Hero Image

 

Jazz Guitar
Bachelor of Music
Application & Audition Requirements

Apply Now
Back to Admissions

About this Program

Overview

Bachelor of Music: The 4-year undergraduate Bachelor of Music (BM) degree provides extensive applied training in Jazz solo and early rhythm guitar styles, along with comprehensive instruction in music theory and history, and an introduction to the liberal arts disciplines. 

The Music Division accepts a total of approximately 150 classical instrumentalists and vocalists, and approximately 7 to 9 jazz instrumentalists, into the BM program every year. 

For more detailed information about the program, please visit the Music Division webpage and navigate to your area of study. 

Eligibility

In order to be admitted as a Bachelor of Music student, you must have:

  • A high school diploma or its equivalent by the time you enroll
  • Prior artistic training
  • English language fluency

If you apply to this degree program and are denied admission, you can apply again. After two unsuccessful attempts, you are no longer eligible to apply.

Academic Requirements

In most cases, the Juilliard School requires no specific courses, GPAs, standardized test scores, or class rankings for entry to this program. 

However, we will carefully evaluate your academic record and required essay to make sure you have the scholastic competence necessary to succeed in college-level coursework. 

There are specific requirements for:

Criteria for Acceptance

  • Exceptional talent as a performer, and the potential to meet Juilliard's technical standards
  • A high level and quality of training and musicianship
  • A capacity for sustained, disciplined practice
  • The personal maturity and generosity of spirit essential for ensemble work
  • Broad and thoughtful interest in the world of music, including its historical traditions and contemporary trends
  • A clear dedication to artistic excellence and a desire to exercise artistic leadership 

Double Majors

Given the rigorous nature of the program, you are not able to double major.

BCJ Program

Juilliard has programs with Barnard College and Columbia University that allow for cross-registration for approved students. 

Learn more about the program

Application Timeline

Application Timeline

Applications to the College Division open on September 1 each year for enrollment the following fall. Please note the various deadlines for individual materials below.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENT RECEIVED-BY DEADLINE
Online Application with Artistic Resume, Essay(s), and Introduction Video  December 1
Application Fee ($USD) or Fee Waiver December 1
Prescreening Materials December 1
SAT/ACT Scores (homeschooled applicants only)  December 1
Recommender Information December 1
Proof of English Language Proficiency  December 15
Recommendation(s) Received December 15
Request for ADA audition accommodations December 15
Official Transcripts* January 15 
Scholarship / Financial Aid Application*  March 1

*Official Transcripts and Scholarship / Financial Aid Application required only if an invitation to an in-person audition is received.

PRESCREENING NOTIFICATIONS
Results announced via email by Mid-January
Audition Date(s)
See "Audition Dates" Page

 

Application Results

You will receive notification of your admission status (admit, wait list, or deny) through your application status page no later than April 1, if all required application materials have been received.

Application Fee & Waivers

Application Fee

The $110 application fee is nonrefundable and must be paid through your application status page upon submission of your application. Your application is not considered complete until the fee has been received.

Fee Waivers

The inability to pay a college application fee should not be a barrier to applying to The Juilliard School. We offer need-based fee waivers through the process described here, and in the application.

 

First-time College Students

Fee waiver requests are available for first-time college students who demonstrate significant financial need by uploading one of the following to the application:

  • An official SAT  or ACT fee waiver form signed by a high school counselor OR
  • An official NACAC fee waiver form signed by a high school counselor OR
  • A letter on school stationery from a school counselor stating one of the following:
    • You are enrolled in or eligible to participate in the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch program (FRPL).
    • Your annual family income falls within the income eligibility guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
    • You are enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g., TRIO programs such as Upward Bound).
    • Your family receives public assistance.
    • You live in federally subsidized public housing, a foster home, or are homeless.
    • You are a ward of the state or an orphan.

If you are unable to provide one of the above documents, you may provide the following:

  • A letter from someone other than you (the applicant) that addresses your financial situation

All documentation must be in English. Original documents with translation are acceptable.

 

Transfer Students

Fee waiver requests are available for undergraduate transfer students who demonstrate significant financial need by uploading of one of the following to the application:

  • If you are independent, a copy of your most recent tax form filed OR
  • A letter on school stationery from your current college's Financial Aid Office stating that you have financial need of a fee waiver

If you are unable to provide one of the above documents, you may provide the following:

  • A personal letter describing your financial situation

All documentation must be in English. Original documents with translation are acceptable.

