Diploma with Honors
All of our performance diplomas may be awarded with honors; only the Pre-Collegiate Diploma in Theory may be awarded with honors. A diploma with honors is an accolade reserved for those who have achieved the highest level of musical artistry and proven themselves to be fine scholars. Many of our diploma students are truly excellent performers, far above their peers both academically and musically. The honors diploma recognizes the very highest level of achievement within this already select group.
Honors Requirements in Instrument/Voice:
To receive the diploma with honors in an instrument/voice, a student must have satisfied (or be registered for) all of the course, ensemble and lesson requirements for that diploma, plus:
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Successfully performed a level 6 jury by the end of the 1st semester of the student’s graduation year.
- Been recommended for Honors by his/her primary teacher.
- 20-minute Honors jury programs must be approved by your department (see curriculum for honors Jury program guidelines). Candidates should submit programs (with timings) to department chairs early enough in the school year to allow for changes in the program per recommendation of the department.
- An interdepartmental faculty jury will determine pass/fail of each Honors Jury.
- Students who pass their Honors Jury are required to perform a solo Honors Recital (minimum 30-minute performance), near the end of the graduation year.
- Repertoire selected for both the Jury and the Recital must represent a balanced program and must include a memorized work of at least 5-minute duration.
Honors Requirements in Theory:
Only students who successfully complete the Pre-Collegiate Diploma in Theory are eligible for honors. To receive the Pre-Collegiate Diploma in Theory with Honors, a student must have satisfied all of the course, ensemble, recital and lesson requirements for that diploma. In addition, the student must:
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Receive the grade of A in all theory courses pertaining to the Pre-Collegiate Diploma in Theory.
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Successfully complete the Honors Theory Project.
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Be recommended for honors by his/her Honors Theory Project instructor.
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Receive a vote of approval by an interdepartmental faculty jury attending a lecture-recital (30 minutes) based on the student’s Honors Theory Project.
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Present the same lecture-recital in front of an audience near the end of the student’s graduation year.
Honors Jury Information
- All students who are studying with collegiate faculty must do so through ECMS to be eligible for the Honors Jury, Scholarships, Eastman recitals, ECMS pre-college diplomas, etc.
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Students considering taking an Honors Jury should complete the Honors Check List with their teacher and return it to the director by mid-December.
- Honors candidates must have their programs approved by their department (see honors guidelines in your instrument/vocal curriculum). Programs should be submitted to your department chair for approval early enough int he school year so as to be able to change pieces prior to the jury, if required.
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Honors candidates should drop off or email their Honors Jury program to the ECMS office one week before the jury.
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Only the candidate, the accompanist, and a page-turner (if absolutely necessary) are allowed in the audition room. It has been recommended to the candidate that neither the accompanist nor the page-turner be the contestant's teacher.
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Candidates are to be judged according to this performance, and not on the basis of potential or other performances.
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The Honors Jury is not a competition. It is a means to measure the artistic achievement of each student.
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Audition times may not allow for complete performances of all pieces. Judges may interrupt a performance after the allotted time.
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Students will receive copies of the juror's evaluations after the jury.
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Judges may disqualify any student who does not meet memorization requirements: Voice and piano applicants must memorize all music; WBP must memorize at least 5 minutes of the 20 minute performance; Jazz applicants must have at least half of the performance memorized; String applicants must memorize all concertos and unaccompanied pieces. Exceptions will be made for any chamber music performance.
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Jazz candidates can be accompanied by up to an additional trio.
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The jazz honors jury will consist only of jazz music (all 20 minutes).
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Music should be performed as written - if the piece has piano accompaniment, it should be played with piano.
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Orchestral excerpts are not accepted.
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Adult candidates are to be heard separately.
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No audio or video recordings are permitted.
Honors Jury Check List
Last updated: December 22, 2010