2024-2025 Undergraduate Auditions and Interviews

*Music application will be available beginning September.

All applicants who wish to enroll in the School of Music as music majors or be considered for private lessons for credit or music scholarships must audition/interview for the School of Music.  Auditions and interviews will take place in-person at the USC School of Music on the following dates:

Saturday, December 7, 2024
All areas, Spring 2025 applicants must audition/interview on this date
Saturday, January 25, 2025
All areas except Jazz and Music Industry Studies
Saturday, February 1, 2025
All areas
Friday, February 14, 2025*
BAND CLINIC STUDENTS ONLY (Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion
Saturday, February 15, 2025
All areas except cello. Final undergraduate audition day.

*Band Clinic Students Only - Please do not select Friday, February 14 unless you have been notified of placement in Band Clinic.  Participants in the USC Band Clinic weekend will be released from the Band Clinic schedule to audition but will not be able to attend audition day activities. A parent or guardian is welcome to attend our audition day informational sessions on February 15.

**For extenuating circumstances only, with approval of USC Music Admissions: Applicants who live more than 500 miles from Columbia, SC with extenuating circumstances may request to submit a video recorded or virtual audition. Requests must include the specific extenuating circumstance and should be addressed to Assistant Director Jennifer Mitchell at [email protected]. Our audition day features an Open House-type experience with question and answer sessions, tours of the building and campus, and opportunities to meet and speak to faculty and current students. In addition, in-person auditions allow us to more easily assess skills such as sight-reading. It is strongly preferred that prospective students visit us in person to audition whenever possible.

If you require access or audition accommodations, please contact Jennifer Jablonski, Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management, at [email protected] or at 803-777-6614.

 To register for an in-person audition, please complete the steps below.

1. Submit an application for admission to the University of South Carolina.
2. Submit a Music Application. The Music Application will open on September 3, 2024 and will be accessible through the University Admissions portal 24 hours after submitting your University application.  
   Select your in-person audition and/or interview date. You can register for your audition and/or interview date directly in your USC Admissions portal, using the Academics tab, which becomes available 24 hours after submitting your Music Application. We recommend registering for your audition as soon as possible; you do not need to wait for acceptance to USC before registering for your audition. 
3. Music Industry Studies and Composition applicants only. Applicants must submit their Music Application materials using digital portfolio link in the Academics tab, located in the University Admissions portal. The Academics tab will be accessible through the University Admissions portal 24 hours after submitting your Music Application.  Music Application materials MUST be submitted at least a week prior to your in-person interview. 
4. Audition and/or interview.  The USC School of Music Audition experience is more than an assessment of your skills; it is also an opportunity for you to get to know us.  You will have the opportunity to hear from the Dean, meet the faculty, chat with current students and tour the campus. We provide a short break and encourage you to interact with our team of Audition Day Music Messengers, current music students who can tell you all about life in the USC School of Music. 

View audition requirements by instrument for more information about required audition repertoire and/or required materials.

*If you did not list music as your desired first or second major in your USC Admissions application but wish to complete an audition for music scholarship review or approval to take private lessons (applied lessons) for course credit, please contact Jennifer Mitchell, assistant director of music admissions at [email protected], 803-777-4281. If you are already a student at USC and wish to audition, please contact Jennifer Mitchell.  

The audition serves as both an admissions entrance audition and a scholarship audition – all applicants are automatically reviewed for all available USC music scholarships. Music applicants may also complete a jazz audition and/or an audition on a strong secondary instrument, including voice, for additional music scholarship consideration. In some areas, music scholarship funds may be reserved for music majors. 

Auditions are not for individual School of Music ensemble placement; auditions are for those who hope to major in music and for students of all majors who hope to be reviewed for music scholarships. Students wishing to minor in music are not required to audition unless they wish to be reviewed for music scholarships or for enrollment in private study (applied study) for course credit. (Remember, in some areas, music scholarships are reserved for music majors.)

Auditions for ensemble groups have different requirements and timelines. Contact individual ensemble offices and faculty for more information.

For prospective USC freshmen

You must apply for admission to USC and complete the Music Application before you complete your audition. You do not need to know for certain whether your application was accepted or denied prior to submitting your audition materials; most applicants will find their USC applications are still pending when we hear their auditions.  

For prospective transfer students to USC

Transfer students have more time to apply to USC; the deadline for transfer students applying for fall entry occurs in the summer. However, transfer students who wish to be reviewed for fall music admission and music scholarships must submit their application materials and audition by February 15. Transfer applicants who submit their audition materials after the deadline will be reviewed for admission and scholarship on a basis of space and budget availability.  Students who plan to enroll at USC starting in spring must submit their application materials and audition on December 7. 

Contact the Music Admissions Office

For questions regarding enrollment, application status and general admissions questions, contact Jennifer Jablonski, assistant dean for enrollment management, at 803-777-6614, [email protected].

For questions regarding auditions and general music admissions questions, contact Jennifer Mitchell, assistant director of music admissions, at 803-777-4281, [email protected].