Auditions—Supplemental Auditions FAQ
The Supplemental Audition
Applicants who have an extraordinary talent in music, be it composition, conducting, or performance, and who are considering continuing their study and practice of music while at Stanford, may choose to submit a supplemental audition as part of their application to Stanford. This audition is not required, and in no way indicates that applicants intend to major or minor in music, nor does it constitute an audition for departmental ensembles or lessons. Rather, it is a way in which applicants can demonstrate excellence outside the academic arena to the Office of Admission. For more information about the submission process for supplements, please check the Office of Admission website.
Audition Forms
All supplemental auditions (live or recorded) must be accompanied by (i) the Common Application Arts Supplement, (ii) a musical résumé, and (iii) a letter of recommendation from your teacher or mentor. No incomplete submissions will be reviewed. All required materials (with the exception of the Live Audition Request form) must arrive in the Office of Admission in the SAME envelope. Live Audition Reqest forms should be sent directly to the Department of Music.
Students wishing to request a live audition time must also submit the Live Audition Request form (downloadble here). Live auditions are scheduled on a first come, first served basis; submission of a Live Audition Request form does not guarantee a live audition slot. Please note that we cannot honor requests for specific audition times, as we are constrained by faculty availability.
If
you have any questions about the audition process, or general questions
about undergraduate opportunities for students in the Department of Music,
please send email to 
Deadlines
RECORDED AUDITIONS: Deadlines are below; all dates for materials are POSTMARKED dates.
LIVE AUDITIONS: Live audition times are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. Deadlines indicated are the dates by which Live Audition Request form should be received by the Department of Music. Due to the large number of audition requests we receive, we are only able to offer live auditions on select dates, and can only schedule one live audition per student. Please be sure to note the request deadlines!
Live audition dates:
- Requests due Friday September 26, 2008
- Requests due Friday December 12, 2008 - the timing of this is early due to the closure of Stanford University over winter holidays
- Requests due Friday October 10, 2008
We publish deadlines to help give you an idea of when you should send in your Live Audition Request, however we cannot guarantee that live audition time slots will be available even if you send in your request by the deadline. We strongly advise you not to leave this until the last minute, and to keep the recording submission deadlines in mind, so that if you are unable to schedule a live audition, you still have time to make and send in a recorded audition. All students wishing to audition in jazz (instrumental or vocal) must submit recordings.
IMPORTANT NOTE: ALL students submitting an Arts Supplement (whether live or via recording) are required to send their ENTIRE application and all supporting documents for the Arts Supplement to the Office of Undergraduate Admission earlier than standard deadlines; see the Office of Admission website for specific dates and information.
Transfer applicants may schedule a live audition at any of our live audition dates on a first come, first served basis; see above for information about scheduling live auditions.
Instrument List
Below is a list of instruments for which auditions may be submitted.
Instruments that are in the family of one listed, for
example bass clarinet, piccolo, euphonium, are automatically acceptable.
If you would like to audition on an instrument not listed
here, please email to
ask if we can evaluate your audition before you schedule a live audition
or send in a recording. If you play any of the following instrments or
styles, please email to ask: non-Western styles or instruments; contemporary
rock or pop; folk.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a supplemental audition? Time, content, where, how, etc.
- Does this audition have any bearing on participation in ensembles or lessons if I am accepted to Stanford?
- How does an audition affect my application for admission?
- Is it better to audition in person or by recording?
- Is it possible to do both types of auditions?
- Should I perform from memory?
- How many auditions may I do?
- Do I have to use an accompanist?
- How long is the audition?
- What style of music should I perform?
- What should the quality of my recording be? Should my CD be made in a studio?
- On what type of media should I submit my audition?
- If I am a composer, what materials should I submit?
- How do I make an appointment for a live audition? When do I get an assigned time?
- Can I request a specific time of day for my live audition?
- Where should I send my Live Audition Request form?
- Where should I send my CD? How do I label it?
- What happens if I miss the deadline for submitting a recorded audition?
