School of Music Admissions

Students interested in the School of Music must first complete the general application to Stetson University. Please be sure to select one of the music major or minor options on your application. Apply now!

Auditions will take place in Spring 2025. You MUST complete an application to Stetson University before scheduling an audition. Auditions will be held in person; however, accommodations can be made for students with extenuating circumstances - see Option B. 

Auditions will be held this year on January 25, February 1, February 15, and February 22. If you are unable to attend on any of these dates, please contact us at [email protected] to arrange an alternative in-person audition. 

The School of Music believes that visiting campus for in-person auditions can provide many benefits to students who are making their college decisions. With an in-person audition, students can meet their prospective applied instructor, take a tour through campus, and visit the School of Music. Students who are within the state of Florida are required to complete an in-person audition. However, we understand that some students may have extenuating circumstances, and accommodations for a virtual audition may be made, especially if travel is not feasible. Students who live outside of Florida may choose to audition in person or virtually.

Virtual Audition Guidelines:

• To request a virtual audition, applicants must email Music Admissions at [email protected]
• Once the request has been received, your Hatter Portal Application Checklist will update with a link to the Virtual Music Form. The "Schedule Your Audition" checklist item will be waived.
• Applicants must complete the "Virtual Music Form" and submit recorded video links.
• It is highly preferred that students upload their audition videos under YouTube links. If a student would like to keep their videos private to only those who have their audition links, they can upload them to YouTube under "Unlisted". 
• Auditions may be recorded by performing each piece separately, or students may record the audition all under one video.
• A Zoom meeting to complete the skills assessment portion will be scheduled after the audition review.
• Audition repertoire guidelines can be found at the bottom of this page.

For Fall 2025 School of Music admission and scholarship consideration, virtual auditions can be submitted at any time for review before the start of the Fall 2025 entry term. They will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

All auditions must follow the guidelines associated with your primary instrument or voice part. Please review the Audition Guidelines below and prepare accordingly.

If you are pursuing our Music Composition Program, you must complete both an audition and the portfolio and interview requirements for that program. Please be sure to review both guidelines accordingly.

You will receive your admissions decision to Stetson University underneath the application decision release dates via the Office of Admissions. Your School of Music decision will be sent out the week following your scheduled audition date. Lastly, financial aid packages (including your talent scholarship amount) will be sent out once your audition and application decisions are released. To be considered for all available financial support, please fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible.  

Upon acceptance, May 1, 2025 is National Decision Day to commit to Stetson University!

Early Decision is an amazing choice for those who have always dreamed of joining the School of Music. Choosing an Early Decision is a commitment, and we highly encourage that you review the benefits and stipulations carefully before choosing this decision plan. Learn more about Early Decision.

Students interested in the School of Music must first complete the general application to Stetson University. Please be sure to select one of the music major or minor options on your application, as well as Early Decision, if you are choosing to pursue that decision plan. Apply now!

Early Decision students have the benefit of completing their auditions earlier. You must submit videos of your audition pieces via your Hatter Portal under the Virtual Music Form by November 8, 2024. Please review the guidelines for your primary instrument or voice part carefully before submitting your video auditions. You may review the Audition Guidelines below, and the Virtual Audition Guidelines in Step Two: Option B under Early Action and Rolling Admission.

If you are pursuing our Music Composition Program, you must complete both a virtual audition and the portfolio and interview requirements for that program. Please be sure to review both guidelines accordingly.

All students applying for Early Decision will schedule a meeting with our faculty, either virtually or in person. These meetings will take place in November. You will be contacted directly with the next steps regarding how to schedule these meetings.

You will receive your admissions decision to both Stetson University and the School of Music in December. Students applying under Early Decision must commit by January 15, 2025.

As an Early Decision applicant, you have the option to audition again to compete for a higher talent scholarship amount during our spring audition dates. If you are interested in pursuing this option, please schedule an in-person audition.

Brass candidates must prepare two selections. One selection should highlight technical facility and expertise while the contrasting selection should demonstrate lyrical playing. Both selections will be evaluated on the execution of fundamentals, preparation, and musical maturity. The audition will also consist of scales, sight-reading, an ear-training exercise, and an interview.

Candidates for classical guitar study should be able to play all major and minor scales (Segovia Edition); studies corresponding in difficulty to those of Sor, Carcassi and Brouwer; and perform two contrasting solo works from memory. Candidates will be asked to sight-read and demonstrate knowledge of the rudiments of music.

