Auditions

If you are applying to Dickinson College and have a serious, ongoing commitment to the art of music, we hope to meet you when you visit Dickinson College. In order to fully appreciate and experience our program, we invite prospective students and their parents to sit in on classes and lessons, attend a concert or rehearsal, and see for themselves what sets Dickinson apart form other liberal-arts programs.

Students intending to declare a music major with performance emphasis at Dickinson College are strongly encouraged to prepare and present an audition for the appropriate faculty member. Auditions give our faculty the opportunity to meet each applicant and to assess a candidate’s strengths and potential for success as a music major. This process is especially important for students who intend to study abroad in their junior year at Dickinson. We also encourage students interested in our composition, theory, and musicology emphases to interview with the appropriate faculty member.

Auditions and interviews are approximately 15-30 minutes long and offer an important opportunity for you to meet our faculty and discuss how music fits into your educational goals.

 

Audition Results

Results of auditions, whether performed in person or by audio recording, are confidential and forwarded directly to the College Admissions Committee as a recommendation from the music faculty. It is then up to the committee to factor this recommendation into the student’s various admissions materials. This information is considered in conjunction with you entire application to Dickinson College, and it is the Admissions Office that makes all final decisions in regard to acceptance to the College. The results of your auditions allow the Admissions Office to know more about you and your talents; they do not figure into the need-based financial aid process. As part of your admission application materials, you should clearly indicate your music involvements. For further information on admission or scholarships, please contact the Admissions Office at 800-644-1773 or admit@dickinson.edu.
 

Scheduling Live Auditions

Instrumentalists

To audition in person, instrumentalists should contact the appropriate faculty member well in advance of your planned campus visit. We strongly discourage “dropping in,” as appropriate faculty may not be available without an appointment. For specific audition repertory for your instrument, please visit our Instrumental Audition Information page.

Vocalists

To audition in person, vocalists should contact the voice professor well in advance of your planned campus visit. We strongly discourage “dropping in,” as appropriate faculty may not be available without an appointment. For specific audition repertory for vocalists, please visit our Vocal Audition Information page.  

Auditioning by Recording

We strongly encouraged live auditions, especially for potential majors.  If this is impossible, however, you may submit audition materials using the instructions found here.