How to Apply

Degree Programs

A completed online application is due by December 1 each year and must include the following items:

1. Online application (available on September 15)
The application includes sections to upload all of your application materials. Anything sent by mail (any supplementary materials that cannot be uploaded) must be postmarked December 1 or earlier.

Applicants to the Yale School of Music’s choral conducting, early music voice, and organ programs must also submit an application through the Institute of Sacred Music (more information below under Program-Specific Requirements). There is no additional application fee for the Institute of Sacred Music application.

B.A./M.M. applicants applying as high school seniors must also submit a college application through the Yale College Office of Undergraduate Admissions. B.A./M.M. applicants applying as current Yale College students must meet specific requirements (more information below under Program-Specific Requirements).

For all other applicants, the Yale School of Music application is the only Yale University application you need to submit.

Please contact gradmusic.admissions@yale.edu if you have any questions.

2. $150 application fee
Applications will not be reviewed unless the application fee is paid. The fee is nonrefundable. We do not offer fee waivers except for B.A./M.M. applicants applying to Yale College simultaneously who received an application fee waiver from Yale College. The fee should be paid online by credit card. Alternatively, we accept checks or money orders (made payable to Yale University). If paying by check, please include your name and application reference number on the check. All checks must be in U.S. dollars and drawn on a U.S. bank. To pay the fee online, first submit your application, then log in and click the link on your status page to pay the fee: Submit Payment for 150.00 USD.

3. Prescreening recordings
All applicants should submit prescreening recordings online, as part of the online application, instead of by mail. These files or website links should be uploaded directly to the online application. Yale does not assume responsibility for loss of recordings and scores.

It is very important that the audio quality of audio and video recordings is excellent. If you are given a choice between submitting audio recordings or video recordings, and your video does not have high audio quality, we prefer that you submit an audio recording. Prescreening recordings must be unedited, nor should any effects be added.

Please see Prescreening Resources at the bottom of the page for more information.

Live auditions will be held for applicants who pass the prescreening round. Attendance is required.

4. Résumé or CV
Your résumé or CV helps give us a full picture of your musical background and experience. It is helpful to include information such as your schools, private teachers, musical experience (solo, chamber, orchestral), music festivals attended, and teaching experience.

5. Letters of recommendation (3)
Letters should be written by teachers, mentors, or advisors with knowledge of your abilities as a musician, and submitted as part of the online application. We will also accept letters by mail (with signature across envelope seal) or by email to gradmusic.admission@yale.edu, as long as the recommender's information has been entered within the application. Letters may be submitted throughout the month of December, but we strongly prefer to receive them by the December 1 application deadline.

We encourage applicants to open the application as soon as possible and enter contact information for the three letters of recommendation. Adding the contact information triggers an electronic form which is sent to the recommender for them to submit their letter. While we will accept letters of recommendation throughout the month of December, we strongly prefer to receive all letters by the December 1 deadline. Entering the information early allows the recommenders ample time to write.

All applicants must submit three (3) letters of recommendation, with the exception of current Yale School of Music students who must submit one (1) letter of recommendation.

6. Academic transcripts
We require transcripts from all colleges, universities, and conservatories that you have attended or are currently attending. An unofficial transcript can be uploaded to your online application prior to being invited for a live audition, but please make sure that the transcript is legible and includes your name, the name of the institution, the degree program, and your GPA. On the “Education History” tab of the application, you will see an upload button for transcripts after clicking “Add Institution.” If you are offered a live audition, we will require official transcripts from all institutions you have attended since graduating from high school. This includes transfer credits and those earned at a community college or joint program between institutions. Official high school transcripts are only required from BA/MM and Certificate applicants, as well as AD applicants who have not yet earned an undergraduate degree.

All transcripts must be in English. Final transcripts must be translated into English by a certified translator, if applicable. Transcripts uploaded or sent by the applicant are considered unofficial. In order for transcripts to be considered official, they must be sent directly by your school's registrar's office to the Yale School of Music or through a secure service such as Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, eScript-Safe, or other system. Transcripts can be mailed, however, we highly encourage all applicants to submit official electronic transcripts. This helps to ensure that transcripts are delivered promptly and securely to the Yale School of Music.

We reserve the right to request a third-party transcript evaluation for foreign degrees if we are unable to determine your degree equivalency. You will be notified if an official evaluation of your transcript is required to verify your academic level. Companies such as SpanTran, WES, or ECE can provide this service for a fee.

Electronic Transcript Delivery
Request official electronic transcripts to be sent to the Yale School of Music at gradmusic.admissions@yale.edu.

Do not send transcripts to any other department at Yale such as "Yale University", "Yale College", or "Yale Graduate School". They will not be received by the Yale School of Music. On some electronic services, you will need to manually enter that your official transcript be sent to grad music.admissions@yale.edu if you do not see the Yale School of Music listed.

