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Graduate - Master of Music

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and/or to observe deadlinesthere is no guarantee the application can be reviewed and the application may be withdrawn from consideration.


Admission Requirements

Who may apply:

  • Persons holding an undergraduate degree or the equivalent from an accredited college in the United States or an approved institution of higher education abroad
  • Persons who are enrolled for a bachelor's degree who are in their senior year.

Choose one of three graduate programs:

Master of Music
Performers Certificate - (Post Baccalaureate: One-Year or Two-Year)
Artist Diploma - (Post Masters: One-Year or Two-Year)

These programs are offered in the following areas:

  • Brass
  • Composition
  • Harp
  • Strings
  • Percussion
  • Piano
  • Opera Studies
  • Studio Composition (Masters in Music only)
  • Woodwinds
  • Jazz Studies
  • Classical Guitar

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Application Process

Deadlines to Apply:
Fall Admission: Extended to January 9, 2012
Spring Admission: October 15, 2011 (Select instruments only)

SPRING 2012: Very few programs at the Conservatory of Music accept applications for spring admission. If you are interested in spring admission, please email the Conservatory at music@purchase.edu to find out if the major you want to pursue at the Conservatory will be accepting applications for spring. If your intended program is open to the receipt of spring applications, all pre-screening materials will be due in purchase.slideroom.com by October 15, 2011. Live auditions for spring 2012 will take place in early November.

Step 1: Apply Online:

Apply online at http://purchase.slideroom.com.

Apply online, submit your pre-screening music audition materials for your chosen Graduate Music program and pay the non-refundable $117 application fee (includes $50 graduate application fee, $57 Conservatory of Music audition fee and $10 SlideRoom submission fee) at http://purchase.slideroom.com. A complete online application will contain:

  • Completed graduate application forms 
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Prescreening audition materials
  • A nonrefundable application fee of $117.00 payable online with a valid credit card or electronic check. This fee includes the $50 graduate application fee, the $57 Conservatory of Music audition fee and the $10 SlideRoom submission fee

Step 2: Complete Your Application:

Submit all of the following information required to complete your application together in one package:

Mail your package to:

Purchase College - Application Processing
Attn: Graduate Programs
279 Broadway
Albany, NY 12204-2755

Your application will not be considered complete until you have submitted all required official transcripts and, if applicable, test scores to the above address.

*Note: International students may have TOEFL or IELTS scores submitted electronically.

Step 3: Music Audition

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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 Deadlines:
Fall Admissions: Extended to January 9, 2012 for all programs except Jazz Studies. Jazz tudies deadline is January 1, 2012.

At the time of application online, all applicants must submit a pre-screening audition recording online at http://purchase.slideroom.com* along with the graduate application, three letters of recommendation and the non-refundable $117 application fee. 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. You must also submit your three (3)  letters of recommendation here.  

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 application, 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, 2012. 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.

2012 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 and submit all pre-screening materials and the 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 audition dates are:

Monday, February 20 through Saturday, February 25

February 20: Brass, Strings (no basses), Voice/Opera, Percussion

February 21: Harp, Classical Composition

February 22: Classical Guitar, Flutes and Clarinets

February 23: Voice/Opera, Studio Composition, Studio Production

February 24: All Winds, Studio Composition, Studio Production, Jazz

February 25: Piano, Voice/Opera, Jazz, Strings

Audition Requirments:
Audition requirements are listed at http://purchase.slideroom.com. You can also visit the Conservatory of Music 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, 2012. If you are offered admission, you will be asked to submit an enrollment deposit by May 1, 2012.

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