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Summer Composition
Application & Audition Requirements

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About this Program

Overview

Dates: July 6-July 19, 2025

Juilliard Summer Music's composition program offers a two-week intensive for composers in high school led by a faculty of world-renowned instructors, including Juilliard faculty members and visiting guest faculty. Participants will live, study, and present their music at Juilliard, located at Lincoln Center in the heart of New York City. Juilliard Summer Music will expose musicians to the many skills, careers, and passions represented at the school and prepare them for success in college auditions and beyond.

Detailed information on the admissions process is available below. Questions may be directed to [email protected]

Application Fee: $50
Cost of Attendance: $4,800
Please note application fee waivers and need-based financial aid are available.


Curriculum/Sample Schedule

Activities will include:

  • Participation in daily masterclasses and seminars led by Juilliard faculty and world-renowned guest composers and musicians
  • Premiere(s) of your composition(s) in public performances
  • Rehearsal time of your composition(s) with faculty coaches and professional musicians
  • Concerts at Lincoln Center
  • Opportunities for off-campus excursions to NYC arts and cultural institutions
  • Opportunities to connect with fellow composer, musicians, and mentors

Sample Daily Schedule:

  • 8:00 AM - Breakfast
  • 9:00 AM - Juilliard Summer Choir Rehearsal
  • 10:00 AM - Composition Seminar/Master Class
  • 11:30 AM - Comp Lab/Lessons
  • 1:00 PM - Lunch/Practice or Composing Time
  • 2:00 PM - Composition Seminar/Master Class
  • 4:00 PM -  Juilliard SummerComp Ensemble Rehearsals/Comp Lab/Lessons
  • 6:00 PM - Dinner/Practice or Composing Time
  • 7:00 PM - Concert or Social Activity

Eligibility

Juilliard Summer Music is intended for:

  • Students who have completed at least one year of high school before the start of the program. Generally, this means that participants are aged 14-18. 
  • Students may also be spring 2025 high school graduates taking a gap year before attending college.
  • International students are also welcome to apply. Please note, Juilliard cannot assist in acquiring visas.

Applicants must also be:

Preference will be given to first time applicants, however, students who have previously attended or applied for Juilliard Summer programs are welcome to apply.

Faculty

David Serkin Ludwig, Artistic Director and Composition Studio Faculty

Daniel Felsenfeld, Composition Studio Faculty
Amy Beth Kirsten, Composition Studio Faculty
Alyssa Weinberg, Composition Studio Faculty
 

Jonathan Bailey Holland, Guest Artist
Valerie Coleman, Guest Artist
Viet Cuong, Guest Artist
Nick DiBerardino, Guest Artist
Reena Esmail, Guest Artist
inti figgis-vizueta, Guest Artist
John Mackey, Guest Artist
Wynton Marsalis, Guest Artist
Joan Tower, Guest Artist
Eric Whitacre, Guest Artist

 

Additional faculty and guest artists to be announced. The above faculty and guests are subject to change.

Application Timeline

Application Timeline

Application RequirementDate
Online Application OpensDecember 1, 2024
Online Application (including Video Audition) DueFebruary 1, 2025
Application Fee or Fee Waiver DueFebruary 1, 2025
Request for ADA Audition Accommodations DueFebruary 1, 2025
Optional Letter of Recommendation DueFebruary 1, 2025
Financial Aid Request DueFebruary 15, 2025
Admissions Decisions Posted to Application Status PageMarch 1, 2025
Financial Aid Decision Posted to Application Status PageMarch 1, 2025
Enrollment Deadline (including payment deposit)March 15, 2025

 

Application Fee & Waivers

Application Fee

The $50 USD 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

Application fee waiver requests are available for students who demonstrate significant financial need by the submission of one of the following:

  • An official SAT or ACT fee waiver form signed by a high school guidance counselor OR
  • An official NACAC-fee-waiver form signed by a high school guidance counselor OR
  • A letter on school stationery from a guidance 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

     

Application fee waiver requests are also available for:

Any of the above students requesting an application fee waiver must submit one of the following:

  • A Juilliard Preparatory Division transcript
  • A letter or email from a Preparatory Division administrator confirming your enrollment.
  • A screenshot of your Preparatory Division schedule in Juilliard’s Cadence portal
  • A letter or email from a Tianjin Juilliard Pre-College administrator confirming your enrollment
  • A letter or email from a Sphinx Organization administrator confirming your previous attendance at Sphinx Performance Academy

 

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.

Your Application Materials

Your Online Application

All applicants must submit the following:

  1. Score submission of two recent compositions
  2. Two separate video or audio recordings of these two recent compositions
  3. Résumé
  4. Introduction video
  5. Optional: Letter of recommendation

See detailed descriptions of application video and recommendation letter requirements below.
 

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Your Score and Recording Submissions

Scores:

  • Two recent scores uploaded in PDF format.
  • Name, title of piece, and year of composition should be included in the score.

Recordings:

  • Recordings are in support of the scores and may be live music or digital realizations of your works.
  • Each video/audio file must be uploaded individually.
  • Video or audio recordings of a live performance or recording session is preferred. Digital realization is also acceptable.

