UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst College of Humanities and Fine Arts
UMass Amherst Department of Music and Dance

Request an Audition

For strings, winds, brass, percussion, piano/keyboard & voice.

Thank you for applying to the UMass Amherst Department of Music. A formal audition is a required part of the admission process.

You will be emailed a confirmation of receipt within 24-48 hours after submitting this form.

Please submit this form no later than 2 weeks prior to the audition date you wish to attend. Students are encouraged to submit an audition request as early as possible.

If you have any questions or if you do not receive a confirmation email after 48 hours, please email the Music Admissions Director.

Please read all instructions carefully before and while completing this form. Additional fields may appear depending on your answers. Fields with a red asterisk are required.

Candidate Information

Home Address*
I am a(n)*
Please select a semester.

Note: Candidates for Spring Semester entry to the department will be automatically scheduled for auditions by "Special Arrangement."

UMass Address

Degree Program

What Music Degree program(s) have you decided to audition for?

Once your primary Degree Track is selected, you may add up to two more. Please select in order of preference.

Select a Degree Track. Options for additional Degree Track will appear once Track A is selected.
Select an additional Degree Track (if applicable)
Select an additional Degree Track (if applicable)

*** Music History and Theory/Composition students must send examples of their work before the audition.

Please note: a successful audition guarantees a position only in the program to which the candidate has applied. For example, an applicant accepted to the Music Education program is not automatically eligible to enter into the Performance or Jazz programs.

Have you auditioned for the Department of Music & Dance before?
Have you applied for admission to UMass Amherst before?
Have you applied for need-based Financial Aid?
Are you eligible for the tuition waiver as the dependent of a Commonwealth of Massachusetts higher education employee?

Audition Information

Please indicate the instrument for which you would like to audition. Once your primary instrument is selected, you may select up to two additional instruments to study.

A high quality pre-screening sound file (e.g. mp3) or CD/DVD is required for those requesting an audition in CLASSICAL VOICE (not Jazz Voice). Please send the link to the file to williamhite@music.umass.edu or send the CD/DVD to Music Admissions Director, 271 Fine Arts Center, UMass, Amherst MA 01003. Please submit this material for review no later than 3 weeks prior to your requested audition date.

Please note: one audition is allowed per applicant unless special arrangements are made with the Music Admissions office.

Please select your primary instrument. This will be the instrument with which you will be auditioning. Options for additional instruments will appear once Instrument 1 is selected.
Please select an instrument. If you are not studying an additional instrument, please choose "None."
Please select an instrument. If you are not studying an additional instrument, please choose "None."

Audition Dates 2018 (choose one below):

  • Saturday, January 27, 2018 (no strings)
  • Saturday, February 3, 2018 (no strings)
  • Tuesday, February 6, 2018 (strings only)
  • Wednesday, February 14, 2018 (strings only)
  • Saturday February 17, 2018 (no strings)
  • Monday, February 26, 2018 (strings only)
  • Saturday, March 3, 2018 (no strings)

Strings includes violin, viola, cello, and double bass. Guitar and Jazz Bass should attend a Saturday audition session.

If you are auditioning via video file, please select "Video Audition."

Additional instructions for "Special Arrangement" auditions will be available once it is selected as an option. It will also be included in the candidate's confirmation email.

The following Studios are NOT able to host auditions on the given days:

  • Bassoon - will host auditions on February 3 and March 3 ONLY.
  • azz Bass - January 27
  • Flute - February 3 AND February 17
  • Horn - March 3
  • Saxophone (including Jazz) - February 17. No more auditions can be accepted for March 3.
  • Piano - February 17
  • Percussion - February 17
  • Trombone - March 3
  • Clarinet - February 17 AND March 3

If unable to attend either of the Saturday audition days available, the clarinet faculty would like to encourage clarinet applicants to make a Special Arrangement audition. Please do so only if it is not possible to attend on either the Jan. 27th or Feb. 3rd options. The clarinet faculty can be reached via e-mail at:


If your Anticipated Semester of Entry is Spring 2018 or Spring 2019, you must audition via "Special Arrangement."

The Jazz Bass Studio is not holding auditions on Jan. 27. Please select another option.

The Bassoon Studio is only holding auditions on Feb. 3 or March 3. Please select one of those dates or "Special Arrangement."

The Bassoon Studio is only holding auditions on Feb. 3 or March 3. Please select one of those dates or "Special Arrangement."

The Bassoon Studio is only holding auditions on Feb. 3 or March 3. Please select one of those dates or "Special Arrangement."

The Bassoon Studio is only holding auditions on Feb. 3 or March 3. Please select one of those dates or "Special Arrangement."

The Bassoon Studio is only holding auditions on Feb. 3 or March 3. Please select one of those dates or "Special Arrangement."

The Flute Studio is not holding auditions on Feb. 3 or Feb 17. Please select another option.

The Horn Studio is not holding auditions on March 3. Please select another option.

The Saxophone Studio is not holding auditions on Feb. 17. Please select another option.

The Saxophone Studio cannot accept any more auditions on March 3. Please select another option.

The Saxophone Studio cannot accept any more auditions on March 3. Please select another option.

The Saxophone Studio is not holding auditions on Feb. 17. Please select another option.

The Piano Studio is not holding auditions on Feb. 17. Please select another option.

The Percussion Studio is not holding auditions on Feb. 17. Please select another option.

The Trombone Studio is not holding auditions on Mar. 3. Please select another option.

The Clarinet Studio is not holding auditions on either Feb. 17 or Mar. 3. Please select another option.

The Clarinet Studio is not holding auditions on either Feb. 17 or Mar. 3. Please select another option.

Special Arrangement Auditions

Students selecting the "Special Arrangement" option acknowledge that they are in contact with the appropriate studio faculty to arrange their own audition date and time. This sort of individualized meeting is the responsibility of prospective student and studio faculty to coordinate. Any auditions held after the final audition day will not guarantee consideration for music scholarships. Please select this option only if (a) no audition date options are possible for the applicant, (b) if the applicant is auditioning after the last scheduled audition day (not recommended for incoming freshman music majors), or (c) if the applicant is auditioning for Spring Semester entry.

If you are submitting an audio or video as part of your audition, enter the link here.
  • Auditions must be scheduled at least three weeks in advance
  • Transfer students may select any appropriate date
  • Special auditions may be arranged only under extenuating circumstances.

General Musical and Academic Information

Additional form fields may appear in this section depending on the answers to your above questions.

Please enter information for up to three prior studio teachers.


Questions for Freshman Applicants:

High School Address
Please list the individual high school music organizations in which you have participated, along with the number of years.

For Graduate and Transfer Applicants:

Are you certified to teach in U.S. Public Schools?


Submit Your Audition Request

Note: This Music Department form is in addition to your University application, not a substitute for it.


Director of Music Admissions
Department of Music & Dance
Fine Arts Center 271, University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003-9330
tel: 413-545-6048


The University of Massachusetts Amherst prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, mental or physical disability, or veteran status, in any aspect of the admission or treatment of students or in employment.

Please email the Music Admissions Director with any questions or concerns you may have. Thank you!

Audition Assignment

Assign location and dates to application. You may also send the applicant individual notes here.

* will not be sent to candidate.
* will not be sent to candidate.
Additional information about the assigned audition. (explanation of a change of date, etc.)

Audition Results