Fee waiver requests will be evaluated after you have submitted a complete application. If you are requesting a fee waiver, please submit your application (including fee waiver documentation) but do not pay the application fee.

How to Upload

Fee waiver documentation (translated into English if not originally in that language) must be uploaded directly within the online application and submitted by the appropriate deadline. Documents must be in either .doc or .pdf format. (Convert your file to another format if you have scanned your document as a jpg.)

Fee waiver requests are processed on an ongoing basis. You will receive an email with the results of your request as soon as it is processed. Note that we have a heavy volume of requests to process at the deadline, so you may not receive your results until after the deadline has passed. This does not disqualify your application. Do not pay the application fee if your waiver request is still pending.

Your application status page will show an application fee payment due until your request is approved. If you are notified that your request for an application fee waiver is denied, you will be required to pay the application fee. Your application is not considered complete until the fee has been received. If your fee waiver request is processed after the deadline, and is denied, you will still have a grace period in which to pay the fee. 

Your Application Materials

Your Online Application

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

Your Resume

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.

Your Essay(s)

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 write about why you have chosen to become a musician and what motivates you to continue to pursue music at the collegiate/professional level. Please also elaborate specifically on why you are applying to Juilliard, and how conservatory training will support your future goals.

 

Additional Essay Requirements

Additional essays are required in each of the following circumstances:

 

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.

Your Introduction Video

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 grade level
  • One fact that you want the Admissions Committee to know about you that they cannot learn from your application materials AND
  • Tell us about one piece of music that excites you and why.

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. You will need to use a computer (any type) or cell phone (Android only) with a webcam and a browser that supports media recording (Chrome and Firefox). At this time, video recording is not supported on iPhones or iPads. If you have any trouble with the video recording module, please call or email the Office of Admissions.

Your Transcripts

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. The transcript requirement will be placed on your checklist with a clear deadline at an appropriate point in the application process. DO NOT SEND YOUR TRANSCRIPT UNTIL YOU ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT IT. 

 

Official versus Unofficial Transcripts 

  • An official transcript is one that is sent from your school directly to Juilliard. 
    • To avoid the possibility of fraudulent transcripts, we DO NOT accept transcripts sent via email. 
    • An official transcript must show courses taken and grades earned. 
  • An unofficial transcript is one that you (the applicant) send to us or upload to your application.  
    • Because the transcript did not come from your school, it is insufficient for admission and does not fulfill the checklist requirement. 

 

How Do I Send Juilliard My Official Transcript?

  • If you are submitting a high school transcript, ask your school guidance counselor to send it to us. 
  • In the U.S., many high schools use secure electronic sending services such as Naviance, Parchment, eSCRIP-SAFE, or other system. 
  • Schools outside the U.S. typically send a hard copy of the official transcript to Juilliard via regular or express mail. 
  • If you are a homeschooled student in any country, ask your homeschool administrator (usually your parent) to send a transcript to us. See the Additional Requirements- Homeschool Applicants section for more information on what a homeschool transcript should contain. 
  • If you are a college student, follow the process outlined by your registrar to request that a transcript be sent to Juilliard. 
  • Electronic or paper? 
    • Electronic sending services must use this email address: [email protected].  
    • A paper record of your academic progress, including grades earned, is an acceptable alternative to an electronic transcript if it is sent in a sealed envelope directly from the issuing institution(s) to the Juilliard Office of Admissions (mailing address below). 

 

Transcript Requirements for Students Studying in the US

  • ​​​Official transcripts must be sent by the stated deadline once the requirement is added to your checklist.
  • Your official transcript(s) must show all prior and current high school coursework.
  • Report cards, grade reports, and other student records are not considered official transcripts.
  • 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 transcript as is by the deadline; a final transcript will be required later, if you are admitted and choose to enroll.

 

Transcript Requirements for Students Studying Outside the US

  • Official transcripts must be sent by the stated deadline once the requirement is added to your checklist. 
  • If your transcript is not in English, we require the transcript in its original language as well as a certified translation. 
  • Your official transcript(s) must show all prior and current coursework, which 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 SpanTran (use this link for a discounted evaluation: SpanTran Pathway - The Juilliard School), WES, or ECE can provide this service for a fee.  
  • 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 transcript as is by the deadline; a final transcript will be required later, if you are admitted and choose to enroll. 
  • You may view the status of transcripts at any time by logging into your application account.
  • Hard copies of transcripts may be mailed to:

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

 

Additional Requirements

Your Recommendations

In your application you will be required to identify two individuals who will provide your recommendations:

 

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 abilities in English and acknowledge your speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension abilities
  • 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.