Organ: Candidates should be able to play works such as The Eight "Little" Preludes and Fugues of Bach, chorale preludes from Bach's Orgelbüchlein, the Chorale Preludes of Brahms, Op. 122, or works of comparable difficulty. Pianists with a desire to study Organ should demonstrate proficiency by performing Two-Part Inventions of Bach, Sonatas by Beethoven or Mozart, or works of comparable difficulty. Strong potential should be demonstrated in aural training.

Piano: Candidates should be able to play all major and minor scales and arpeggios, including dominant and diminished sevenths in a moderately rapid tempo. Repertoire must include a work by Domenico Scarlatti or J.S. Bach, the first movement from a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert (not including Mozart K. 545 and Beethoven Op. 27 No. 2), and a major work from either the 19th or 20th century. 

Music minors must present at least two of the above three categories. All auditions must be performed from memory. Candidates will be asked to demonstrate their sight-reading ability.

Candidates must submit examples of their compositions. Two completed scores, submitted as PDF files, with accompanying audio files if available (mp3/wav/aiff files of live or MIDI performances) may be uploaded on our Dropbox.

Composition candidates must also successfully complete a School of Music performance audition and a composition interview.

In Spring 2019, the music technology program was changed from a major to a minor-only program. The music technology major has been discontinued and will no longer be admitting students. Our new music technology minor can enhance other majors in music or any other degree program on campus but does not require an audition or portfolio for admission. Students who still desire a related major should consider degree programs in digital arts.

Candidates interested in the Music Theory major are still required to complete a successful audition on their respective instrument or voice part. Music Theory majors must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all theory courses, make a C- or better in all aural training courses and in Introduction to Composition, in order to advance to the junior level.

Many of our music theory majors find it suitable to double major in composition or performance. If you would like to know more about the music theory program, please contact Dr. Alexander Martin at [email protected] or Dr. Peter Smucker at [email protected].

Candidates for percussion study should provide their own sticks, mallets and music. Candidates should know all major scales (minors preferred as well) and be prepared to sight read on mallets and snare drums. The music chosen and prepared for the audition should represent the candidate's current playing ability on mallets (two and/or four mallets), snare drum (a concert solo or étude is required, additional rudimental solo optional) and timpani (tuning required). Performance on any other instrument in the percussion family is welcomed, but not required.

Violin: Étude comparable in difficulty to Kreutzer, Mazas or Dont. A movement from J.S. Bach Solo Sonata or Partita. A movement from a concerto from the standard repertoire, such as Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Saint-Saëns, Vieuxtemps, Dvorak, Bruch, Wieniawski, Paganini, Kabalevsky, Lalo or Barber. All string instrument candidates should be able to play all major and minor scales three octaves.

Viola: Studies comparable in difficulty to Fiorillo, Kreutzer or Bruni; concerti such as Hoffmeister, Stamitz or J.C. Bach and/or solo works of similar difficulty. All string instrument candidates should be able to play all major and minor scales three octaves.

Cello: Studies comparable in difficulty to Popper, Schroeder and Duport. Candidates should prepare a movement of a Bach Suite and a movement from a standard concerto such as Boccherini, Saint Saëns, Haydn C or Lalo. All string instrument candidates should be able to play all major and minor scales three octaves.

Double Bass: Étude comparable in difficulty to Simandl 30 Études or Bille 18 Études, and two contrasting movements from a standard sonata or concerto (candidate may substitute two contrasting short works from the standard repertoire). All string instrument candidates should be able to play all major and minor scales three octaves.

Candidates for voice study must prepare two contrasting selections. One selection will preferably be in English, while the contrasting selection may be in Italian, French, German, Latin, or Spanish. Both selections should be sung with classical technique including good diction, correct phrasing, and musical intelligence. Audition material must be performed from memory. The audition will also consist of sight-singing two or three brief lines of music, as well as demonstrating other musicianship skills through exercises in rhythm, ear training, and keyboard.

Woodwind candidates must prepare two selections. One selection should highlight technical facility and expertise while the contrasting selection should demonstrate lyrical playing. Both selections will be evaluated on the execution of fundamentals, preparation, and musical maturity. The audition will also consist of scales, sight-reading, an ear-training exercise, and an interview.