Home /  Admissions / Application Instructions /
Conservatory of Music

Undergraduate Programs
Composition Mus.B | Jazz Studies Mus.B | Instrumental Performance Mus.B | Voice & Opera Studies Mus.B |  | Studio Composition Mus.B | Studio Production Mus.B | Arts Management BA

Graduate Programs
Composition MM, AD, PC | Jazz Studies MM, AD, PC | Instrumental Performance MM, AD, PC | Voice & Opera Studies MM, AD, PC | Studio Composition MM

Be sure to review and follow all application instructions and observe all deadlines carefully. In cases where students fail to follow the requirements and instructions and/or to observe deadlines there is no guarantee the application can be reviewed and the application may be withdrawn from consideration

Freshman

Deadlines to Apply:
Fall Admission:  Extended to January 11, 2013
Spring Admission: October 15, 2012 (select instruments only)*

*SPRING ADMISSION: Only select programs at the Conservatory of Music accept applications for spring admission. The Conservatory will be accepting applications for the following program areas and instruments only for spring 2013 admission:

  • Instrumental Performance
                 - Strings
                 - Brass
                 - Bassoon
                 - Clarinet
                 - Piano
  • Jazz Studies
                 - All instruments EXCEPT for drums
  • Studio Composition
  • Studio Production

Students with questions about spring admission for a program/instrument not listed above should email the Conservatory at music@purchase.edu. If your intended program is open to the receipt of spring applications, all pre-screening materials will be due in the Conservatory of Music office by October 15. Live auditions for spring take place in early November by invitation only.

Step 1: Apply Online:

Apply online using the SUNY Application at www.suny.edu/Student/apply.**  The application fee is $50. The Common Application is not available for Music applicants.

**Note: Music applicants are NOT required to submit the SUNY Supplemental Admissions Form. The Supplemental Admissions Form is for Liberal Arts and Sciences and Art+Design applicants only.

Step 2: Submit Academic Records: 

All freshman applicants must submit the following information:

  • High School transcripts or GED scores
  • SAT or ACT scores

BE GREEN, GO PAPERLESS: Purchase College recommends you self-report your academic transcript information electronically through the SUNY Online Academic Record (SOAR) system.* Obtain copies of your high school transcript and your standardized test scores (SAT and/or ACT) from your college counselor and/or the standardized  testing services to self-report. All information (i.e. grades, test scores, grade-point average, class rank, etc.) should be self-reported on SOAR exactly as it appears on your transcript.

Your transcript should not be mailed at the time you apply if you self-report your academic record online. Once you are accepted and indicate your intent to enroll, an official final transcript must then be sent from your high school to the address below.

NOTE: Any deliberate omission or falsification of information on SOAR will jeopardize a student’s chances for admission. Purchase College will verify your self-reported transcript against your official final transcript for accuracy. If misrepresentations are found, the college reserves the right to rescind an offer of admission.

If you are accepted to Purchase College, you must have your high school submit official** copies of the following items (Official means documents are delivered in sealed envelopes from the school or delivered electronically directly from the school or testing service):

  • Your official high school transcripts or GED scores
  • Your official SAT or ACT scores (SAT/ACT scores and AP scores can be submitted electronically)

These items should be submitted electronically or mailed  directly to:

Purchase College-Application Processing
279 Broadway
Albany, NY 12204-2755

 

Step 3: Music Audition

Back to the top

Transfer

Deadlines to Apply:
Fall Admission: Extended to January, 11, 2013
Spring Admission: October 15, 2012 (Select instruments only)*

*SPRING ADMISSION: Only select programs at the Conservatory of Music accept applications for spring admission. The Conservatory will be accepting applications for the following program areas and instruments only for spring 2013 admission:

  • Instrumental Performance
                 - Strings
                 - Brass
                 - Bassoon
                 - Clarinet
  • Jazz Studies
                 - All instruments EXCEPT for drums
  • Studio Composition
  • Studio Production

Students with questions about spring admission for a program/instrument not listed above should email the Conservatory at music@purchase.edu. If your intended program is open to the receipt of spring applications, all pre-screening materials will be due in the Conservatory of Music office by October 15. Live auditions for spring take place in early November by invitation only

Step 1: Apply Online:

Apply online using the SUNY Application at www.suny.edu/Student/apply.** The application fee is $50. The Common Application is not available for Music applicants 

**Note: Music applicants are NOT required to submit the Supplemental Admissions Form.  The Supplemental Admissions Form is for Liberal Arts and Sciences and Art+Design applicants only. 

