Mead Witter School of Music
Composition Portfolio Information
Composition (BM)
l Consideration for admission will be based on:
(1) a portfolio of
compositions and
(2) a recorded
performance audition on an orchestral or band instrument, piano, voice or
guitar.
l Prospective composition majors are considered for fall
admission only.
l All materials must be submitted by December 31. Admission
decisions will be communicated in early March.
The
portfolio of compositions should consist of:
l Three
scores of original compositions, for a variety of performance media, if possible:
ü For example, music for solo instruments, for chamber
ensembles, for orchestra, band, chorus, and/or electronic media.
ü At least one of these scores should be in the form of a
photocopy of the applicant’s handwritten manuscript.
l CD
Recordings of as
many of the portfolio compositions as possible.
ü Please submit on a separate sheet of paper
u a CD track list, including titles, dates of composition,
performance media, and durations.
ü It is strongly recommended that, if possible, at
least one of the recordings be of a performance by traditional acoustic
instruments that is, not a MIDI realization.
l A complete
list of your compositions,
including dates of composition, performance media, and durations, along with a
list of any awards or honors in composition that you may have received.
l A research
paper that you have written in high school or college
(music subject preferred). The paper should demonstrate the ability to think
logically and communicate clearly and creatively.
u The recorded performance audition should be submitted via
CD recording(s) of 10 – 20 minutes of music composed by someone other than the
applicant (preferably more than one composition; excerpts are acceptable).
u It should reflect and demonstrate, to the extent
possible, the breadth and depth of the general musical performance ability of
the applicant; the repertoire should be chosen by the applicant with that
consideration in mind.
u This part of the application materials is especially
helpful in the case of applicants who have little previous instruction or
experience in composition.
u Make sure to include a track list separate from the CD
that includes title and composer for each track. Please note that individual
performance instruction is not available to composition majors unless space is
available in the studio of the performance instructor, and the instructor
admits the student to the studio.
Updated on 05/11/2019