Cornish College of the Arts

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Music Department Admission

The Music Department at Cornish College of the Arts requires all vocal and instrumental performance applicants seeking a Bachelor of Music degree to audition for admission to the program; music composition and composer/performer applicants must also submit a portfolio for review. Applicants to the Artist Diploma in Early Music program should follow a separate application and audition process outlined here: http://www.cornish.edu/music/early_music/

The Cornish Music Department employs a three-step application and admission process.

  • First, apply for admission. You can begin your application for admission to Cornish College of the Arts here: www.cornish.edu/admission/apply/apply_online/
  • Next, submit three audio or video audition recordings. Review of pre-screening auditions will begin January 1st. Students submitting auditions after January 1 will be reviewed in the order received and invited to the live auditions on a space available basis. You can upload your prescreening audition recordings here:
    www.decisiondesk.com/clients/cornish/apply/flexform/1/
  • Finally, if you are invited to the Merit Scholarship & Admission Live Audition weekend at Cornish on March 1-3, 2013 you will be required to perform up to three selections in a live audition.

The information on this page is also available in PDF format.

The Pre-Screening Submission Process

Vocalist, composer, or instrumentalist, classical, jazz, or early music, it all starts with your pre-screening submission. All applicants for admission to the Music Department for Fall 2013 must submit an audio or video recording by the January 1, 2013 Pre-screening Submission Deadline. All pre-screening submissions are submitted online. No CDs, DVDs, or videotapes will be accepted. Based upon review of your pre-screening submission, the music faculty may then extend an invitation to you to audition live at Cornish in Seattle, Washington for the Merit Scholarship Audition Weekend: March 1, 2 and 3, 2013.

Early Auditions and Open House

For those students who would prefer to audition early, and not have to submit an online pre-screening submission, the Music Department hosts Early Auditions on November 17, 2012 and a Music Open House on November 18, 2012.

Requirements for Vocal and Instrumental Performers

Please prepare three selections, in contrasting style and tempo, totaling no more than 15 minutes. Each piece should show you at your best. We recommend one composition or movement of a work in a slow-to-moderate tempo, another in a faster tempo in a contrasting style, and a third selection in a style of your choice (this may be original). This third selection is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your creativity and unique style. Individual movements of larger works may be used; we encourage you to include contemporary works as well as traditional repertoire. Jazz instrumentalists or vocalists: please include at least one selection that demonstrates your improvisational skills.

Requirements For Composers And Composer/Performers

Composers applying for admission to the Music Department should prepare recordings of three original works. Recordings may feature live musicians or a computer realization of your music; however, at least one of the recordings should feature live musicians, and may include yourself. Applicants to the Composer/Performer program should submit recordings of three original works; at least two of these works should feature you as a primary performer. All Composer and Composer/Performer applicants should also include a notated score or lead sheet for each selection submitted. Label each score or lead sheet with the title of the piece and your name.

Guidelines for Submitting Your Online Pre-Screening Recordings

The Music Department only accepts and reviews online pre-screening submissions. Do NOT submit CDs, DVDs, audiotapes, cassettes, MIDI files, or videotapes, as these will NOT be reviewed.

Our online submission process will ask you to list the following information for each recording that you submit:

  • Title of the selection
  • Composer
  • Instrumentation of the work
  • What instrument(s) or part you play on the recording Composers and composer/performers will also be asked to submit scores or lead sheets for each selection submitted.

These can be uploaded as Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files or as Sibelius or Finale files. Further instructions can be found online at http://www.cornish.edu/apply

FINAL DECISION

All applicants for admission will be notified of a final admission decision along with any merit scholarship awards approximately one month after the Merit Scholarship & Admission live audition weekend.