Voice Lessons in Fairfax County
NM Productions, Inc. - The Performing Arts Company

All About College Auditions

 

We have direct experience with every college on the list below + a few more. Each has established programs in various arts disciplines. To properly research this year's requirements, google the University name with the words "musical theatre", and "*(insert year)* audition requirements."  It's important to save the page link once you find it so you don't do the work more than once. A spreadsheet is essential. 

 

Our focus is primarily on East coast schools with a few exceptions such as Indiana, Texas, Tennessee, etc.. For West coast programs we will need to powwow together. I do have some singers studying out in California.

 

The following schools are well known for several established programs:

 

​​

1.     Baldwin Wallace (musical theatre, classical. Top notch school.)

2.     Belmont University (contemporary, classical, commercial songwriter program - lots of Broadway casting success since Hamilton on the West Coast happened.)

3.     Berklee (MT, contemporary, recording technology, songwriter program)

4.     Carnegie Mellon (classical, musical theatre, music ed) A focus on classical acting. This will be a reach school for all applicants

5.     Catholic University (classical, musical theatre, music therapy, music ed, sacred music, composition, music therapy) Private school, so higher tuition. Side benefit of being in DC - the biggest theatre hub outside of NYC. 

6.     Christopher Newport University (composition, classical, music ed)

7.     Cincinnati Conservatory (classical, musical theatre & acting). Their MT program is a reach for all applicants.

8.     Elon University (musical theatre; dance heavy program, great MT program)

9.     Emerson College (musical theatre & acting) - they focus on contemporary. 

10.  George Mason University (Good theatre and MT. Beautiful facility and faculty of working actors. Side benefit of going to school in the DC area - rich with opportunities even during college years. Talk with me about this classical voice program.)

11.  Hart School (voice, composition, music theatre, dance, particularly ballet)

12.  Howard University (exceptional jazz program)

13.  Howard University (exceptional jazz program)

14.  Indiana University (classical, choral arts, music ed are programs they are most known for. They also have MT)

15.  Ithaca College (classical, musical theatre, music ed, composition) Ithaca offers a cool double major track between performance and education where you end up with degrees in both.

16.  James Madison University - super versatile with several degree options for BA or BFA, (classical, musical theatre, composition, education, music business, music technology, etc.)

17.  Long Island University: (MT, Theatre, focus on classical vocal technique for freshman which is great.)

18.  Marymount Manhattan (currently restructuring - priority on acting; degree program is for theatre, with a certificate in musical theatre)

19.  Michigan (MT is their biggest arts program, a reach for all applicants)

20.  New England Conservatory (classical, music ed)

21.  North Texas (classical, music ed)

22.  Northwestern University (classical, musical theatre)

23.  NYU (musical theatre, recording, contemporary, Tisch) (Don't recommend Steinhardt - Tisch is more focused. They don't tell you which "studio" you are in until you commit, which is complicated. Read their pages carefully.)

24.  Oberlin Conservatory of Music (brand new MT program, great conservatory for classical, music ed)

25.  Pace (MT, acting, dance heavy)

26.  Peabody Conservatory (classical, composition, music ed, no MT)

27.  Penn State (MT is their biggest arts program - eccentric in their acceptance choices)

28.  Point Park (MT, acting - strong program. Pittsburgh is great city for theatre)

29.  Shenandoah Conservatory (musical theatre, choral, classical, vocal pedagogy, music ed)

30.  Temple (jazz, music therapy - also has MT)

31.  The Boston Conservatory aka "BoCo" (classical, musical theatre, education) likes dancers.

32.  The North Carolina School of the Arts (classical, music ed, BFA in drama and direction, no MT BFA program)

33.  University of Miami (contemporary, songwriter program)

 

 

These schools are known for classical programs only:

 

• The Academy of Vocal Arts (classical, tuition free) note: this will be a reach school for all applicants

• The Curtis Institute for Music (classical voice, tuition free) note: this will be a reach school for all applicants

• Eastman School of Music (classical voice) note: this will be a reach school for all applicants

• Julliard School (classical voice) note: this will be a reach school for all applicants

• Mannes College, The New School for Music (voice and composition)

• University of Chatanooga (classical voice and composition). Note: This college has a special program for autism, unique and exceptional for those with special needs.

 

​

 

Please download the guide(s) which are applicable to your audition plans. This guide includes information specific to auditions for Musical Theatre, Classical Voice, Contemporary Vocal Music, Music Therapy, Music Education and Composition. Other majors that generally do not require auditions are Music Business and Music Technology.

 

​

Musical Theatre Audition Chart (please complete and share with your voice teacher). Click here for an editable word doc.

Guide to Musical Theatre College Auditions: click here for printable copy.

​

Classical Voice Audition Chart (please share this with your voice teacher). Click here for printable copy.

Guide to Classical Voice College Auditions: click here for printable copy.

​