Hero Image
Composition
Application & Audition Requirements
Apply Now
About this Program
Overview
The Juilliard Pre-College is a program for students of elementary through high school age who exhibit the talent, potential, and accomplishment to pursue a career in music. It runs on Saturdays from September through May.
Pre-College offers a complete curriculum of music instruction that requires a considerable amount of time and commitment on the part of the students. Recognizing the importance of early development and discipline in the music field, the School provides an atmosphere where artistic gifts and technical skills can flourish. For more information about Pre-College, including details on tuition, financial aid, faculty, curriculum and the academic calendar, please click here.
Eligibility
There are no minimum age requirements (except for voice), but all applicants must demonstrate a high level of proficiency in their proposed majors to warrant consideration for an audition.
Criteria for Acceptance
Acceptance to the Pre-College is based on the results of a competitive audition process, which all applicants undergo in their major area of study. The division does not accept applications from beginners.
Application Timeline
Application Timeline
| APPLICATION REQUIREMENT | DEADLINE |
|---|---|
| Application deadline with fee | March 1 |
| Screening results announced | March 22 |
| In-person audition | May 22 |
| Duolingo English Test for International applicants due | May 1 |
| Financial aid application due | May 1 |
| Audition results posted | June 12 |
Application Fee & Waivers
Application Fee
The $75 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 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
The Pre-College Application is available online starting on November 1. Contact [email protected] if you have questions regarding your Pre-College Application.
Scholarship & Financial Aid Forms
Application for financial aid is part of the Pre-College Application for Admission and must be submitted once a prompt is received from the Pre-College Admissions Office, and before May 1. Consideration for financial aid may not be possible for late applicants.
Your Teacher Preferences
A key element of your study at Juilliard is your major teacher assignment. Music students receive 15 one-hour lessons per semester with a Juilliard Pre-College studio faculty member.
How to Indicate Your Preferences
- You are required to submit your teacher preferences through the online application
- If your preferences change, you can update your selections through your application status page
How Your Preferences are Used
- Your teacher preferences are confidential and do not affect admissions decisions. Studio faculty are not advised of teacher preference selections until after admission decisions are finalized by the committee
- Your audition will be scheduled based on the availability of your first choice teacher (if attending), followed by your remaining preferences. It may not be possible for all of your preferred teachers to hear your audition
- Due to the complexities of audition scheduling, a confirmed date and time cannot be changed even if your teacher preferences change
- We aim to confirm studio assignments with notification of admission
- If admitted, your teacher assignment will be based on your preferences to the greatest extent possible. No teacher assignment can be made without a documented request for a specific teacher
Researching Teachers
If you are not familiar with our faculty, we strongly recommend researching the teachers in your major prior to the application deadline, as follows:
- Review the teachers’ online bios in our directory and listen to recordings of each artist
- Ask your current teacher(s) for recommendations
- Consult with friends who may have studied with them
- Optional: Set up a meeting or lesson with the teacher(s). Although not all faculty are available to meet with applicants due to their teaching and performing commitments, you may contact them through their Juilliard email, found in our online directory. Scheduling the meeting and payment of any lesson or meeting fee is your responsibility
Prescreening
Prescreening Requirements
Your major is required to submit pre-screening materials within the online application.
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.
Applicants must submit two or more manuscripts of their work in their own handwriting (neat and legible), computer generated scores are also acceptable, and a resume.
Audio recordings are not necessary unless the compositions are electronic. All materials must be submitted with the Application for Admission (preferably as a PDF file) for consideration for a live audition by March 1.
Additional Requirements
Out of Town Students
Application
Out-of-town students must come to The Juilliard School in New York City to take a live in-person entrance audition. Cello, viola, violin, and piano applicants are required to submit pre-screening audio-video recordings with the Application for Admission. Composition majors must submit scores with their application. All other majors are not required to submit pre-screening recordings.
Accepted Students
Out-of-town students who relocate to the New York City area must live with a parent or guardian. Pre-College does not provide academic instruction on the elementary, middle, or high school levels. Students are required to enroll in a full-time academic school. Students must provide the name and address of the school they plan to attend.
International Students
Application
International students must come to The Juilliard School in New York City to take a live entrance audition. Cello, violin, viola, and piano applicants are required to submit pre-screening audio-video recordings with the online application. Composition majors are required to submit scores for pre-screening. Pre-screening is not required for all other majors.
International applicants requiring a B-2 visitor's visa to enter the United States for the audition may obtain a letter of invitation from the Pre-College Administration.
Accepted Students
International students must have an I-20 student visa form to stay in the United States and are responsible for obtaining this form from a private academic school before the Pre-College begins in September. The I-20 form is a Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant (F-1) Student Status. International Families are strongly advised to research their academic school options and apply to academic schools by December 1, prior to the Pre-College application deadline and audition. International students cannot enroll at Pre-College without proof of an I-20 visa form or another legal visa status. If an international student is under a status different from a Non-Immigrant (F-1) Student Status, they must check with the Pre-College Administration to verify their visa is legal.
Students who relocate to the New York City area from other parts of the country or from abroad must live with a parent or guardian. Families must notify the Pre-College administration of their local address and the contact information of their legal guardians.
Pre-College does not provide academic instruction on the elementary, middle, or high school levels. Students are required to enroll in a full-time academic school. Students must provide the name and address of the school they plan to attend.
English Language Proficiency
All non-U.S. citizens for whom English is a second language must take a Duolingo English test as part of their Pre-College application, minimum score 100. Students are advised to undertake an intensive English study prior to their Pre-College audition. Students are encouraged to utilize the free Duolingo website and App to improve their English skills in preparation to their studies in the USA. There is an additional cost of $49 associated with the test. We recommend that students take multiple free practice tests with Duolingo before taking the actual test. Test can be taken several times and the test results are due by March 1 for pianists, by May 1 for other majors.
Non-U.S. citizens who have studied in the United States for one year or more, may present their academic school transcript or report card and a letter from their ESL teacher or school official as proof of English proficiency.
Students accepted into the division who fail the English Test with Duolingo, would be asked to improve their English and take the test again before the start of the school year in September.
Auditioning for Juilliard
Audition Repertoire
All applicants must submit with their application two or more manuscripts of their work. Manuscripts must be neat and legible. Computer generated scores are also acceptable. Audio recordings are not necessary unless the compositions are electronic.
All materials must be submitted online with the Application for Admission by March 1. Students who pass the pre-screening round will be invited for an in-person audition.
Audition Requirements:
- Composition assignment: Applicants will be given a special composition assignment to be handwritten on the day of the audition. The details of the assignment will be determined by the composition faculty. Applicants may use their own writing supplies, and will be given ample time to complete their work. The School will provide each applicant with access to a private room with a piano.
- Ear Training and Theory Tests: Applicants are asked to take an ear training and theory tests on the day of their audition. Although the ear training and theory tests do not determine the outcome of the audition, composition majors are expected to place in one of the advanced levels of the theory and ear training departments. They should know the basic principles of notation and should be familiar with syllables, intervals, chord qualities, and basic functions of chords. They should be able to sight-sing a simple melody and be able to comprehend moderately difficult rhythmic patterns.
- Interview and Audition: Applicants will meet with members of the composition faculty to present their music and discuss various topics of interest. Applicants will also be asked to perform a piece of their choice on an instrument of their choice. They must demonstrate facility on an instrument, and must be taking lessons on that instrument at The Juilliard School or privately.
Decisions & Enrolling
Decisions
Admission decisions are announced in the middle of June.
Please note that all communication related to the admissions process is conducted through the online application account, including the decision letter. It is vital for applicants to save their user name and password information.