Mailing Address
Yale School of Music
PO Box 208246
New Haven, CT
06520-8246

FedEx, UPS, or DHL
Yale School of Music
98 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511

7. TOEFL/IELTS score (non-native English speakers)
The TOEFL or IELTS (Academic test) is required for applicants whose first language is not English. Official score reports must be sent directly from ETS or IELTS; note that scores are only valid within two years of the test date. All applicants must send in a TOEFL or IELTS score by December 1, regardless of whether or not the score is passing. It is possible to be offered a live audition with a score below the minimum. However, Yale School of Music will not extend an offer of admission to any student who has not met our English language requirement before March 1 of that application cycle. We do not accept Duo Lingo.

All TOEFL and IELTS tests must be taken in-person at a physical test center location. At-home versions of the TOEFL and IELTS test (TOEFL iBT Home Edition and IELTS Online) are not acceptable for consideration for admissions.

TOEFL Minimum Score Requirements
Artist Diploma: 80 internet, 215 computer, or 552 paper
All other degree programs: 86 internet, 227 computer, or 567 paper

*MyBest scores or Essentials Test will not be accepted

TOEFL Reporting Information
ETS Institution Code: 3992
ETS Department Code: none required

IELTS Academic Minimum Score Requirements
Artist Diploma: 6.0 overall band score
All other degree programs: 6.5 overall band score
We only accept the IELTS Academic version of the IELTS test. We do not accept the IELTS General Training. 

IELTS Reporting Information
Official electronic IELTS scores must be sent to us directly from IELTS by searching "Yale School of Music" in the electronic score delivery system.

Official paper-based score reports must be sent to (official electronic scores are highly preferred over paper-based scores):
Yale School of Music
PO Box 208246
New Haven, CT 06520-8246
United States

English language testing exemption
You may request a TOEFL/IELTS waiver if you have studied at English-speaking institutions full-time for six years or more. This means six years prior to beginning school at Yale. Waiver requests should be made online as part of the online application and include the following:

1. A short description of your education history (tell us when you started attending English-speaking schools and how many years you studied at each school)
2. Copies of your university, high school, and/or middle school transcripts that show six years or more of strong grades at English-speaking schools. Your waiver will be denied automatically if you fail to upload all required transcripts

Please note that waivers are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed for those who have studied at English-speaking schools for six or more years. Uploaded transcripts must show strong academic performance and significant coursework in areas other than music performance. Your waiver request will be denied automatically if you apply for a waiver without having met the six year requirement to apply for the waiver.

The Yale School of Music reserves the right to deny or rescind acceptance decisions from candidates who falsified information to obtain a favorable outcome.

8. Essays
Essays will be used by the Admissions Committee to learn more about you beyond the information provided in other parts of your application. The "Why YSM" essay will be seen by area faculty and the Admissions Committee. The optional "Additional Information" essay will only be seen by the Admissions Committee.

1. Required: Please tell us what inspires you about the Yale School of Music. Besides the full-tuition scholarship and living stipend, what is your most important reason for applying? There is no suggested word limit.
2. Optional: Please use this opportunity to share any additional information that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider, beyond the materials already in your application. Your response to this question will not be seen by faculty. There is no suggested word limit.

9. GRE score
As of March 1, 2021, applicants to the composition department are no longer required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test. With this update, the GRE is not required of any applicant in any area of focus at the Yale School of Music.

D.M.A. Applicants

D.M.A. applicants are required to submit supplementary materials in addition to the items listed above, including a significant sample of past scholarly writing on a musical or non-musical topic (5-20 pages) and seven short answer questions, including your present career plans and reasons for pursuing admission to the D.M.A. program.

Entrance Exam

Applicants must pass the entrance exam in addition to passing the live audition to be considered for admission. The entrance exam contains four sections:

1. Listening and score identification
2. Music history
3. Tonal analysis and musicianship
4. 20th century analysis

The musicianship portion tests your aural perception of melody, harmony, rhythm, and phrase structure in music through dictation and other written exercises.

D.M.A. applicants must take the exams at the designated times and days. Exams are not offered on any other dates and will not be rescheduled. Exams in Spring 2025 will take place in-person during audition week. Applicants are required to be present for at least two separate days in New Haven.

Interviews

Applicants may be invited to a 30-minute interview with members of the D.M.A. Examination Committee.

Please see Prescreening Repertoire + Live Auditions section below for a list of important dates.

No one may apply to the D.M.A. program more than twice.

download sample dma exam

Applying to more than one degree program

If you are applying to the A.D. program, for example, and you would also like to be considered for another degree program (such as the M.M.A., M.M., or Certificate), you must select A.D. as your primary degree program on the online application. Then you may select a secondary degree program. D.M.A. applicants interested in being considered for the M.M.A. program may select M.M.A. as the secondary degree program. You may only apply to a maximum of two degree programs with each application.

Institute of Sacred Music (ISM) applicants

Applicants to any of the ISM programs (choral conducting, early music voice, or organ) must submit both the School of Music online application and the ISM online application. There is no additional application fee for the ISM application.

ISM Admissions

B.A./M.M. applicants

Applying as a prospective Yale College student
B.A./M.M. applicants who are high school seniors must submit applications to both Yale College and Yale School of Music for the same academic year. The two applications are entirely independent of each other.

The application deadline for the next academic year is December 1 for the School of Music and January 2 for Yale College. If you qualify for a fee waiver with your Yale College application, we will also waive your School of Music application fee.

Live auditions will be held for applicants who pass the prescreening round, and attendance is required. The School of Music’s Admissions Office will notify applicants of prescreening results by the end of January and of live audition results by early April.

Yale College Admissions

Applying as a current Yale College student
B.A./M.M. degree program applicants should consult their major teacher at the beginning of the first term of their junior year. By the end of junior year, the applicant should have completed, at a minimum, the following courses:

1. Music majors: four terms of performance (MUSI 360a or b, 361a or b, 460a or b, 461a or b) and MUSI 210a or b and 211a or b
2. Majors in subjects other than music: four terms of performance (MUSI 360a or b, 361a or b, 460a or b, 461a or b) and four courses, which usually include two courses from the MUSI 301–311 series, and two of MUSI 350a, 351b, 352b, or 353a

Live auditions will be held for applicants who pass the prescreening round, and attendance is required. The School of Music’s Admissions Office will notify applicants of prescreening results by the end of January and of live audition results by April 1.

TOEFL/IELTS Score

The TOEFL or IELTS (Academic test) is required for applicants whose first language is not English. Official score reports must be sent directly from ETS or IELTS; note that scores are only valid within two years of the test date. All applicants must send in a TOEFL or IELTS score by December 1, regardless of whether or not the score is passing. It is possible to be offered a live audition with a score below the minimum. However, Yale School of Music will not extend an offer of admission to any student who has not met our English language requirement before March 1 of that application cycle. We do not accept Duo Lingo.

All TOEFL and IELTS tests must be taken in-person at a physical test center location. At-home versions of the TOEFL and IELTS test (TOEFL iBT Home Edition and IELTS Online) are not acceptable for consideration for admissions.

TOEFL Minimum Score Requirements
Artist Diploma: 80 internet, 215 computer, or 552 paper
All other degree programs: 86 internet, 227 computer, or 567 paper

*MyBest scores or Essentials Test will not be accepted

TOEFL Reporting Information
ETS Institution Code: 3992
ETS Department Code: none required

IELTS Academic Minimum Score Requirements
Artist Diploma: 6.0 overall band score
All other degree programs: 6.5 overall band score
We only accept the IELTS Academic version of the IELTS test. We do not accept the IELTS General Training. 

IELTS Reporting Information
Official electronic IELTS scores must be sent to us directly from IELTS by searching "Yale School of Music" in the electronic score delivery system

Official paper-based score reports must be sent to (official electronic scores are highly preferred over paper-based scores):
Yale School of Music
PO Box 208246
New Haven, CT 06520-8246
United States

Students whose first language is English are automatically exempt from this requirement. Students whose first language is not English wishing to be considered for an exemption must follow the exemption instructions below.

TOEFL/IELTS Exemption

You may request a TOEFL/IELTS waiver if you have studied at English-speaking institutions full-time for six years or more prior to beginning school at Yale. Waiver requests should be made online as part of the online application and include the following:

1. A short description of your education history (tell us when you started attending English-speaking schools and how many years you studied at each school)
2. Copies of your university, high school, and/or middle school transcripts that show six years or more of strong grades at English-speaking schools. Your waiver will be denied automatically if you fail to upload all required transcripts.

Please note that waivers are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed for those who have studied at English-speaking schools for six or more years. Uploaded transcripts must show strong academic performance and significant coursework in areas other than music performance. Your waiver request will be denied automatically if you apply for a waiver without having met the six year requirement to apply for the waiver.

Essays will be used by the Admissions Committee to learn more about you beyond the information provided in other parts of your application. The "Why YSM" essay will be seen by area faculty and the Admissions Committee. The optional "Additional Information" essay will only be seen by the Admissions Committee.

1. Required: Please tell us what inspires you about the Yale School of Music. Besides the full-tuition scholarship and living stipend, what is your most important reason for applying? There is no suggested word limit.
2. Optional: Please use this opportunity to share any additional information that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider, beyond the materials already in your application. Your response to this question will not be seen by faculty. There is no suggested word limit.

Requests to defer matriculation must be submitted in writing and require the approval of the Admissions Committee and the Dean. University policy permits matriculation deferral for no more than two academic semesters (one year) on approved requests. Those who are approved for deferred matriculation must pay the enrollment deposit to secure their place in the incoming class for the following year.

We do not anticipate an opening for the String Quartet Fellowship for the 2025-2026 academic year.

A completed application is due by December 1. Only one member of an ensemble should fill out the application. This person will be considered the “primary contact” for the group.

The primary contact must be prepared to include the following information about each quartet member:

1. Date of birth
2. Email address
3. Individual bio

Application materials
 As part of the application, the primary contact for the group must include:

1. An individual bio for each quartet member
2. A group bio
3. A repertoire list
4. Two letters of recommendation
5. Prescreening recordings

String Quartet Fellowship applicants do not need to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores, essays, or academic transcripts.

Only one application fee ($150) is required for each ensemble.

Instrumental Collaborative Piano Fellowship positions are available for the 2025-2026 academic year. We do not anticipate an opening for Vocal/Opera Collaborative Piano Fellowship for the 2025-2026 academic year.

A completed online application for the Collaborative Piano Fellowship is due by December 1. Applicants may apply to the Collaborative Piano Fellowship for either instrumental or vocal/opera collaborative piano.

As part of the application, each applicant must include the following:

1. Curriculum vitae*
2. Two letters of recommendation
3. Pre-screening recordings
4. Application fee: $80

*An applicant’s curriculum vitae should address the applicant’s musical background (please include the repertoire list) and any employment or administrative experience.

Collaborative piano fellowship applicants do not need to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores, essays, or academic transcripts.

Applicants to the Collaborative Piano Fellowship are required to have earned a master of music degree in either solo or collaborative piano within the past five years. Applicants who have completed a DMA or Ph.D. are ineligible. Individuals enrolled in a degree program for the upcoming academic year are ineligible.

Audition requirements can be found by scrolling down to the next section.

YSM-HBCU Partnership

The goal of this partnership is to encourage students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to consider applying to the Yale School of Music (YSM) for graduate school, as well as applying to the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival/Yale Summer School of Music. This partnership arises from an effort to create a more welcoming, nourishing, and equitable environment for students and a more inclusive and diverse student body overall.

As part of this partnership, the Yale School of Music will waive the $150 application fee for students who are recommended by HBCU faculty. Partnering institutions are asked to send a list of recommended students to YSM Director of Admissions by Nov. 1. There is no limit to the number of students HBCU faculty can recommend.

If students or representatives of HBCU's would like further information, please contact gradmusic.admissions@yale.edu.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and affirmatively seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons of diverse backgrounds. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, status as a veteran, or national or ethnic origin; nor does Yale discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

University policy is committed to affirmative action under law in employment of women, minority group members, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans.

Inquiries concerning these policies may be referred to Valarie Stanley, Senior Director of the Office of Institutional Equity and Access, 221 Whitney Avenue; 4th Floor, 203-432-0849. For additional information, see oiea.yale.edu.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects people from sex discrimination in educational programs and activities at institutions that receive federal financial assistance. Questions regarding Title IX may be referred to the University’s Title IX Coordinator, Stephanie Spangler, at 203.432.4446 or at titleix@yale.edu, or to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 8th Floor, 5 Post Office Square, Boston MA 02109-3921; tel. 617.289.0111, fax 617.289.0150, TDD 800.877.8339, or ocr.boston@ed.gov.

Personal data collected by Yale University throughout the admissions process is collected for the primary purposes of considering your candidacy for admission and evaluating your eligibility for financial aid, if applicable. If you are admitted and enroll, your personal data will be used as necessary for registration and to facilitate your education.

The Clery Report contains three years’ worth of campus crime statistics and certain security policy statements, fire safety information, and where students, faculty, and staff should go to report crimes. The report uses federally mandated definitions concerning the locations and types of crimes in order to allow for comparisons across campuses.

Applicants to the D.M.A. degree program must audition and take pertinent exams. An interview may also be required.

Exams
Saturday, February 22, 2025 (New Haven)

Applicants must take the exams at all of the designated times (U.S. Eastern Time) and date. These exams are not offered on any other dates and will not be rescheduled.

A sample exam can be found by scrolling up to the "Program-Specific Requirements" section.

Interviews
The week of February 24, 2025 (Online)

Applicants may be invited to a 30-minute interview with members of the D.M.A. Examination Committee. Applicants who are invited to interview will be notified by the Admissions Office at the end of audition week.

The first round of A.D. auditions will be heard by Yale School of Music faculty as part of the regular auditions for each area. After the first round, select candidates will be advanced to a final round of auditions, which will take place in New Haven on Saturday, February 22, 2025. The final round will be adjudicated by a separate committee of jurors.

Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba

We do not anticipate an opening for Bass Trombone for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Prescreening recording (audio or video; piano not required)
Applicants should prepare repertoire that will show their playing to the best advantage with the most variety possible both instrumentally and musically. Repertoire should display a broad range of styles, genres, and technical abilities, with examples covering the full range of the instrument, and should include the following:

1. Four or more varied standard orchestral excerpts
2. Three or more varied selections from a solo piece, étude, or individual movements of a sonata or concerto

Live audition (piano not required)
Audition and prescreening repertoire may be the same or different, as long as both programs adhere to above-mentioned guidelines.

Auditions will be held Monday–Wednesday, Feb. 17–19, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Prescreening recording
Applicants should submit scores and recordings of two to three recent works (no more than three will be considered; multi-movement works are suitable), which may be written for different genres or instrumentations and/or electronic media. Composers should upload PDFs of scores, as well as recordings, videos, or external links to the online application.

Interview
Applicants who advance beyond the prescreening round will be invited to New Haven for a 30-minute interview with the composition faculty.

Interviews will be held Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Orchestral Conducting

Prescreening recording (video required)
Applicants should submit video excerpts that best showcase their orchestral-conducting skills. While no specific repertoire is required, it should include at least two contrasting musical styles of standard orchestral repertoire. Submitted videos must have been filmed within the previous 12 months.

A minimum of three excerpts should be uploaded and contain the following:

1. Footage of the applicant conducting an ensemble/orchestra in concert
2. Footage of the applicant working with an ensemble/orchestra in rehearsal

Note: Each piece of footage must include the title of the piece, the date, and the name of the ensemble. In addition, for rehearsal footage, it would be helpful for the conductor to wear a lavalier microphone, to avoid poor audio quality.

The video camera should be positioned behind the orchestra and pointed at the conductor. We are most interested in rehearsal footage, although some concert footage should also be included.

Each video clip and any additional samples should be uploaded as separate video files and should total no more than 20 minutes in length. Videos featuring full orchestra are preferred, but clips of an applicant leading an ensemble of about 15 musicians is acceptable.

Live audition
Select applicants will be invited to New Haven in February for a series of interviews and for a live audition. Invited applicants will be asked to conduct several selections from the standard orchestral repertoire with the Yale Philharmonia. Repertoire and the audition date will be included in the invitation letter.

Auditions will be held Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Choral Conducting

Prescreening recording (video required)
Applicants should submit a video of at least 15 minutes that shows them conducting a choral ensemble in rehearsal and in performance.

Live audition
Applicants who are invited to New Haven for a live audition will be expected to demonstrate a highly developed level of comprehensive musicianship that includes an understanding of theory, aural skills, keyboard skills, harmonic dictation, and score reading. Details about the live audition will be noted in the invitation.

Auditions will be held Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025 and Monday, Feb. 24, 2025 (DMA candidates). Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

For M.M., M.M.A., and Certificate applicants

Prescreening recording (audio or video):

1. A work by J.S. Bach (prepare the larger movement – the Prelude or Prelude and Fugue), arrangements of music by Scarlatti, Francesca Caccini, Élisabeth-Claude Jacquet de La Guerre, three movements from a Silvius Leopold Weiss suite, or others
2. A work or two shorter works by Emilia Giuliani-Guglielmi, Mauro Giuliani, Sor, Mertz, or others
3. A work of the 20th or 21st century, such as Villa-Lobos etudes (four of the 12 etudes) or a work by Ponce, Kay, José, Britten, Martin, Brouwer, S. Assad, C. Assad, Tower, León, Flippin, Lash, Ginastera, Takemitsu, or others
4. Applicants who are also composers are encouraged to include a work of their own, although it cannot replace requirement number 3
5. Applicants may also consider including any of the following repertoire (not required): Renaissance music by Dowland and/or Da Milano, or arrangements of music by Granados and Albeniz

Live audition
In addition to the prescreening repertoire, applicants who are invited to a live audition must prepare a short piece that will be announced and e-mailed to applicants four to six weeks before the audition.

Note: The guitar repertoire is vast. If a piece an applicant for any program wants to include is not on the above list, the applicant is encouraged to ask if the substitute repertoire is acceptable.

Auditions will be held Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

For A.D. and D.M.A. applicants

Prescreening recording (audio or video):
Applicants must submit a live recording of 75 minutes of music (the equivalent of a full recital program) plus a movement of a concerto. The recital program must include the following:

1. A full Bach suite or partita, or the Prelude, Fugue, and Allegro; or the Chaconne from the D-minor Partita
2. A work from either the Classical or Romantic period, such as Emilia Giuliani-Guglielmi, Mauro Giuliani, Sor, Mertz, or others
3. A work of the 20th or 21st century, such as Villa-Lobos études (four of the 12 études) or a work by Ponce, Kay, José, Britten, Martin, Brouwer, S. Assad, C. Assad, Tower, León, Flippin, Lash, Ginastera, Takemitsu, or others
4. The first movement of one of the following concertos (with piano or orchestra): Arnold’s Guitar Concerto, Brouwer’s Concerto de Toronto, Corigliano’s Troubadours (Variations for Guitar and Chamber Orchestra), Giuliani’s Concerto No. 1 in A major, Goss’s Guitar Concerto, Ponce’s Concierto Del Sur, Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, Sculthorpe’s Nourlangie, Takemitsu’s To the Edge of Dream, Tedesco’s Guitar Concerto No. 1 in D major, or Villa-Lobos’ Concerto for Guitar and Small Orchestra
5. Applicants who are also composers are encouraged to include a work of their own, although it cannot replace requirement number 3
6. Applicants may include, though it’s not required, music by Milan, Dowland, and Da Milano, or arrangements of works by Granados and Albéniz

Live audition
In addition to the prescreening repertoire, applicants who are invited to audition must prepare a short piece that will be announced and emailed to applicants four to six weeks before the audition.

Note: The guitar repertoire is vast. If a piece an applicant for any program wants to include is not on the above list, the applicant is encouraged to ask if the substitute repertoire is acceptable.

Auditions will be held Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Prescreening recording (audio or video):

1. A work by Bach or another Baroque composer including but not limited to Scarlatti (two sonatas of contrasting style) or Handel (a single movement, or two sonatas from Scarlatti is permitted for pre-screening)
2. An entire solo work from the standard repertoire, including but not limited to Impromptu by Fauré, Suite by Britten, Légende by Renié, works by Parish Alvars, or Rhapsodie by Grandjany
3. A sonata from the 20th century repertoire including but not limited to works by Casella, Tournier, Tailleferre, Hindemith, or Houdy (a single movement is permitted for pre-screening)

Live audition
Audition and prescreening repertoire may be the same or different, as long as both programs adhere to above-mentioned guidelines. The entire work for all three requirements should be prepared for the live audition. All works should be performed from memory.