Scholarship & Financial Aid Forms

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

US Applicants 
FAFSA
CSS Profile
Student Tax Forms 
Parent Tax Forms
International Applicants 
CSS Profile
Parent Income Documentation 

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.

Prescreening

Prescreening Type

Format

You are required to upload your files in a Video format. Acceptable file types include:

  • .3g2, .3gp, .avi, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .mxf, .webm, .wmv

PLEASE NOTE: Some .mov files use a codec which is not supported by the application. We recommend that .mov files be converted to another accepted format to avoid uploading difficulties.

We support media files as large as 5GB, but please be advised that larger files will take longer to upload from your Internet connection and may stall if you are on a wireless connection or one that cannot sustain a connection for the necessary period of time. 

Prescreening Requirements

Your major is required to submit prescreening recordings within the online application by the appropriate deadline.

Procedures

  • Upload and arrange your recordings so that the file that represents your best work is first.
  • Individual movements or excerpts should be uploaded as separate digital files.
  • Clearly label each of the uploaded files with the name of the composer and work/movement.
  • Complete your uploads well in advance of the appropriate deadline, as upload times vary depending on file size and internet signal strength.
  • Insufficient or incomplete audition repertoire may affect consideration for admission.
  • Where specific works are required, substitutions are not allowed.
  • Please note that audition requirements which state a complete piece or work are indicating all movements must be prepared.
  • Unless otherwise specified in the prescreening requirements listed below, all works written with accompaniment must be accompanied for your recording.

Quality

  • Please note that submitted prescreening recordings do not need to be filmed in a particular setting. Videos filmed in a practice room, a living room, a concert hall, a recording studio, or any other setting may be submitted. 
  • Recordings must be genuinely performed by you. Composition applicants: live recordings of your works may include others.
  • Recordings must not be edited, nor should any effects such as “reverb” be added.
  • Play back and check your entire recording for any distortion or excessive “buzz”.  
  • If accompaniment is required, ensure that it does not drown out your playing.
  • Review your recordings before uploading to ensure that they are of good quality and represent your best work to date.

You will be notified as to whether or not you have passed the prescreening round by the date on the application timeline. Please note that prescreening materials become the property of The Juilliard School and will not be returned. We encourage you to keep copies for your records.

Additional Instructions

Prescreening Repertoire

Categories 

  • Applicants must submit one selection from each of the four categories below, for a total of four tunes. Recommended recordings are listed to aid you in your preparation.
  • Applicants must record with either instrumental accompaniment or a sounding metronome. If using a metronome as accompaniment, the metronome should beat half notes on 1 and 3 or 2 and 4. If purposely rubato, the metronome can be stopped. 
  • Jazz Guitar applicants must first demonstrate a three-octave triad arpeggio at a quarter = 120 on a major chord of their choosing in quarter notes, followed by the same thing in eighth notes. On their chosen selection from each category, they should perform a chorus of melody (single string/chord melody/or combination thereof), followed by a half chorus of improvisation and a half chorus of accompanying using a rhythm appropriate to the style. 
  • Performances of the selections below should be no more than four minutes or four choruses in length. 
  • NOTICE:  By clicking the links below, you will be redirected to a third party website. Juilliard exercises no control over and is not responsible for any content on linked third party websites, nor does it guarantee or endorse the information, products or services offered on those sites.

 

Category I: Gospel Song, Spiritual or County (vernacular music) 

 

 

 

 

Category II: Swing Era. American Songbook Standards 

 

 

 

Category III: Jazz Standards 

 

 

 

Category IV: The Spanish Tinge (Brazilian, Cuban or Caribbean) 

 

 

Preparation tips: You should listen closely to the suggested recordings to make sure you understand the style of each tune your select. For example, on an Afro-Latin piece such as “Mambo Inn” (not given as an option), one would listen to how all soloists as well as the layered horn figures and rhythm section parts interact with the clave and try to incorporate those rhythms into your improvisations. Pianists should be able to play a montuno, Bassists should be able to play a songo pattern over the form, and Drummers should be able to play a mambo groove adapting the cascara pattern you hear from the cowbell on the recording to the ride cymbal/tom shell, the congas to the snare/toms, and the clave to the hi-hat.

