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Conservatory of Performing Arts Admission

Audition with BW Conservatory of Performing Arts

Schedule Your Audition

After completing the application for admission and submitting the audition fee or fee waiver through the online applicant portal, you will be asked to request your audition date. All music majors must audition. Note: Music Industry and Arts Management & Entrepreneurship majors are not required to audition.

The application and audition fee must be submitted by November 1 to audition in November and by January 15 to audition in January or February. Applications may be accepted beyond the deadline on a space-available basis. Contact music@bw.edu for more information.

Applicants have the option of auditioning live in person or virtually. Recorded auditions are also welcome for instrumentalists and classical vocalists. Music theatre applicants will be asked to submit recorded monologue, wildcard, voice and dance videos as well as their headshot, and resume prior to their scheduled live voice audition.

Applicants cannot select more than one audition date. If the applicant registers for an available audition spot, the applicant cannot also choose to be waitlisted for a different audition date.

Audition Dates for Fall 2024 Enrollment

Auditions are filled on a first-come basis after the receipt of the application and audition fee or fee waiver, and registration of the audition date through the applicant portal. The application is available beginning on August 1 and auditions may be reserved through the applicant portal starting on August 15 (appromiximately). Audition spots may fill well in advance of the application deadline.

Decision letters regarding your status for admission with BW and the Conservatory are sent by December 11 or March 5, depending on when you audition.

Instrumental & Classical Voice Auditions

Music education, music therapy, music composition, instrumental performance, voice performance, keyboard performance, music theatre direction, music theory, music history & literature, Bachelor of Arts in music.

Instrumental & Classical Voice Auditions: Zoom

Sunday, December 3, 2023
Sunday, February 18, 2024

Instrumental & Classical Voice Auditions: On-Campus

Saturday, November 11, 2023
Saturday, November 18, 2023
Saturday, February 10, 2024
Saturday, February 17, 2024
Saturday, February 24, 2024

Instrumental & Classical Voice Auditions: Recorded

Accepted throughout the audition season for a March decision.

Music Theatre Auditions: Zoom

Sunday, December 3, 2023 (Full)
Sunday, February 18, 2024 (Full)

Music Theatre Auditions: On-Campus

Saturday, November 11, 2023 (Full)
Saturday, November 18, 2023 (Full)
Saturday, February 10, 2024 (Full)
Saturday, February 17, 2024 (Full)
Saturday, February 24, 2024 (Full)

Music Theatre Organization Specific Auditions

Applicant's membership in a specific organization will be checked prior to confirmation except for the Florida Combined Auditions which are open to all.

November 16 - November 17, 2023 (Moonifieds in Dallas) (Full)
January 4 - January 5, 2024 (Florida Combined Auditions in Tampa)
January 6 - January 7, 2024 (MTCA in NYC) (Full)

Note about Music Theatre Auditions: Applicants will only be asked to sing live on their audition date regardless of format or location of audition. By their audition date, they are expected to upload a one-minute monologue, one-minute wild card video, the dance combo video, and a 60 second video of the applicant singing any song that they would like, for faculty review. The specific dance combination will be emailed to applicants approximately two weeks prior to their confirmed audition date.

Audition Fee

Please submit your audition fee using your applicant portal after submitting your application. Instructions for logging into your applicant portal are emailed once your application is received.

The audition fee for on-campus and off-campus auditions is $100 and is non-refundable.

  • Students who wish to audition for more than one Conservatory program are only charged a flat rate of $100.
  • Students who wish to audition for both a Conservatory program and the BFA acting program are offered a special audition rate of $150.

You will receive an email confirmation of your payment. Audition confirmations will also be emailed when finalized.

If paying the audition fee is a financial hurdle, you are invited to contact music@bw.edu to request an audition fee waiver. The Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Performing Arts is dedicated to ensuring that all prospective students regardless of financial standing can secure an audition opportunity if spots are currently available.

Soon after payment of the audition fee or approval of the fee waiver, you will have access to the audition calendar within the applicant portal to select a date to conduct your audition.

The Audition

Numerous opportunities are available to audition in person or virtually for the BW Conservatory. Both types of auditions are encouraged and are held at regular intervals by the Conservatory. Instrumentalists including piano and organ, as well as classical vocalists, may instead submit a recorded audition to the Conservatory of Performing Arts by selecting the recorded audition option on the application.

Recorded audition materials may be uploaded into the applicant portal, after submitting the audition fee by clicking "Edit Portfolio." The recorded audition will be reviewed after the application, uploaded audition, and supporting materials have been received.

Music theatre applicants will be asked to submit a recorded monologue, dance audition, headshot, resume, and up to 60 second singing video prior to their scheduled live, virtual voice audition. They may be uploaded into their portal by clicking "Edit Portfolio" as well.

An accompanist or backing track/recorded accompaniment is expected for all voice auditions. Instrumentalists are not expected to have an accompanist.

All music majors with piano or organ as the primary applied instrument may choose to prepare an audition of one solo piece on an orchestral instrument or voice. This audition will be considered for the student's secondary instrument and/or large ensemble requirement for the desired degree program.

Prospective music education, music theory, music theatre direction, music history and literature, composition and music therapy majors will have a brief interview with one or more members of the faculty to assess the applicant's suitability for the desired major. Students who submit a recorded audition are responsible for contacting the Conservatory admission office to arrange the required interview.

It is recommended that candidates for the music education major submit at least one recommendation from an instructor in their school setting. This could be a band, orchestra or choir director or an academic teacher.

Prospective Bachelor of Music in composition majors must submit two to four original compositions for review. Recordings are strongly recommended (live or midi versions). The preferred option for submission is uploading them into the applicant portal by clicking "Edit Portfolio." Scores should be uploaded as PDF files and recordings should be uploaded as mp3 files. The second option is to upload files through our composition submission system.

Candidates for the music theory major or music history and literature major should describe their interest in pursuing a theory or history major in the music essay. In addition, candidates should submit a writing sample that demonstrates research ability.

Suggested Repertoire

The compositions listed below are considered suitable for audition. These suggestions are an indication of the degree of achievement expected. Selections should demonstrate your musicianship and technical proficiency, be performed within your capabilities and be thoroughly prepared and convincingly performed.

Pianists and vocalists are required to memorize all selections. Memorization is not required for organ, string, wind, brass, or percussion auditions.

A Note Regarding the Upcoming Audition Season

All applicants may select either a live, Zoom or on-campus audition date this season; Music Theatre applicants may also select an off-campus or member-specific audition date. Classical vocalists & instrumentalists have the option of submitting a recorded audition. Regardless of the format, we will offer all applicants the opportunity to attend an information session prior to their audition. In addition, masterclasses, sample lessons and Q&A sessions with faculty and current students may be offered throughout the audition season. We invite you to take advantage of as many of the sessions as feasible to enrich your understanding of the BW Conservatory of Performing Arts culture.

For those auditioning over Zoom, off campus, or recorded video, we invite you and your family to schedule a personal campus tour and information session. We look forward to seeing you on campus, off campus, or online this audition season!

Overnight Accommodations

If you are coming from a distance and need a place to rest your head, please view a list of nearby hotels. Make sure you mention you are visiting BW, as some offer a discounted rate.