New England Conservatory
Audition Information | New England
Conservatory
Composition
Portfolio Information
Prescreening
portfolios are required of:
Prescreening video
recordings are required of:
Cello, Chamber Music, Clarinet, Collaborative Piano, Conducting, Contemporary Improvisation, Flute, French Horn, Harp (dual degree only), Jazz Composition, Jazz Performance, Oboe, Piano, Saxophone, Trombone (Tenor &Bass), Trumpet, Violin, Viola, Vocal Performance, Vocal Pedagogy |
Composition (BM, MM, GD, DMA)
All composition applicants must submit a complete composition portfolio and accompanying recordings via the online application by December 1. Applicants for DMA and Harvard/NEC will be screened for invitation to an in-person interview round here in Boston. Applicants to all other programs will be reviewed based on the portfolio only; an interview is not required. Admitted students will be invited to visit NEC in the spring to connect with faculty and current students.
Portfolio scores can be uploaded as PDF files and recordings may be uploaded in several file formats. Please refer to the recording guidelines section of our general audition requirements page for information about uploading your prescreening files to our online application.
Composition Portfolio Requirements
Submit three scores of original compositions. If available, please also include recordings (live or computer-generated) of the submitted compositions. Scores and recordings must be submitted through the online application. Applicants should also show proof of theoretical study through transcripts or other supporting documents.
DMA applicants should submit at least three scores and recordings of recent works. It is helpful if works are chosen to demonstrate a variety of ensembles and forms, including at least one larger work.
Interview
If invited, applicants for DMA and Harvard/NEC are required to interview with the composition faculty. Interviews will last 20 minutes and will give our faculty the opportunity to learn more about applicants and their work. The interview does not include a demonstration of instrumental proficiency. Applicants to the DMA are required to take DMA entrance exams while in Boston.