School of Music | College of Fine Arts - Boston University

Composition Portfolio Information

Prescreening

Applicants to the following programs and instruments need to submit a prescreening video recording or portfolio for review before they can be invited to a live audition or interview.

• Applicants to cello, double bass, flute, percussion, piano, trumpet, violin, or voice regardless of degree or program
• Graduate Composition majors
• All applicants to the Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance
• All applicants to the Artist Diploma

Prescreening recordings and portfolios are due by December 1. Applicants will be notified of prescreening results in early January.

Master of Music (MM) & Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)

MM and DMA Score Submission Requirement

All Composition applicants are required to submit a portfolio for pre-screening review.

Submit at least three original compositions in good manuscript form, reflecting a variety of instrumental and formal types, including at least one work for a larger group such as a chamber orchestra and/or chorus. Please also include audio recordings of each submitted composition; acoustic recordings are strongly preferred rather than MIDI realizations.

MM and DMA Interview Requirement

Applicants who pass the prescreening must complete an interview with members of our Composition & Theory faculty.

• Applicants should bring a physical copy of their portfolio with them to the interview. Scores should be bound. Candidates may be required to participate in various placement tests or proficiencies on the day of the interview.
• A performance audition is not required for admission to graduate programs in composition.
• Composition Interviews will take place on the following dates in Boston or via Skype for international applicants:

Updated on 09/24/2018