Auditions will be held Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Prescreening recording (audio):

1. Any contrapuntal work by J.S. Bach
2. Two or more French dances from either the 17th or 18th century
3. Applicant’s choice: In addition to the above-mentioned repertoire, please choose a representative example from either the English Virginalist school, an early 17th century Italian toccata, a sonata by Domenico Scarlatti, or a piece of 20th or 21st century composition

Live audition
Applicants will be responsible for the above-mentioned literature and, additionally, any contrasting work by a different composer. Applicants will also be assessed on their level of competence as continuo players.

Auditions will be held Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Prescreening recording:
Representative works from the major areas of organ literature:

1. A major work by Bach
2. A Romantic work
3. A work by a composer born after 1900

Live audition
Applicants are strongly encouraged, though not required, to perform different repertoire than they performed in the prescreening round. However, works should be chosen from the same three categories above. In addition to performing prepared works, applicants will be asked to demonstrate sight-reading ability and other essential musical skills. Time will be allotted for conversation with faculty.

Auditions will be held Thursday–Friday, Feb. 20–21, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Prescreening recording (video required; unedited):

1. A major work composed for either marimba or vibraphone
2. One piece from Elliott Carter’s Eight Pieces for Four Timpani
3. A solo piece for multiple percussion
4. An étude for snare drum

Live audition:

1. A major work composed for either marimba or vibraphone (examples of acceptable works include, but are not limited to, Minoru Miki’s Time for Marimba; Gordon Stout’s Two Mexican Dances; Steven Mackey’s See Ya Thursday; Philippe Manoury’s Le Livre des Claviers; or Franco Donatoni’s Omar)
2. A solo piece for multiple percussion (examples of acceptable works include, but are not limited to, Iannis Xenakis’s Rebonds or Psappha; David Lang’s Anvil Chorus; or James Wood’s Rogosanti)
3. Jacques Delecluse’s Étude No. 1
4. Anthony Cirone’s Étude No. 32
5. Two pieces from Elliott Carter’s Eight Pieces for Four Timpani
6. Two- and four-mallet marimba sight-reading will be required
7. The following orchestral excerpts: 
   1. Timpani: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9
   2. Timpani: Richard Strauss’ Burleske
   3. Timpani: Mozart’s Symphony No. 39
   4. Snare drum: Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade
   5. Xylophone: Messiaen’s Exotic Birds
   6. Glockenspiel: Debussy’s La Mer

Auditions will be held Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Prescreening recording (audio or video; no concertos):

1. A Bach prelude and fugue or another original work by Bach (not a transcription)
2. A sonata or variations by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert (for a prescreening recording, applicants should provide at least two contrasting movements; for a live audition, applications should prepare an entire work)
3. A larger 19th century Romantic work
4. A 20th- or 21st century composition (for a multi-movement work, provide at least two contrasting movements)

Live audition

Audition and prescreening repertoire may be the same or different, as long as both programs adhere to the above-mentioned guidelines.

Auditions will be held Monday–Friday, Feb. 17–21, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Violin

Prescreening recording (video preferred, with high-quality audio; pianist optional):

1. One movement of an unaccompanied Bach sonata or partita (A.D., M.M.A., and D.M.A. applicants must provide two movements)
2. First movement of a Mozart concerto (with cadenza)
3. Any Paganini caprice
4. One movement of a Classical (other than Mozart), Romantic, or 20th century concerto
5. A short standalone piece or a single movement of the applicant’s choice (from any genre or style) that is not a movement from a sonata or concerto

Live audition (pianist required, details will be noted in the audition invitation):
Audition and prescreening repertoire may be the same or different, as long as both programs adhere to above-mentioned guidelines. (A.D., M.M.A. and D.M.A. applicants must play Mozart at the live audition. M.M. and Certificate applicants will not be asked to play Mozart at the live audition.)

Auditions will be held Monday–Friday, February 17-21, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Viola

Prescreening recording (video or audio; piano required, where applicable):
Applicants must provide at least 15 minutes of music of their choice, including three works of contrasting styles. One movement of each work is acceptable, and applicants should be sure that at least one of the pieces (the concerto or the sonata) is a Romantic work. It is not necessary to include the pieces required for the live audition.

