Setnor School of Music Admission Requirements

An audition is required for all students seeking admission to the Setnor School of Music.

All students are responsible for meeting our deadlines. Prospective students must also complete the Syracuse University application.

Interested in applying to Setnor and want to know what a music lesson from Setnor faculty is like? Schedule a music lesson with them to find out!

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Music Deadlines

Early Decision (First-year students only):

Application and audition materials: November 15, 2024

Note: The Early Decision in-person audition date is November 11. If you are planning to attend, it is recommended that you apply and complete the Music Requirements Form at least 72 hours prior to this date.

Early Decision II (First-year students only):

Application and virtual audition materials: January 5, 2025

Regular Decision (Fall):

Application and audition materials: January 5, 2025

Spring Enrollment:

Spring enrollment into VPA programs is very limited. Please call the Office of Recruitment and Admissions to discuss availability and timeline.

See Music Audition Dates

Audition Requirements and Process

Listed below are specific Setnor School of Music audition requirements for each instrument. Each category also includes a list of recommended audition literature.

Requirements for All Auditionees

Submit your application to Syracuse University. Please see our website for all important deadlines.
Within 72 hours of submitting your application, you will receive email instructions to set up your applicant portal.
Complete the Music Requirements Form within the applicant portal.
Composition applicants will be directed to upload their scores/recordings after completing this form.
Complete online theory test.
Schedule your in-person audition or upload your recorded audition materials.
You may upload video files (.mov, .wmv, .flv) and PDF documents as appropriate to the requirements for your major of interest.

Audition Requirements Preparation

Prepare audition requirements for your primary instrument as described below.

Students may choose between the classical style or jazz/commercial style for their primary instrument audition.
Students interested in auditioning for the jazz/commercial style can do so for all majors except the B.M. in performance.
Students applying to the B.M. in composition are required to audition on an instrument or voice AND submit a composition portfolio. See below for requirement details.
For students completing a virtual audition only:

- Please note that follow-up interviews are only requested if the faculty would like more information following the review of an online audition. Not being asked to interview does not mean that you have been rejected from the Setnor School of Music.

Composition Requirements

Students applying to the B.M. in composition are required to audition on an instrument or voice AND submit a composition portfolio.

Composition

Composition portfolios should include three representative works (scores to original compositions with recordings if possible).

Scores should be fully notated for a variety of instrumental combinations (for example, do not submit three choral works or three solo piano pieces).
No lead sheet scores.
One score in a jazz or commercial field is allowable, but your portfolio should show your skills as a composer beyond pop and jazz media.
Types of scores you should include in your portfolio might include works for the following instrumental and voice combinations: solo instrument or voice, chamber music (duets, trios, quartets, quintets, etc.), song (voice and piano), chorus (SATB, SSAATTBB, etc.), and large ensemble (orchestra, wind ensemble).

Classical Music Audition Requirements

Woodwinds and Brass

Perform two contrasting selections — single movement pieces or single movements from a larger work representing different periods of music that best represent your tone, technique, rhythm, and musicianship.
Prepare all major scales in two (or three where possible) octaves.
Prepare a chromatic scale in the largest range possible.
Sight read.

Recommended Literature

View a list of recommended woodwinds [PDF] and brass [PDF] literature.

Percussion

The audition requires demonstrating proficiency in three areas of percussion: snare drum, timpani, and mallet keyboards. Prepare at least one solo, etude, or concerto from each area. You are also encouraged to demonstrate basic techniques on the following accessory instruments: cymbals, tambourine, triangle, and bass drum. View a list of recommended percussion [PDF 73KB] literature.

Please be advised that we offer drum set as a primary instrument in all music programs except for the B.M. in performance. For more information on the drum set audition requirements, see the “Jazz and Commercial Music Audition Requirements” section below.

Strings

Violin

First movement of a standard concerto
TWO movements of a BACH solo sonata or partita OR the Chaconne
One etude or caprice (such as KREUTZER, RODE, DONT, PAGANINI or equivalent)
Three octave scales and arpeggios

Viola

Two contrasting movements of a BACH Cello Suite (or one of the Preludes)
OR
One movement of a BACH unaccompanied violin sonata or partita
First movement of a concerto (J.C. BACH, STAMITZ, HOFFMEISTER, HANDEL, WALTON)
One etude (KREUTZER, CAMPAGNOLI, GAVINIES)
Three octave scales and arpeggios

Cello

Two contrasting movements from J.S. BACH's Six Suites for Solo Cello
First movement of a standard concerto
One etude from DAVID POPPER: High School of Cello Playing

Three Octave Scales and Arpeggios in the following keys:
1. Major: C, D, Eb, E, F, G
2. Three Octave Melodic Minor Scales: A, D, E

Possible Sightreading from standard orchestral repertoire

Double Bass

A solo of your choice. (Examples: Concerto, Sonata, Bach, etc.)
An etude. (Simandl, Storch, Slama, etc.)
A two or three-octave scale and arpeggio of your choice.
Optional standard orchestral excerpts of your choice.