Step 2: Submit Academic Records:

Transfer students who have completed fewer than 24 college credits are strongly encouraged to complete SUNY Online Academic Record (SOAR) in order to speed the review process. If you choose to complete your academic record online, please note that once you are accepted and indicate your intent to enroll, an official final transcript must be sent from your high school to Purchase College. Please see the information regarding SOAR (SUNY Online Academic Record) in the Freshman instructions above.

All transfer applicants must submit the following information:

  • Official college transcripts from all colleges attended or in which you are currently enrolled*
  • Official high school transcripts and SAT/ACT test scores, if you have earned fewer than 24 college credits**

These documents must be sent directly to:

Purchase College-Application Processing
279 Broadway
Albany, NY 12204-2755

*Students with under 24 college credits are required to submit official high school transcripts, SAT and/or ACT, and/or GED scores.  Students who have completed over 24 college credits at the time of application completion may choose to only submit college transcripts, but it is possible the Office of Admissions will request these additional items upon application review.  Students who have taken AP exams should submit all AP scores for evaluation and transfer credit.

**’Official’ means documents are delivered in sealed envelopes from the school or electronically directly from the school or testing service.

NOTE: Prior/current EOP/HEOP/SEEK/College Discovery student please click here for further instructions.
 

Step 3: Music Audition


Back to the top

Music Audition

Admission to the Conservatory of Music is highly competitive and is based on a required audition process with Conservatory Faculty and a review of the students overall application by the Office of Admissions. Only exceptionally talented musicians who can demonstrate a high level of instrumental proficiency and/or musical knowledge and technical skill will be offered admission.

Step 1: Pre-screening Audition:

Pre-screening Audition Submission Deadline:
Fall Admission: Extended to January 14, 2013

All applicants must submit a pre-screening audition recording online at HTTP://PURCHASE.SLIDEROOM.COM* along with the non-refundable $57 audition fee plus the $5 SlideRoom fee for a total of $62. Applicants can upload sound files (mp3), video (mov) and/or any required documents (pdf).You may choose to submit your audition in either a video (mov) or sound (mp3) format, but please choose one or the other.

OPTIONAL: If you wish, you may also submit up to two (2) letters of recommendation from music teachers here. Slideroom allows you to submit email contact information for your teachers and Slideroom will email your teachers to submit recommendations online.

Please follow these technical requirements when uploading your audition pieces:

  • Videos (mov, flv or wmv) must be 60MB or less. Please size your videos to be 640 x 480px to get maximum duration.
  • Audio (mp3) must be 30MB or less
  • Documents (pdf) must be 10MB or less

Please follow the submission instructions carefully for your particular program(s) of choice at http://purchase.slideroom.com. If you wish to audition for more than one program, you must submit a separate pre-screening audition and fee for each program.

Please DO NOT mail in an audition CD or DVD. CD and DVD auditions mailed to Admissions or the Conservatory of Music will be discarded and the application may be withdrawn from consideration.

*If you experience difficulty uploading your audition pieces, you must contact Slideroom technical support at support@slideroom.com for assistance. Please allow one day for a response. You can also consult the Slideroom Helpdesk and FAQ at https://slideroom.zendesk.com/home.


Step 2: Live Auditions - By Invitation Only:

All students will be notified of results of pre-screening auditions by February 1, 2013. Students selected for live auditions will be notified by email directly from the Conservatory of Music and will be assigned a live audition date at that time.

2013 LIVE AUDITION DATES

All live auditions take place in the Music Building on campus. In order to qualify for a live audition, all applicants must first apply for admission to Purchase College and submit all pre-screening materials and the audition fee at http://purchase.slideroom.com. Only student who pass the pre-screening audition will be called back for a live audition. Students who do not pass the pre-screening audition will not be eligible for admission to the Conservatory. 

Live Auditions for Fall 2013 admission are scheduled for the week of February 18- 23, 2013.

February 18: Brass, Strings (no basses), Voice/Opera, Percussion

February 19: Harp, Classical Composition

February 20: Classical Guitar, Flutes and Clarinets

February 21: Voice/Opera, Studio Composition, Studio Production

February 22: All Winds, Studio Composition, Studio Production, Jazz

February 23: Piano, Voice/Opera, Jazz, Strings (no violas)

Audition Requirements:

Audition requirements are listed at http://purchase.slideroom.com. You can also visit the Undergraduate Audition Requirements page for both the pre-screening audition requirements and live audition requirements for your chosen program/instrument

Admission Decisions:

All final admission decisions will be delivered on or around March 15, 2013. You can check on the status of your application by logging on to your MyPurchase account. If you are offered admission, you will be asked to submit an enrollment deposit by May 1, 2013.

Back to the top