Music at the Juilliard School

Conducting Audition information

Orchestral Conducting (Graduate Diploma)

Prescreen Information

All candidates must submit a professional résumé.

• In addition to the résumé, all applicants must submit video recordings as follows:

Include four to five excerpts showing various musical styles, artistic and technical challenges, and gestural/expressive abilities. Only standard orchestral repertoire, operatic works, and contemporary works are acceptable. Do not include Pops, Jazz, Band, or Broadway repertoire.

1. Each excerpt should be no more than 5 minutes in length, unedited.
2. At least one example of both a rehearsal and a performance of the same work should be included.
3. Videos must be representative of the applicant’s recent work.
4. The applicant should be clearly visible.

Live Audition Repertoire

Each applicant must have the following mandatory materials prepared for the auditions. Applicants must bring their own scores to the audition.

- BARTÓK Dance Suite, BB 86a

1. - BIZET "Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante" (“Michaela’s aria”) from Carmen
2. - HAYDN Symphony No. 102 in B-flat Major, Hob. I:102
3. - WEBERN Passacaglia, Op. 1
4. - One romantic symphony of choice which can be conducted by memory

Audition Procedures

Selected applicants will be invited for a live audition which will include:

All applicants invited to audition must submit an essay addressing the following topics: “Why do you conduct? What do you hope to get out of the conducting program at Juilliard?” Instructions on how to do so will be provided when pre-screening results become available.

1. Examinations in basic musicianship, dictation, score terminology, languages, repertoire, music history, etc.
2. A personal interview to determine the applicant’s knowledge of the audition repertoire and his/her ability to play a simple score reduction on piano. As part of this interview, you will also be asked to perform a short solo piece of your choice on your primary instrument.
3. At the conclusion of the interview and testing, select applicants who have demonstrated sufficient knowledge in the testing and interview will be invited to appear in front of the Juilliard Orchestra the following day. An additional interview may take place at the conclusion of the orchestra session.

If you are not called back for the conducting rounds, you may reasonably conclude that you are no longer under consideration for the program. 

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Orchestral Conducting (MM)

Prescreen Repertoire

All candidates must submit a professional résumé.

• In addition to the résumé, all applicants must submit video recordings as follows:

Include four to five excerpts showing various musical styles, artistic and technical challenges, and gestural/expressive abilities. Only standard orchestral repertoire, operatic works, and contemporary works are acceptable. Do not include Pops, Jazz, Band, or Broadway repertoire.

1. Each excerpt should be no more than 5 minutes in length, unedited.
2. At least one example of both a rehearsal and a performance of the same work should be included.
3. Videos must be representative of the applicant’s recent work.
4. The applicant should be clearly visible.

Live Audition Repertoire

Each applicant must have the following mandatory materials prepared for the auditions. Applicants must bring their own scores to the audition.

BARTÓK Dance Suite, BB 86a

1. BIZET "Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante" (“Michaela’s aria”) from Carmen
2. HAYDN Symphony No. 102 in B-flat Major, Hob. I:102
3. WEBERN Passacaglia, Op. 1
4. One romantic symphony of choice which can be conducted by memory

Audition Procedures

Selected applicants will be invited for a live audition which will include:

1. All applicants invited to audition must submit an essay addressing the following topics: “Why do you conduct? What do you hope to get out of the conducting program at Juilliard?” Instructions on how to do so will be provided when pre-screening results become available.
2. Examinations in basic musicianship, dictation, score terminology, languages, repertoire, music history, etc.
3. A personal interview to determine the applicant’s knowledge of the audition repertoire and his/her ability to play a simple score reduction on piano. As part of this interview, you will also be asked to perform a short solo piece of your choice on your primary instrument.
4. At the conclusion of the interview and testing, select applicants who have demonstrated sufficient knowledge in the testing and interview will be invited to appear in front of the Juilliard Orchestra the following day. An additional interview may take place at the conclusion of the orchestra session.

If you are not called back for the conducting rounds, you may reasonably conclude that you are no longer under consideration for the program. 

Orchestral Conducting (Artist Diploma)

Prescreen Repertoire

All candidates must submit a professional résumé.

• In addition to the résumé, all applicants must submit video recordings as follows:

Include four to five excerpts showing various musical styles, artistic and technical challenges, and gestural/expressive abilities. Only standard orchestral repertoire, operatic works, and contemporary works are acceptable. Do not include Pops, Jazz, Band, or Broadway repertoire.

1. Each excerpt should be no more than 5 minutes in length, unedited.
2. At least one example of both a rehearsal and a performance of the same work should be included.
3. Videos must be representative of the applicant’s recent work.
4. The applicant should be clearly visible.

Live Audition Repertoire

Each applicant must have the following mandatory materials prepared for the auditions. Applicants must bring their own scores to the audition.

- BARTÓK Dance Suite, BB 86a

• - BIZET "Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante" (“Michaela’s aria”) from Carmen
• - HAYDN Symphony No. 102 in B-flat Major, Hob. I:102
• - WEBERN Passacaglia, Op. 1
• - One romantic symphony of choice which can be conducted by memory

Audition Procedures

Selected applicants will be invited for a live audition which will include:

1. All applicants invited to audition must submit an essay addressing the following topics: “Why do you conduct? What do you hope to get out of the conducting program at Juilliard?” Instructions on how to do so will be provided when pre-screening results become available.
2. Examinations in basic musicianship, dictation, score terminology, languages, repertoire, music history, etc.
3. A personal interview to determine the applicant’s knowledge of the audition repertoire and his/her ability to play a simple score reduction on piano. As part of this interview, you will also be asked to perform a short solo piece of your choice on your primary instrument.
4. At the conclusion of the interview and testing, select applicants who have demonstrated sufficient knowledge in the testing and interview will be invited to appear in front of the Juilliard Orchestra the following day. An additional interview may take place at the conclusion of the orchestra session.

If you are not called back for the conducting rounds, you may reasonably conclude that you are no longer under consideration for the program. 

                                                                                                                                                           Updated on 03/14/2019