Cello

Bachelor of Music

Application & Audition Requirements

Your application must be submitted online by the appropriate deadline. To begin, create your Juilliard Admissions Account, gather all of the required application materials, and follow the instructions to complete your application.

Start your online application

An artistic resume must be uploaded as part of the online application. The purpose of submitting a résumé is to provide the Admissions Committee with a document that quickly sums up your background and accomplishments. The résumé should contain lists, not full prose paragraphs such as in a program bio. The elements to include in your résumé are as follows: 

• Your name and major (violin, jazz trumpet, soprano, etc.)
• Your contact information (including address, phone, and email)
• Education: Where you studied, degree or diploma earned (or to be earned)
• Teachers: Particularly for classical instrumentalists and vocalists, listing your most recent teachers and the dates when you studied with them is important information for the Committee
• Master classes where you performed: List teacher and date (for example, June 2020)
• Ensemble experience: Youth orchestras, choirs, jazz bands, etc.
• Competitions and awards: Include dates
• Performances: If including orchestral performances, only include those if you were the soloist; otherwise list recitals and chamber music performances
• Other experience: If you have done volunteer work, held a job, etc., those can be listed here 

You do not have to use these exact categories in this exact order. Use what is logical for your background, but make sure to put your name at the top of the document, and include your education and your teachers. DO NOT SUBMIT A PROGRAM BIO. It is not useful for purposes of applying to Juilliard.

A written essay is one of Juilliard’s application requirements. Our Admissions Committee uses your essay(s) to learn more about you as an individual, and to gain a sense of who you are beyond your application, transcript, and audition. Your essay helps the Admissions Committee understand how your past experiences have informed your life as a musician, and how Juilliard fits into your pursuit of a career in music.

Essays are evaluated on the way you express your ideas, the written flow of your thoughts, and your use of language (including grammar and mechanics). Using outside help to write your essay—whether generative AI, including tools such as Google Bard and ChatGPT, or help from another person—undermines the ability of the Admissions Committee to evaluate your potential for success at Juilliard. Submission of your essay confirms that the writing was produced by you, with no assistance from another person or electronic resource.

Essay Requirements

• 1–2 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font
• written in English (not translated from another language)
• must be your own original work
• submitted within the online application

Tips for Writing Your Essay

• Take time to think about what you would say to the Admissions Committee about your experiences and goals as a musician.
• Get the ideas down in a rough draft, and then speak them out loud.
• Edit your rough draft so that it is clear, and expresses your thoughts. Avoid bland, general statements about being a musician.
• Have a friend read the essay to give you feedback on whether it genuinely sounds like you.
• Review the final draft for grammatical and spelling errors. (Remember that “Juilliard” is spelled with two “I”s: JUI-LLI-ARD.)
• Attach your essay to your application.
• Remember that AI may be a shortcut, but in the end, it does not represent your own thoughts. If you are seeking an education at The Juilliard School, self-examination and honesty are qualities that will serve your growth.

Essay Topic

Please choose one of the following topics:

Option 1:

In her book Grit (Duckworth, 2016, p. 51), Angela Duckworth writes, “skill is not the same thing as achievement... Without effort, your talent is nothing more than your unmet potential. Without effort, your skill is nothing more than what you could have done but didn’t. With effort, talent becomes skill and, at the very same time, effort makes skill productive.”

Musicians who audition at Juilliard have all worked hard for many years to develop their musical talent into skill, and yet the work of developing your artistry is a life-long pursuit. What motivates you to continue growing as an artist, and what artistic habits do you value most in helping you achieve your professional/educational goals?

Option 2:

In his audio book, "Beginner's Mind", Yo-Yo Ma talks about the importance of reclaiming a "beginner's mind", in which he describe approaching each performance with an "open, unbiased, curious mind...remembering the discovery and wonder of music as if for the first time."

As you look to begin your conservatory training, how do you plan to maintain a "beginner's mind" in your work? What do you hope to discover about yourself, or your artform, during your time at Juilliard, and how do you plan to continually discover the wonder of music?

Additional Essay Requirements

Additional essays are required in each of the following circumstances:

• Transfer Students
• Formerly enrolled Juilliard students
• Currently enrolled Juilliard students

Optional Essay

Should you have a personal or academic circumstance to share that you feel can provide context for a particular point on your resume - for example, a gap year, unusually low grades in a semester or year, etc. - you have the option to submit an additional short essay.

A one-minute video uploaded to the application in which you record yourself giving the following information:

• Your name
• Your major (i.e. flute, composition, organ). Voice applicants: please include your voice type
• Your current music teacher
• Your current school and level of study (for example, first-year undergraduate, 12th grade, etc.)
• One fact that you want the faculty and Admissions Committee to know about you that they cannot learn from your application materials, and that would give the faculty more insight into who you are as a person.
• Tell us about one piece of music that excites you and why.

In order to record your video via the online application, please use one of the following web browsers that support the ability to record your video: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, or Microsoft Edge. Please note that a computer should be used to upload your video (mobile devices are typically not supported for this functionality). To record your video, navigate to the "Music Introduction Video" tab in your application. There you will find instructions for starting the recording. Because the video will be recorded directly from the application, not uploaded as a video file, we recommend allowing yourself ample time to prepare and test your recording in the application module. You can record and save your video at any time before submitting your application, and can delete and re-record your video as needed prior to submission. 

