Music Supplemental Application. This form serves as both your application to the School of Music as well as your request for an audition. Once this form has been received by the School of Music Admissions Office, a confirmation will be sent to the student with the date and time of their audition. The Supplemental Application can be completed online or mailed to:
Music Admissions Office
1114 West Nevada Street
Urbana, IL 61801

Undergraduate: The University of Illinois evaluates all undergraduate applications on three academic requirements plus the personal statement. The academic evaluations are the ACT/SAT, high school class rank and/or college GPA, and the high school coursework requirements. A score of 20 or higher on the ACT or the equivalent on the SAT (940 - 970) is required for Music education majors. All other majors within the School of Music require a score of 19 or higher on the ACT or the equivalent on the SAT (900 - 930). In addition, international students must complete the TOEFL with a minimum score of 80 (internet-based test), 213 (computer-based test) or 550 (paper-based test). For more specific details, visit the Office of Admissions and Records online at www.oar.uiuc.edu.

Graduate: The University of Illinois requires a college GPA of 3.0. In addition, international students must complete the TOEFL with a minimum score of 91 (internet-based test), 243 (computer-based test) or 590 (paper-based test). The School of Music Graduate Coordinator evaluates all transcripts for incoming MM students for the following requirements:

• Five semesters of undergraduate music history including an introductory course,
• 2 semesters of Survey of Western Music History and two additional semesters of period courses
• One year of a foreign language

Admitted students are notified of any course deficiencies prior to registration.

The requirements for audition vary by instrument. Each instrument requires one to three prepared pieces as well as sight-reading. Click here to access individual audition requirements, or visit the specific division page.

All undergraduate applicants must complete a one-hour Music Fundamentals Exam on the day of his/her audition. This exam is an evaluation of your training in the areas of Music Theory. The results of this exam will determine which Music Theory course you will begin during your first semester at the University of Illinois: Music 100 – Music Fundamentals (does not count towards graduation), Music 101 – Music Theory I (counts towards graduation). The Music Fundamentals Exam is not used for admissions and can be retaken at the beginning of your first year.Click here to access a sample test.

BM
Music Performance
Music History
Music Composition-Theory
Open Studies

BME Music Education
Choral
Instrumental
General

BA in Music (effective Fall 2005)

MM
Music Performance
Musicology
Music Composition-Theory

MME
Music Education

DMA
Music Performance
Music Composition

PhD Musicology

EdD Music Education

Only Composition – Theory majors at both the undergraduate and graduate levels must submit a portfolio of compositions. All candidates should submit 3 to 5 works for evaluation. If recordings have been made of these works, please submit them as well.

Graduate applicants should mail this portfolio to the Music Admissions Office.

Undergraduate applicants should bring the compositions to the Audition Day. A 15-minute interview will be scheduled for each candidate with the faculty members in the composition-theory department. The compositions should be presented at that time.

Interviews are required for all undergraduate candidates applying to Music Education, Music History and Music Theory/Composition. The interview will occur on the day of your audition and will be held with faculty members in your area. The interview and audition are equally weighted in determining the School of Music’s recommendation for admission. Graduate students are not required to complete an interview.

Fall and Summer Application Deadlines

• December 1: Deadline for graduate applications. Prescreening materials (required for all graduate voice, conducting, and Music Education EdD candidates) are also due on this date.

  See specific program for details concerning other documents that must be submitted with the prescreening materials.

• January 2: Deadline for freshman applications
  
• March 1: Deadline for transfer applications (transfer students wishing to be considered for merit-based financial aid should submit the School of Music Supplemental Application by January 2)
• March 1: Deadline to complete audition in order to be considered for merit-based scholarships

While a personal audition is always preferred, the School of Music accepts recorded auditions in certain circumstances. Any applicant considering this option should contact the Music Admissions Office prior to submitting the recorded audition. The preferred format is CD (vocalists may only submit a CD). The recording should be sent by no later than February 15. The Supplemental Music Application must be submitted by the deadline of January 1. Scholarship consideration cannot be guaranteed for applicants who do not audition in person.

Undergraduate: Scholarships are available in varying amounts from several hundred dollars to full tuition waivers. These awards are given to music majors who excel in performance ability, general musicianship, and academic achievement. All scholarship and award offers to incoming students are made by faculty recommendation on the basis of an entrance audition to the School of Music. Band Awards may be offered by the University Bands Division to talented undergraduate students performing in the University of Illinois Wind Symphony or Symphonic Bands. Scholarships are renewable for four years so long as the recipient is making steady progress towards a degree in music. The deadline for priority consideration for scholarships is March 1.

Graduate: Assistantships and Fellowships from the University and the School of Music are available each year. The awards include an annual stipend that may range from $5500 – $17,000 per year. The recipients of such awards also receive a tuition waiver. Only those applicants whose application process (including audition, if applicable) is complete will be considered for an assistantship or fellowship. The deadline to receive priority consideration for University fellowships is February 1. The deadline to receive priority consideration for School of Music assistantships and fellowships is March 1.

Undergraduate: Placement exams in theory and aural skills are given during the first week of classes. More information about specific time and date will be mailed to incoming students during the month preceding your enrollment in the University.

Graduate: Placement exams in theory and aural skills are required for all admitted graduate students prior to their first semester. Exams are given during the first week of classes.

Auditions are held on campus at the University of Illinois School of Music. Off-campus auditions are also held in New York and Los Angeles. Visit the Audition Dates page for specific dates.

Undergraduate: Most credits in applied music, music theory, ensemble and keyboard will transfer as hours toward the degree. A proficiency or placement exam will determine how many of those hours may be used to substitute for UIUC music theory, keyboard proficiency and applied music courses. Courses in general education will be evaluated by the Undergraduate Affairs Office for the College of Fine and Applied Arts. Most of these will transfer as electives toward the degree, but not all courses offered on this campus meet general education requirements. Individual transfer courses from community colleges and 4-year institutions are reviewed case by case. For courses transferred from a community college in the state of Illinois, refer to the transfer and general education websites.

Graduate: A student who has completed graduate-level course work at an accredited institution within the past five years with grades of A or B may request, with department approval, that credits be applied to a degree at the University of Illinois. Generally, a maximum of three units of transfer credit may be counted toward a graduate degree. Credit will not be transferred if it has been applied to another degree. A student must successfully complete at least two units of graduate work at the Urbana-Champaign campus before a request for transfer of credit can be made.

Applicants applying for Fall or Summer entrance will be notified in writing of the admission recommendation during the week of March 15. Applicants applying for Spring admission will be notified in writing of the admission recommendation by December 15.

Prospective students are encouraged to visit the campus of the University of Illinois before or during the application process. Appointments are available with the Music Admissions Office Monday – Friday from 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Students may meet with a representative from the School of Music, attend classes, visit the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, and attend the program sponsored by the Campus Visitors Center. To schedule a visit, please contact the Music Admissions Office and/or the Campus Visitors Center (217.333.0824)