For any questions about score or recording requirements, you may reach out to [email protected].

Format:
Acceptable audio formats include:

  • .aac, .aif, .aiff, .iff, .fla, .m4a, .mpa, .mp3, .ra, .wav, and .wma

Acceptable video formats include:

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

PLEASE NOTE: Some .mov files use a codec that is not supported by the application. We recommend that .mov files be converted to another accepted format to avoid uploading difficulties.
The application platform can support media files as large as 5GB, but please be advised that larger files will take longer to upload depending on 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.

Your Resume

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:

  • Your name and instrument(s) studied (ex: composer, composer and pianist, etc.)
  • Your contact information (including address, phone, and email)
  • Education: Secondary school, pre-college, or other diploma programs you may currently attend or have previously attended; and the degrees or diploma(s) you have earned or are in the progress of earning.
  • Teachers: Your most recent teachers and the dates when you studied with them
  • Compositions: Indicate works premiered, performed, recorded, and/or commissioned, with date/venue/city/state and who the piece was commissioned by
  • Performance Experience: Master classes (teacher and date), recitals, chamber music, choir, orchestra, band, musical theater roles, opera roles, competitions, etc.

Your Introduction Video

Guidelines:
Applicants are required to submit a video in which you: 

  • Introduce yourself and state your full name.
  • Respond to one of the following prompts:
    • Describe what you hope to achieve by attending Juilliard Summer Music or
    • Describe one musical moment or experience in your life that you are especially proud of

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, and .wmv 

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

The application platform can support media files as large as 5GB, but please be advised that larger files will take longer to upload depending on your internet connection and may stall if you have an unstable connection.

Your Recommendations

You must indicate who will be submitting your letter of recommendation within the online application. Your recommendation should come from your primary music teacher and address your dedication, openness to corrections, technique, and musicianship.

The recommendation letter itself is not due until later in the application timeline. Your recommender will receive an email with a link to securely upload a letter to our application system.

We will only accept recommendations received through our application system.

This is an optional addition to your application; letters of recommendation are NOT required or necessary.
 

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Additional Requirements

International Students

International students are welcome to apply. Please note, Juilliard cannot assist in acquiring visas for Juilliard Summer Music.

Applicants with Disabilities

In compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990 (ADA), The Juilliard School is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible application and audition process. The Office of Academic Support and Disability Services (OASDS) can provide reasonable disability accommodation to applicants and auditioners with disabilities. 

Applicants who meet the technical requirements of the program or course are encouraged to apply regardless of disability. Juilliard will not make pre-admissions inquiries about whether a student has a disability, which has no bearing on acceptance. However, applicants with documented disabilities who require reasonable accommodations to participate in the audition process must complete a Disability Accommodation Request with OASDS at least three to four weeks prior to the application due date. Supporting documentation can be attached to the request as a file.

Applicants and their parents or guardians must also schedule and complete an intake meeting with an OASDS representative. Intake appointments may be conducted via Zoom, phone, or in person.

The Disability Accommodation Request Process is private and confidential. All records are securely stored in the Juilliard Accommodate Portal and are not included with any “permanent” record. Only qualified OASDS staff can access this information, ensuring your privacy is respected.

For more information on the Disability Accommodation Request process, please visit the OASDS webpage.

Decisions & Enrolling

Scholarship & Financial Aid

Cost of Attendance
2025 Pricing for Juilliard Summer Music

Tuition$3,300 USD
Room & Board$1,500 USD
Application Fee $50 USD
Total Price$4,850 USD


Fee Descriptions:

  • Tuition: Includes all lessons, coachings, classes, workshops, lectures, recording and performance fees, and musical excursions
  • Room & Board: Includes housing accommodations in Juilliard’s residence hall and a cafeteria meal plan. Students are required to use Juilliard accommodations and purchase the meal plan in order to participate in Juilliard Summer Music.

Financial Aid
Limited, need-based financial aid is available for admitted students. In the Juilliard Summer Music application, students can indicate their interest in financial aid by checking a box. After submitting their application, students who selected this option will receive a notification with financial aid information and an invitation to complete a financial aid request form.

Those who apply for financial aid will be invited to submit the following:

  • A signed copy of the parent(s)’ or guardian(s)’ most recent tax return, or other income verification documentation, with all Social Security numbers and banking information redacted
  • A letter outlining the applicant's financial circumstances and any exceptional expenses that support the request for need-based assistance

All documentation must be in English. Original documents with translation are acceptable. International and U.S. students are eligible to apply for financial aid. Please note that most financial aid offers cover only a portion of tuition. You will receive notification of your financial aid offer through your application status page.

Cancellation Policy
Juilliard is not responsible for cancellation or early termination of the program or any interference with the use of Juilliard facilities that may be caused by factors beyond Juilliard’s reasonable control, as determined by Juilliard. In the event of cancellation or early termination, Juilliard’s sole liability will be to provide the student with a prorated refund of fees paid for participation in the program.