Harp

Be prepared to play all major scales and a chromatic scale in two (or three where possible) octaves.

Prepare two contrasting works. In the case of multi-movement works, prepare only two movements per multi-movement work. Solo repertoire may be supplemented with (but not replaced by) etude or orchestral excerpt literature. View a list of recommended harp literature [PDF 67KB].

Guitar

In addition to all the diatonic major and minor scales edited by Andres Segovia, undergraduate candidates auditioning on the classical guitar should prepare three selections from the five categories listed below.

One movement from a Lute Suite, Cello Suite or Unaccompanied Solo Violin Sonata/Partita of Johann Sebastian Bach.
One etude by Carcassi, Sor, Giuliani, Sagreras or Legnani.
One prelude by Villa-Lobos or Ponce.
Two contrasting etudes by Leo Brouwer.
One composition by a BIPOC or a female composer:
1. Examples include: Frantz Casseus, Francis Bebey, Emilia Giuliani, Justin Holland, Amos Coulanges, Clarice Assad, Annette Kruisbrink, Tania León,and Dale Kavanagh, among others.

Emphasis will be placed on a solid technical foundation that allows for ease of execution and control over musical elements such as tone quality, dynamics, rhythm, vibrato, and phrasing. Sight-reading will also be required.

Classical Keyboard

Be prepared to play all major and minor scales and arpeggios. Sight-reading will be required at all auditions.

Piano

Prepare from memory three contrasting works. One of the three works must be a Prelude and Fugue from the Well - Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach. In lieu of this, you may present three movements from a French Suite, English Suite, or Partita; one Three-Part Sinfonia, or two Two-Part Inventions.

Your remaining repertoire should come from two of the following three categories:

One movement of a sonata by HAYDN, MOZART, or BEETHOVEN
A work from the Romantic period
A work composed after 1900, contrasting in style to the other works chosen.

Contact Professor Ida Tili-Trebicka at with specific repertoire questions.

Organ

Prepare three contrasting works from the categories below, together with a hymn. Contact Annie Laver, assistant professor and University Organist, at with specific repertoire questions.

Categories:

A work by J.S. BACH or a work by another Baroque period composer
A work from the Romantic period
A work composed after 1900, contrasting in style to the other works chosen

Classical Voice

Four songs of contrasting styles and historical periods should be prepared and memorized. View a list of recommended voice [PDF 67KB] literature.

A minimum of one song must be in English, and there should be at least one song in a foreign language. Please select classical vocal repertoire from a broad cross-section of historical periods. Musical theater repertoire is not acceptable for your English selection.

An accompanist will be provided for voice auditions held both on and off-campus. Taped accompaniment is not acceptable. Please bring original piano scores for your music in the key in which you will sing.

If you have not studied privately, please bring a letter of recommendation from your high school music teacher or someone who has observed your musical progress and potential in a sealed envelope to your audition date.

Jazz and Commercial Music Audition Requirements

Trumpet

Perform major and minor scales and chords.
Prepare two contrasting works or etudes. If either of the two works is a multi-movement work, prepare only two movements per multi-movement work.
Applicant must demonstrate ability to play with a good sound and strong time feel as a soloist.
Applicants are also required to prepare the following selections using the pre-recorded backing tracks provided:
- “Summertime Changes” (based on "Summertime”) *
- “Rhythm Changes” (based on "I Got Rhythm") *
- “Blues Progressions” (standard 12 bar blues, selected by applicant) *
- Your Choice (original or cover) in a contrasting musical genre such as pop, rock, R&B, jazz, folk, gospel, country, electronic, etc., demonstrating appropriate stylistic elements. This selection can be performed solo, self-accompanied, or with a backing track provided by the applicant. This selection should showcase what you believe is your strength, originality, and personal style.

*For selections 1-3 the original melody must be performed in the first chorus of indicated selections. One of the indicated selections must be prepared using the slow tempo version and at least two selections must have improvised solos.