Live audition (pianist required, details will be noted in the audition invitation):

1. The prelude from any Bach cello suite or the first movement of any Bach sonata or partita for solo violin, or the Chaconne
2. Either the first movement of a Romantic viola sonata by a composer such as Brahms, Glinka, Franck, Schubert, or Vieuxtemps, or a transcription of a piece such as Brahms Op. 38 or Op. 78, the Rachmaninoff Cello Sonata, the Grieg Cello Sonata
3. The first movement of a viola concerto by a composer such as Mozart (Clarinet Concerto, arr. for viola), Bartók, Hindemith, Walton, Martinů, Bowen, Penderecki, Schnittke (first and second movements), or Elgar (Cello Concerto, arr. L. Tertis)
4. A short required piece—such as Fauré, Après un rêve; Glazunov, Elegy; Tchaikovsky, Valse Sentimentale—that will be announced to invited applicants four to six weeks before the audition
5. A.D. applicants only must also include (in addition to the pieces above) a piece or movement of the candidate’s choice

Applicants must be sure that at least one of the pieces (the concerto or the sonata) is a Romantic work.

Auditions will be held Wednesday–Friday, Feb. 19–21, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Cello

Prescreening recording (video required; pianist optional):

1. Prelude and another movement from a Bach Suite
2. The first movement from a substantial standard concerto including but not limited to Dvořák, Haydn D major, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev Sinfonia Concertante (first or second movement), or Elgar
3. Applicant’s choice: a piece or movement (solo or with piano) written after 1970 including but not limited to Sofia Gubaidulina’s 10 Preludes for cello solo; Tania Léon’s Four pieces for cello solo; Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s Lamentations: Black/Folk Song Suite for solo cello; Carlos Simon’s Lickety Split for cello and piano; and Errollyn Wallen’s Dervish for cello and piano

Live audition (pianist required, details will be noted in the audition invitation):
Audition and prescreening repertoire may be the same or different, as long as both programs adhere to above-mentioned guidelines.

Auditions will be held Wednesday–Friday, Feb. 19–21, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Double Bass

Prescreening recording (video required; pianist optional):

1. A movement of a Bach cello suite (with repeats if not a prelude)
2. Two contrasting movements from concertos, sonatas, or virtuoso pieces
3. Two contrasting orchestral excerpts

Live audition (pianist optional):
Prepare the same or different pieces as the prescreening recording (both programs should adhere to the above-mentioned guidelines), plus a short work or movement by a contemporary composer such as Carter, Kurtág, Berio, Henze, Weinberg, or Persichetti.

Auditions will be held Wednesday–Friday, Feb. 19–21, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Opera

Prescreening recording (video strongly preferred; video required for at least five selections)
Provide seven selections from the operatic, oratorio, and/or art-song repertoire of contrasting styles and languages. Four of these selections should be operatic arias.

Live audition
Audition and prescreening repertoire may be the same or different, as long as both programs adhere to above-mentioned guidelines.

Auditions will be held Saturday & Sunday, Feb. 22 & 23, 2025 (Opera applicants are required to attend BOTH days). Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Early Music, Oratorio + Chamber Ensemble

Prescreening recording (audio or video; video required for at least one selection)
Include seven selections of contrasting styles and languages from the sacred music (oratorio, mass, cantata, sacred song, etc.), opera, and art-song repertoire. Selections can be chosen from any period, including contemporary compositions. However, at least three selections should be from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. At least one aria by J.S. Bach is required. Applicants should choose selections that demonstrate their versatility as a performer.

Video files should be named to include the piece title and date it was recorded.

Live audition
Live audition material should include five pieces of contrasting styles, languages, and periods. These selections may be the same or different works from the prescreening recording. Of the five selections, prepare at least two Baroque selections (including one aria by J.S. Bach) and a third selection written prior to 1700. All works should be chosen from the same reportorial categories as above and performed from memory. Applicants will be asked to demonstrate sight-reading ability and other essential musical skills.

Auditions will be held on Tuesday & Wednesday, Feb. 18 & 19, 2025 (Early Music Voice applicants are required to attend BOTH days). Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Flute

Prescreening recording (video required):

1. Dutilleux’s Sonatine for Flute and Piano (with piano)
2. The second movement of Mozart’s Concerto in D major (with piano)
3. On piccolo: Rossini’s Semiramide Overture (select one of the standard excerpts)
4. A work of the applicant’s choice (complete work preferred)

Live audition (pianist required, details will be noted in the audition invitation):

1. Jolivet’s Chant de Linos
2. From memory: the second movement of Mozart’s Concerto in D major
3. The first movement of any Vivaldi C-major piccolo concerto

Auditions will be held Thursday–Friday, Feb. 20–21, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Oboe

Prescreening recording (video required; piano required, where applicable):
Applicants should provide 15 to 20 minutes of music of their choice, sampled from each of the following:

1. A major sonata
2. A solo piece or étude
3. A major concerto
4. Four varied orchestral excerpts

Live audition (pianist required, details will be noted in the audition invitation):

1. Henri Dutilleux: Sonata for Oboe and Piano
2. Mozart: Oboe Concerto Movement 1 until measure 97, Movement 2 
3. J.S. Bach: Cantata #82 (Ich habe genug) opening Adagio (without piano accompaniment)
4. Six varied orchestral excerpts

Auditions will be held Thursday–Friday, Feb. 20–21, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Clarinet

Prescreening recording (audio or video):

