Guide to Graduate Studies - Auditions & Admission Information
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See also: University of Tennessee Graduate Catalog
Applicants for admission to Master's degree programs in music must have completed an undergraduate degree in music roughly equivalent to those conferred by the University of Tennessee.
Admission to a graduate degree program is determined jointly by the Graduate School, music faculty in the appropriate area of concentration, the Associate Director for Graduate Studies in Music, and the Graduate Committee of the School of Music.
Consult the University Graduate School's website for deadline dates and other important information.
TO APPLY FOR ADMISSION TO GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC:
- Apply to the University of Tennessee UT Graduate School. Information on admission procedures can be found on the Graduate School website.
Submit the following directly to the University of Tennessee Graduate School Admissions Office by December 15:- Graduate Application for Admission
- $60 application fee
- One official transcript from all colleges and universities attended. Transcripts must be official transcripts sent from school to school.
- GRE scores: for students majoring in musicology only.
- If your native language is not English, send official scores from Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
- International students must follow the Admission Guide for International Students
Mail the above documents to:
The Graduate School
Office of Graduate Admissions
University of Tennessee
201 Student Services Building
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-0230
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Apply to the School of Music Graduate program. Send the following required documents by December 15 to:
University of Tennessee
School of Music Graduate Admissions
2438 Dunford Hall
915 Volunteer Blvd.
Knoxville, TN 37996-4040Do not send this information to the University of Tennessee Graduate School!
- Application to the School of Music (electronic application)
- Scholarly writing sample
All applicants must submit a scholarly writing sample considered to be representative of their writing skill on a music research topic. This sample may be an essay previously written for an upper-division course. The typed document should follow a recognized style manual and demonstrate ability in critical thinking, appropriate research techniques, and skill in the cogent use of English.
Note: International students should personally translate all of the above documents into English. - Personal statement of education and career goals
Applicants must submit a one-page typed personal statement of education and career goals.
Note: International students should personally translate all of the above documents into English. - Two (2) letters of recommendation. If you are applying for an Graduate Assistantship, you must send three (3) letters of recommendation. For the Graduate Assistantship Form, please click here.
For applicants in performance, one letter must be from the studio teacher.
For applicants in academic areas, one letter must be from a professor in the academic area.
You may use the reference form provided or have your references draft a separate letter of recommendation. These letters may be the same ones as those used to support your application for a graduate assistantship (see below). - Other information (in addition to the above) as required by the area of study. If needed, contact the appropriate area coordinator for more information.
Vocal Performance applicants - Submit a pre-screening CD of 3 songs (a combination of arias and art songs) in 3 different languages (Italian, French, German, and English). Please label the CD with "Pre-screening CD: Voice" and your name, address, and e-mail.
- A tape or video recording of a recent performance may be submitted.
- Once you pass the pre-screening, your audition will be scheduled.
- Submit a graduate assistantship application form and pre-screening CD of 3 songs (a combination of arias and art songs) in 3 different languages (Italian, French, German, and English). Please label the CD with "Pre-screening CD: Voice/Opera" and your name, address, and e-mail.
- Once you pass the pre-screening, your audition will be scheduled.
- Submit a pre-screening DVD of both rehearsal and performance, if possible.
- Only DVD disc or online media delivery is accepted.
- Please label the CD with "Pre-screening CD: Conducting/Instrumental" or "Pre-screening CD: Conducting/Choral" and your name, address, and e-mail.
- Once you pass the pre-screening, your audition and interview will be scheduled.
- Solo Keyboard: Performance(s) of significant solo repertoire on the marimba and/or vibraphone, which must include at least one 4-mallet selection. Works might include, but are not restricted to, those composed by J.S. Bach, Roger Reynolds, Steven Mackey, Paul Lansky, Jacob Druckman, Franco Donatoni, Philippe Manoury, or equivalent.
- Solo Percussion (Optional): Performance(s) of significant solo repertoire. Works might include, but are not restricted to, those composed by Iannis Xenakis, Frederic Rzewski, Vinko Globokar, Georges Aperghis, John Cage, Brian Ferneyhough, Michael Gordon, David Lang, or equivalent.
- Snare Drum: A solo or etude by Jacques Delecluse, Joseph Tompkins, or equivalent.
- Timpani: A solo or etude to demonstrate musical tone by Delecluse, Hochrainer, Carter, or equivalent.
Knoxville Opera Studio applicants:
Composition applicants:
Submit two or more compositions representative of the applicant's work.
Conducting (instrumental and choral) applicants:
Musicology applicants:
Submit scores for the general portion of the Graduate Record Examination.
Percussion applicants:
All graduate candidates applying for the UT Percussion Studies area should submit a pre-audition Screening DVD (NTSC format) to Dr. Bliss. DVDs should be postmarked no later than December 15 of the year prior to entrance and should be accompanied by a hard copy of the audition repertoire. Materials should be clearly labeled and will not be returned to applicants.
Recordings will be carefully reviewed and a selection of applicants will be invited to campus for a live audition/interview.
Required Repertoire for Pre-Screening DVDs -
Sign up for your audition and/or interview with the School of Music.
Auditions for entry to the School of Music for entry Fall 2013 are:- January 26, 2013: Graduate Vocal
- February 9, 2013: Graduate
All auditions and interviews may be on the audition days listed above or another day, but should be completed by March 1.
Vocal Performance and Knoxville Opera Studio applicants: your audition will be scheduled once you have passed the pre-screening (see above).
Applicants in the following areas must interview with the area in addition to their audition:- Music Education applicants.
- Conducting (instrumental and choral) applicants: Once you pass the pre-screening, your audition and interview with the coordinator of the appropriate conducting program will be scheduled by the area.
Applicants in the following areas must interview with the area in lieu of an audition:
- Composition
- Music Theory
- Musicology
Performance and Pedagogy applicants: In unusual circumstances a sound or DVD recording of a recent performance may be submitted. In such cases, the applied music level will be determined by an audition during registration of the student's first semester at the University of Tennessee. Vocal applicants must still submit a pre-screening CD (see above).
You may see your request, audition time, and audition and scholarship results online by going to MyUTSOM. Sign in using your student account/password and then your name/passcode. If you need help accessing your info, please contact MusicAdmissions@utk.edu
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Apply for a Graduate Assistantship in the School of Music.
- Complete the Application for Graduate Assistantship form and send to the School of Music Graduate Admissions (see address above).
- Send a total of three (3) recommendations to the School of Music (instead of the normal 2 letters). See above for more information regarding the recommendation letters.
- Send a statement that briefly describes your professional goals and how a graduate assistantship would support those goals.
- Send a curriculum vita (CV). For more information on writing a CV, click here.
Some areas have additional requirements:
Theory: In order to be considered for a theory GTA you must pass the Ear training diagnostic exam. This exam is given on the computer and must be taken at UT. The test may bee taken on the day of the audition or another weekday. Contact the theory area to make arrangements.
Non-Degree Admission
Application for non-degree status may be made by those who, for example:
- do not desire to pursue a degree program;
- have already received an advanced degree;
- need additional time to fulfill application requirements for a degree program.
See the Graduate Catalog for details.
Transfer Credit
If approved by the Graduate Committee of the School of Music, as much as one-third of the total hours required for a Master's degree (generally, 11 hours) may be transferred from other institutions.
Transferred courses must have been completed within the six-year period prior to receipt of the degree.
Transferred courses will be placed on the student's UT transcript only after admission to candidacy.
Other requirements for transferring credit can be found in the Graduate Catalog.
For evaluation of courses regarding transfer credit, please use the appropriate form below: