Students enter the school with a declared program; you must complete all Admissions Requirements as well as the program-specific portfolio and audition requirements to be considered for admission.
General Portfolio Guidelines
To be considered for admission to CalArts’ School of Music, you must submit a portfolio containing examples of your artistic work. The faculty are interested in seeing and hearing portfolio materials that offer a sense of who you are as an artist. Don’t ask what we want to see—show who you are. Applicants from a wide range of backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Audition Guidelines
Applicants applying to the Instrumental Arts, VoiceArts, or Performer-Composer BFA and MFA programs are required to participate in an in-person interview and audition. The audition is a chance for our faculty to get to know you and to ask and answer questions. You may present materials from your portfolio at the audition.
Audition Schedule
If you are unable to attend an in-person audition, we will treat your portfolio as your audition. Then, if needed by the faculty, we will contact you about scheduling an interview. Participation in this interview would be expected of you for acceptance into the program.
Applicants applying to the Performer-Composer DMA program will be contacted if they’ve been selected as a finalist. Finalists will be invited to audition at the CalArts campus to give an hour lecture on a subject of their choice and a 40-minute performance of their original repertoire. There will also be an interview following the performance with the DMA Committee.
The Composition & Experimental Sound Practices, Experimental Pop, Jazz, Music Technology, and World Music BFA and MFA programs do not hold required in-person auditions. Instead, our faculty will first review your portfolio and application, and, if needed, we will contact you about scheduling a virtual interview. The interview is an important part of the application process for you to share your artistic practice and goals and to talk directly with our faculty. Participation in this interview would be expected of you for acceptance into your respective program.