1. Mozart: Clarinet Concerto with piano or orchestra accompaniment
   1. Allegro: measure 57-115
   2. Adagio: measure 1-8
   3. Rondo: measure 1-31 (skip the rest)
2. Bach: Flute Partita Sarabande (measure 1-16) and Bourrée anglaise (complete without repeats), played as written on B-flat clarinet (sounding 1 step lower than flute pitch)
3. Schumann: the first movement of Fantasiestücke Op. 73, with piano if possible
4. Beethoven: 1st clarinet excerpts from Symphony No. 6
   1. Movement I: measure 474-493
   2. Movement II: measure 68-77
5. A three to five minute excerpt from a contemporary work for unaccompanied clarinet including but not limited to Edison Denisov, Franco Donatoni, Donald Martino, Roberto Sierra, Jörg Widmann or Chen Yi
6. Copland: cadenza of the Clarinet Concerto

Live audition (pianist required, details will be noted in the audition invitation):
Applicants may be asked to perform selections from the above-mentioned repertoire list and to demonstrate their sight-reading ability.

Auditions will be held Tuesday–Wednesday, Feb. 18–19, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Bassoon

Prescreening recording (video preferred; piano required, where applicable):
Applicants may choose prescreening repertoire from the live audition repertoire list below. They are also welcomed to replace all or some works with appropriate alternatives when submitting a prescreening recording. Applicants should provide no more than 15 minutes of their playing, excerpted from the following:

1. A sonata or other non-concerto work for bassoon and piano
2. A concerto (played with piano or orchestra)
3. Two to four varied orchestral excerpts

Live audition (pianist required, details will be noted in the audition invitation):
At the live audition, applicants will be required to perform selections from the following repertoire.

1. Mozart: Bassoon Concerto (with piano)
   1. Allegro: measure 35-97 (Solo exposition until recap)
   2. Andante ma Adagio: measure 7-26. (“A & B sections” until recap)
   3. Rondo: measure 21-80
2. Sonata movements (with piano): Camille Saint-Saens: Bassoon Sonata Op. 168 Movements I and II OR Alexandre Tansman: Sonatine Movements I and II (complete movements)
3. A three to five minute excerpt from a contemporary work for unaccompanied bassoon by underrepresented composers such as (but not limited to): Edward Bland’s For Bassoon, Jenni Brandon’s Colored Stones, Reena Esmail’s Zinfandel, Adolphus Hailstork’s Bassoon Set, Libby Larsen’s Jazz Variations, Francisco Mignone’s 16 Brazilian Waltzes, Isang Yun’s Monolog
4. Three orchestral excerpts. Choose one from each (Total of three):
   1. Mozart’s Figaro Overture: measure 139-171, OR Beethoven’s Symphony 4, Movement IV: measure 15 through 25 and 184 through 190
   2. Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, Movement II: Opening solo and cadenzas, OR Tchaikovsky’s Symphony 4, Movement II: measure 274 to the end
   3. Ravel’s Bolero: Bassoon solo (rehearsal number 2 to 3), OR Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring: Opening solo to 3 measures after rehearsal number 3

Auditions will be held Tuesday–Wednesday, Feb. 18–19, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

We do not anticipate an opening for the String Quartet Fellowship for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Prescreening recording (video required)
Three contrasting movements by three composers from different periods. One movement must be from a work by Mozart, Haydn, or Beethoven.

Live audition

1. A complete string quartet by Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven

2. Two contrasting movements from a quartet by Schubert, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Schumann, Dvořák, Debussy or Ravel or another significant 19th century composer

3. Two contrasting selections (may be movements or entire short works) from the 20th or 21st centuries

4. An additional contrasting work (or a significant portion of a larger work) of the group's choice. This could be music from any period that reflects your group's particular musical interests and tastes

If a group wants to include a work that is not on the above-mentioned list, the primary contact should email gradmusic.admissions@yale.edu to ask if the substitute repertoire is acceptable for requirements 2 and/or 3.

Auditions will be held on TBD.

Instrumental Collaborative Piano

Prescreening recordings (video strongly preferred):

1. with an instrumentalist, two contrasting movements of different styles from different periods
2. one piece for solo piano

Live Audition repertoire
Applicants must be available for a live audition in New Haven. Specific repertoire, likely adhering to the following guidelines, will be provided with the audition invitation:

1. one piece with a string player
2. one piece with a wind player
3. one piece for solo piano

Auditions will be held Sunday, February 23, 2025. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Other application requirements can be found by scrolling up to the previous section.
 

Vocal/Opera Collaborative Piano

We do not anticipate an opening for Vocal/Opera Collaborative Piano Fellowship for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Prescreening recordings (video strongly preferred; video required for at least three selections):

1. Three selections from operas with singers. Arias and/or ensembles are acceptable. In contrasting styles
2. Two art songs in contrasting styles with singer

*No pieces for solo piano will be required. Recordings should be made within 12 months of the application deadline.

Live Audition repertoire
Applicants must be available for a live audition in New Haven. Specific audition repertoire guidelines will be provided with the audition invitation but will likely include:

1. Opera aria(s) with a singer
2. Art song(s) with a singer
3. Opera ensemble(s)
4. Sight reading

Live auditions will be held on TBD. Please see Audition Week section above for the latest information.

Other application requirements can be found by scrolling up to the previous section.