Please know that we are listening for the quality of your sound, swing feel, improvisation ideas, and demonstrated knowledge of the music (i.e. accurate melodies, harmonies, underlying rhythms, and form) and the appropriate emotional and stylistic aesthetics inherent in the source recordings, including lyrics where applicable.

Additional Requirements

English Language Proficiency

Requirement

The ability to speak, read, and understand English fluently is an important factor in admissions decisions. You are required to show proof of English language proficiency by the application deadline if your native language is not English, regardless of citizenship. The Juilliard School defines native language as the language first spoken as a child and the primary language spoken at home. 

  

Exemption 
You may be exempt from the requirement to provide proof of English language proficiency if you meet certain criteria. Exemptions are determined by your answers to questions on the application form. To qualify for an exemption, you must: 

  • Have attended school(s) on a full-time basis where instruction was entirely in English for a TOTAL of SEVEN of the past TEN years. Qualifying schools include primary, secondary, and undergraduate institutions. 

 

An exemption to provide a test score as proof of English language proficiency is granted automatically if you meet the aforementioned criteria. Applicants who are exempt from providing a test score also are exempt from the ELP interview requirement.

 

Helpful Tool

To see if you may qualify for an exemption of the requirement to submit a test score as proof of English language proficiency, our online form can help you. Although this form does not grant exemptions or waivers, it can help you plan ahead should the result indicate that you need to schedule an ELP test.

 

English Language Proficiency Assessment Criteria

We assess your English language abilities using the following criteria:

  • The results of a standardized English language proficiency test
  • An online interview with staff from our English language office
  • Your previous academic record

 

Note that your test score alone is not sufficient for admission; you must still meet our artistic and academic standards.

 

Test Scores

You must submit one of the following test types to document your current level of English language proficiency. If your score falls below the minimum scores listed here, you should carefully consider whether to continue the application and audition process. We reserve the right to deny an audition based on scores that fall considerably below our minimum. 

Test Type Minimum Score
Cambridge English B2

TOEFL and TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition

 73

TOEFL ITP Plus (China)

 543

IELTS Academic Test  and IELTS Indicator

 6
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 610
ACT 24

Juilliard's CEEB code: 002340
Juilliard's ACT code: 2778

The official test results must be sent directly from the testing company and received by the Office of Admissions by the appropriate deadline. Official test results must be on file before a decision of admit or waitlist can be released.

 

Interview Requirement

  • Any applicant with a test score of 94 TOEFL and below (or the equivalent score for other accepted tests) is required to interview with Juilliard’s Director of ESL in order to demonstrate fluency in the English language.
  • Applicants who are exempt from the test score requirement also are exempt from the interview requirement.
  • The Office of Admissions will contact applicants to schedule required interviews.

Transfer Applicants

Definition
You are considered a transfer applicant if both of the following are true:

  1. You have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent AND
  2. You have attended at least one semester of full-time college study

 

Transcript Requirement

  • You are required to submit your high school transcript if you have completed fewer than two full-time semesters of postsecondary study
  • You are required to submit a transcript showing prior and current coursework from all postsecondary institutions study

 

Essay Requirement

  • You must submit an essay explaining your decision to transfer from your current institution, in addition to the other required essay(s).

 

Program Length and Transfer Credits

  • You are required to study at Juilliard for a minimum of two years
  • Total program length is determined after enrollment by evaluation of your transcript(s) and the results of placement exams
  • You are required to take a minimum of 12 liberal arts credits at Juilliard
  • Additional credits from liberal arts courses taken at other accredited postsecondary institutions may be transferred at the discretion of the Registrar; courses with a grade lower than C or its equivalent are not eligible for transfer
  • AP credits are not accepted

Homeschool Applicants

Questions within the Online Application
As a homeschooled student, you will have to respond to the following questions within the online application:

  1. What factors led to your decision to home school?
  2. What relationship (formal or informal) exists between your home school and your state (or provincial) department of education?
  3. Will the state recognize you as a high school graduate?

 

Transcript Requirements

Regardless of format, your homeschool documentation must be received by the stated deadline once the requirement is added to your checklist, and must include:

  1. All courses taken, including those in progress, and the academic year and semester in which each was taken
  2. Assessment of performance (letter grades, percentages, portfolio commentary, etc.) and an explanation of any applicable grading scales
  3. Evidence of official recognition by the school district and/or state department of education
  4. If you attended a high school for any period of time, you must submit official high school transcripts of any/all high school work
  5. If you enrolled in any college courses, you must submit official college transcripts
  6. Optional: a full outline of curriculum by subject
  7. Optional: reading lists

 

Standardized Tests
You are required to submit official SAT or ACT scores by the appropriate deadline. These scores must be sent directly from the testing agency. If you are unable to provide an official SAT or ACT score due to pandemic circumstances, please contact [email protected].

Juilliard's CEEB code: 002340

Juilliard's ACT code: 2778

Applicants with High School Equivalency

Acceptable Equivalencies
In lieu of a high school diploma, you have the option to submit the following high school equivalencies:

  • GED (General Educational Development)
  • TASC (Test Assessing Secondary Completion)
  • CHSPE (California High School Proficiency Examination)
  • International High School Equivalencies (contact Juilliard Admissions)

If you do not have proof of high school equivalency by the stated deadline, you must submit one or more of the documents listed below to demonstrate your academic preparedness. 

 

Demonstration of Academic Preparedness
While submission of high school equivalency documentation satisfies Juilliard's minimum entry requirement, the following documents can be helpful in proving your ability to undertake coursework at the postsecondary level:

  • Standardized test scores
  • Advanced Placement (AP) exams
  • High school transcripts
  • College transcripts
  • Homeschooling documentation

Formerly Enrolled Juilliard Students

Definition
You are considered a former Juilliard college student if you have not been in attendance during the previous academic year.  You must submit all required application materials, in addition to the requirements below. 

 

Essay
As a formerly enrolled Juilliard student, you are required to submit an additional essay explaining your motivation for resuming your studies or applying to another major at Juilliard. You may choose to address academic, artistic, or professional goals that you believe could be accomplished by returning.

 

Transcript Requirements

  • You are required to provide official transcripts from all institutions attended after Juilliard
  • Transcripts are already on file from your time at Juilliard and do not need to be submitted

 

Proof of English Language Proficiency
As a formerly enrolled Juilliard student, you do not need to submit proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, ITP Plus).

 

Decisions
We reserve the right to review your Juilliard enrollment record to assist with admissions decisions.

Currently Enrolled Juilliard Students

Online Application
You must apply if you meet one of the following criteria:

  • You are seeking to change majors
  • You are applying to a new program of study (changing your degree level)

 

Application Fee
As a currently enrolled student in the College Division, you are not required to submit an application fee as long as you submit your application by the appropriate deadline.

 

Essay
You are required to submit an additional essay explaining your motivation for continuing your studies at Juilliard. You may choose to address academic, artistic, or professional goals that you believe could be accomplished by remaining at Juilliard.

 

Recommendation(s)
Currently enrolled Juilliard students are also required to have recommendation(s) in support of their application. This can come from an internal faculty member or someone not affiliated with The Juilliard School.

 

Transcripts
As a current student, you do not need to provide your official transcripts, as they are already on file.

 

Prescreening Requirement
Prescreening is required only if both of the following are true: 

  1. You are applying to a new major AND
  2. The major to which you are applying is prescreened 

 

Proof of English Language Proficiency
You do not need to submit proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, ITP Plus).

 

Decisions
We reserve the right to review your Juilliard enrollment record to assist with admissions decisions.

Currently Enrolled Pre-College Students

Prescreening
Prescreening is required only if BOTH of the following are true: 

  1. You are applying to a major that is different than your Preparatory division major AND
  2. The major to which you are applying is prescreened 

 

Recommendation
Currently enrolled Juilliard Preparatory students are also required to have an artistic recommendation and an academic recommendation in support of their application. Artistic recommendations can come from an internal faculty member or someone not affiliated with The Juilliard School.

 

Decisions
We reserve the right to review your Juilliard Preparatory enrollment record to assist with admissions decisions.

Applicants with Disabilities

The Juilliard School seeks to facilitate the full participation of applicants with disabilities in the audition process. The school makes reasonable accommodations or adjustments for qualified individuals with known disabilities in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). 

Juilliard will not make pre-admissions inquiries as to whether or not a student has a disability; however, applicants with documented disabilities who require reasonable accommodations in order to participate in the audition process must notify the Office of Academic Support and Disability Services (OASDS) in writing by the appropriate deadline. 