Transcripts are an important component of the decision process. They help us determine if you have sufficient scholastic competence to succeed in coursework at the level for which you are applying. Please send your transcript by the requested deadline found in the application timeline above.  

The Juilliard School accepts both official and unofficial transcripts during the application process. Students who are admitted and plan to enroll in the fall will be required to submit a final official transcript of their studies. 

We understand that the current academic year has not ended, and that, if you are currently enrolled, you have not yet completed your program. Please submit your incomplete transcript as is by the deadline; an official final transcript will be required later, if you are admitted and choose to enroll. 

You may view the status of receipt of transcripts at any time by logging into your application account. Please note that it may take the Office of Admissions up to seven business days to process your transcript after it has been received. 

Unofficial versus Official Transcripts  

• An unofficial transcript is one that you upload to your application or status page. 
  • In addition to what is listed below in Transcript Requirements, unofficial transcripts must include your name and the name of your institution. 
  • Unofficial transcripts must be uploaded to your application or status page as a PDF. 
• An official transcript is one that is sent from your school directly to Juilliard. You should ask your school counselor, Registrar, or another administrator to send it to us. 
  • Many high schools use secure electronic sending services such as Naviance, Parchment, eSCRIP-SAFE, or other systems. Electronic sending services must use this email address: [email protected]. 
  • Alternatively, your school can send us your official transcript via regular or express mail. Mailed transcripts must be sent in a sealed envelope directly from the issuing institution(s) to the Juilliard Office of Admissions. 

          Office of Admissions
          The Juilliard School
          60 Lincoln Center Plaza
          New York, NY 10023

 Transcript Requirements 

• Your transcript(s) must show all prior and current coursework for your current program. 
  • For students studying outside of the United States, your coursework must be equivalent or similar to a US high school curriculum.  
  • You will be notified if an official evaluation of your transcript is required in order to verify your academic level. Companies such as The Evaluation Company (use this link for a discounted evaluation: SpanTran Pathway - The Juilliard School), WES, or ECE can provide this service for a fee. 
  • If you have already completed your program of study, your transcript must also include the degree/diploma conferred and your graduation/completion date. 
• If your transcript is not in English, we require the transcript in its original language as well as a certified translation.  
• If you are homeschooled, applying with high school equivalency, or transferring from another college or university, please see the additional requirements below.

Additional Requirements

• Homeschooled Applicants
• Students with High School Equivalency 
• Transfer Students

In your application you will be required to identify two individuals who will provide your recommendations. Please identify one individual to provide an academic recommendation and one individual to provide an artistic recommendation.

Academic Recommendation

• A recommendation from a high school academic teacher, preferably in English, history, or other language arts coursework (transfer applicants may provide a recommendation from a college professor)
• The recommendation should help us to gain insight into your academic work, and participation in discussions and group work. It should also address your abilities in English and acknowledge your speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension abilities. As this recommender is addressing academic work, please make sure they understand that we do not want them to address your artistic work. That information will be provided by your artistic recommender.
• The Admissions Committee considers this a critical component of your application.

Home-schooled applicants should submit a recommendation from someone other than a parent who can address the issues listed above. In addition, this recommendation should address social maturity and ability to integrate well with other students and colleagues.

Artistic Recommendation

• A recommendation from a teacher, conductor, coach, or artistic mentor
• In addition to addressing your talent and accomplishment, the recommendation should also discuss the following individual characteristics that indicate potential for success in the field: perseverance, dedication, collegiality, and leadership.

These recommendations themselves are not due until later in the application timeline. Recommenders will receive an email with a link to securely upload their letters to our application system. We will only accept recommendations received through our application system.

You may view the status of recommendations at any time by logging into your application account.

A key element of your study at Juilliard is your major teacher assignment. Music students receive 15 one-hour lessons per semester with a Juilliard studio faculty member.

How to Indicate Your Preferences

• You are required to submit your teacher preferences through the online application
• If your preferences change, you can update your selections through your application status page

How Your Preferences are Used

• Your teacher preferences are confidential and do not affect admissions decisions. Studio faculty are not advised of teacher preference selections until after admission decisions are finalized by the committee
• We aim to confirm studio assignments with notification of admission
• If admitted, your teacher assignment will be based on your preferences to the greatest extent possible. No teacher assignment can be made without a documented request for a specific teacher

Researching Teachers

If you are not familiar with our faculty, we strongly recommend researching the teachers in your major prior to the application deadline, as follows:

• Review the teachers’ online bios in our directory and listen to recordings of each artist
• Ask your current teacher(s) for recommendations
• Consult with friends who may have studied with them
• Optional: Set up a meeting or lesson with the teacher(s). Although not all faculty are available to meet with applicants due to their teaching and performing commitments, you may use this form to request contact information for up to four teachers. Scheduling the meeting and payment of any lesson or meeting fee is your responsibility.

To be considered for financial aid and scholarship, you are required to submit the following items by the appropriate deadline:

More information about our awarding policies can be found on the Financial Aid section of the website. 

For information about tuition, fees and expenses, please visit Student Accounts.