• October 1: Application deadline for Spring 2023 enrollment. $100 application fee. Only select programs will be accepting applications for Spring 2023 enrollment.
• December 1: Final Application deadline for Fall and Summer 2023 applicants. $100 application fee. There is no early decision or early action option.

We strongly encourage early submission of your application and materials. Processing time may increase significantly as the deadline approaches.

Key Dates

The non-refundable application fee is payable by credit card at the end of the online application. Applications will not be processed without the application fee.

• Applicants who are veterans of the U.S. military or are actively serving are eligible for an application fee waiver. This waiver will be automatically applied for applicants who identify themselves as veterans or active military within the online application.
• An application fee discount is automatically applied for current and former students of Eastman, the University of Rochester, or the Eastman Community Music School.

Please note: While the Eastman School of Music is a school of the University of Rochester, the Eastman application process is separate.  All applicants applying to degree programs at Eastman must pay the application fee to Eastman regardless of whether the applicant has paid an application fee to another school of the University of Rochester.

Applicants to the following degrees and majors are pre-screened, meaning that completed files and supplemental documents (rather than recordings) are reviewed before interviews are scheduled:

• MA Composition
• MA Ethnomusicology
• MA Music Theory Pedagogy
• PhD Composition
• PhD Music Education
• PhD Musicology
• PhD Music Theory

There is no pre-screening requirement for the Master of Arts in Music Education.  However, candidates for this degree must submit all required materials for faculty review as specified in the special instructions for Music Education

All required materials must be received by December 1 for faculty review.  Auditions recordings are not required for entry into MA and PhD degree programs.  Students in these degree programs who wish to continue applied study on an instrument or voice may do so at the secondary level once they are enrolled.

Applicants for Fall 2022 will have the option to audition either on-campus or remotely. Please refer to the Audition Repertoire requirements page for details.  Applicants who wish to start their enrollment in the Spring 2022 semester will audition remotely, and must submit their recordings by October 1.

Additional Details for Recordings:

• Applicants must submit a video recording. Audio-only files are not acceptable.
• Accepted file formats (maximum size 2 GB per file)
  • Video formats: .avi, .flv, .m1v, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .wmv
• Recordings can be uploaded within the “Portfolio” section of the online application. After the application has been submitted, you can upload recordings at the bottom of the “Applicant Status” page until the recording deadline specified for your instrument.
• Recording files must be uploaded with the application. Do not send recordings to the faculty.
• The Eastman faculty members evaluate all recorded auditions.
• Recordings must follow repertoire requirements, and should have been recorded within the past twelve months.
• Each piece, excerpt or movement should be recorded in a separate video file and uploaded within the application unless otherwise specified in the repertoire requirements.
• Applicants submitting recordings for more than one instrument or program must clearly designate each recording.

Notification of decision and financial aid

Notification of decision may occur at any time after the application has been evaluated, with most graduate applicants being notified between March 15 and April 1. Accepted applicants normally receive notification of Graduate Awards and the possibility of need-based aid with the offer of admission.

April 15 reply date

Graduate admission decisions will be sent via email between March 15 and April 1. We ask for the courtesy of a response as soon as the graduate applicant has made a decision, no later than April 15. After this date, graduate decisions are considered binding. The Eastman School of Music does maintain a short wait list in most departments.  A prompt response from accepted applicants allows us to proceed with decisions for candidates on our wait list. It should be emphasized, however, that whenever candidates can reach a decision before this date, they are encouraged to notify all institutions as soon as that decision has been reached. Even if the decision is to not attend, the candidate must notify the the Admissions Office via the enrollment response form.

Special Instructions:

• Music Education
• Music Education Skills Assessment
• Organ

Other forms:

• Recommendation Form (Online submission via email link is preferred. This pdf form should only be used if the recommender is unable to submit via email link.)

The Eastman School of Music is committed to:

• diversity, equity, and inclusion and strives for continuous improvement;
• fostering a community of musicians and scholars of diverse backgrounds and origins by creating an educational experience that is musically, socially, and intellectually diverse;
• assuring that every person in our community is unquestionably welcome, safe, respected, and appreciated; and
• creating and encouraging an inclusive community that enriches the lives of our students, our faculty, our immediate community, and the world of music at large.

Please also see www.esm.rochester.edu/equity/ and www.rochester.edu/diversity. The University complies with all applicable nondiscrimination laws in the administration of its policies, programs, and activities. Questions on compliance should be directed to the school or department and/or to the University’s Equal Opportunity Coordinator, University of Rochester, PO Box 270039, Rochester, New York 14627-0039. Phone 585.275.9125.

The Eastman School of Music reserves the right to rescind an offer of admission at any time under certain circumstances, including but not limited to:

• failure to complete diploma or degree currently in progress where it is a prerequisite to enrollment;
• if there has been a misrepresentation in or a violation of any of the terms of the application process; or
• if the School learns that an applicant has engaged in behavior prior to the first day of class that indicates a serious lack of judgment, integrity, or alignment with University values, and/or violates School or University policies.

The School further reserves the right to require admitted students to provide additional information and/or authorization for the release of information about any such matter, and to place a hold on registration during the investigation into any such matter.