You will be required to submit documentation of your disability to OASDS; this information will be kept strictly confidential. You must complete the following forms in order for the school to accommodate your specific needs:

  • Applicant Release of Disability Related Information Form 
  • Audition Accommodation Request Form

For more information and to access the forms please visit the Office of Academic Support and Disability Services page.

Auditioning for Juilliard

Audition Repertoire

Fall 2024 Auditions

Music auditions at The Juilliard School are held in person on our New York City campus; limited funds are available for need-based travel grants. All applicants invited to audition are expected to attend on their scheduled date and time, and are expected to have the entire audition repertoire prepared. While faculty may not hear entire works, they may ask you to perform any part of a required work.

 

Audition Repertoire and Procedures

The audition is composed of two parts: a Musicianship Assessment (used for class placement) and the 1st Round Audition.

Applicants invited to the live audition will be asked to submit a creative project and their repertoire list of jazz tunes with the composer and key noted. Applicants will receive big band excerpts from the School to prepare in advance.

To be considered for the Jazz Program, you must pass the 1st Round Audition and be invited to the Callback. 

The 1st round will consist of the components below.

  1. Perform your prescreening selections from memory and without written arrangements along with a professional rhythm section of Juilliard Jazz alumni
  2. Be prepared to perform any of the other selections, as requested by the panel, in:
    • Category II for undergraduate applicants
    • Categories II & III for graduate applicants
  3. Perform big band excerpts which you will receive when invited to the 1st Round and are expected to prepare in advance
  4. Perform Bb Melodic Minor from “Daily Exercises” by Barry Galbraith, page 34

Please note: Etudes are required so that applicants can demonstrate their technical proficiency, not their knowledge of any particular style of classical music. Please bring two copies of your etude to the audition. 

Callbacks

You may be asked to participate in a callback round with the faculty on the same date as your live audition. If called back, you should be prepared to stay at The Juilliard School until 10 p.m. 

The callback will consist of the components below.

  1. Perform your four prescreening selections from memory, and without written arrangements along with a professional rhythm section of Juilliard Jazz alumni.
  2. Be prepared to perform any of the other selections, as requested by the panel, in:
    • Category II for undergraduate applicants.
    • Categories II & III for graduate applicants.
  3. You will submit and be prepared to briefly discuss your motivation and process behind a creative project (i.e. a poem, original composition, photography, etc.) Applicants are asked to submit an example of their creativity outside of your instrument performance. This could be a poem, a drawing, a cookbook, a composition, etc. The purpose is to enable us to have a conversation with you about what inspires you, and for us to gain insight into who you are a person and artist.
  4. Instrumentalists may be asked to sight read and improvise a new composition. Vocalists will be asked to perform a “St Louis Blues” by W.C. Handy, and to vocalize through their full range to demonstrate proficient vocal technique. 

If you are not called back, you may reasonably conclude that you are not under consideration for admission.

Accompanist Information

All prescreening selections require accompaniment. It must be either instrumental accompaniment or a sounding metronome. For your in-person audition, an alumni rhythm section, knowledgeable of all the prescreening selections, will accompany you.

Decisions & Enrolling

Decisions

There are three possible outcomes to the audition process:

Admit

  1. The faculty recommends you to the Admissions Committee based on your potential and artistry as demonstrated in the audition.
  2. The Admissions Committee evaluates your academic record and supplemental materials in order to determine your capacity to succeed at Juilliard.
  3. The Admissions Committee makes the final determination of whom to admit based on their own evaluation, faculty recommendations, and the number of available openings in your major.
  4. The Office of Admissions releases your decision letter.

Waitlist

  1. The faculty recommends you to the Admissions Committee based on your potential and artistry as demonstrated in the audition.
  2. The Admissions Committee evaluates your academic record and supplemental materials in order to determine your capacity to succeed at Juilliard.
  3. You are placed on the waitlist because, although you are found admissible to the school, we have a limited number of openings.
  4. Should a place become available, the Admissions Committee evaluates the waitlist, making offers of admission as necessary.  

Deny
During the application process, there are three points at which you can be denied admission:

  1. As a result of prescreening
  2. At various points in the application and audition process
  3. Following review by the Admissions Committee 

A denial at any of these stages results in notification that you are no longer under consideration for admission.

These decisions will be posted to your application status page as noted on the timeline. 

Scholarship & Financial Aid

Juilliard admits without considering your ability to pay. All monies awarded require completion of the scholarship and financial aid forms. To learn more about the awarding process, visit our Office of Financial Aid.

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