Audition information for admission to undergraduate and graduate music programs
Audition information for admission to undergraduate and graduate music programs
Audition for admission to undergraduate and graduate music programs
Your audition is an important step in pursuing your undergraduate or graduate music degree at Iowa. Our professors want to work with students who demonstrate:
- Strong musicianship
- Rigorous preparation
- A positive attitude
- Potential for musical excellence and career success
Your audition also helps you check us out and make sure the Iowa School of Music is the right fit for you. At the end of the day, you want to study music where you're most comfortable and where you feel supported on your musical journey. We believe that can be Iowa—and we welcome the opportunity to meet you and hear your music.
Already a UI student?
Contact our School of Music admissions office to learn about majoring in music.
Looking to audition for an ensemble?
Ensemble auditions are required to perform with orchestras, bands, choirs, and jazz ensembles. The ensemble audition is separate from the program admission audition.
Undergraduate Audition Days
- Friday, Feb. 13, 2026
- Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026
- Friday, Feb. 20, 2026
- Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026
Submission deadline: All undergraduate applications must be submitted by Feb. 1, 2026.
Graduate Auditions
Please check individual studio pages for required application requirements and prescreening submission deadlines.
Submission deadline:
All graduate applications must be submitted by Dec. 1, 2025.
Audition requirements by instrument or area of study
Choose your instrument or area of study to see specific requirements and information that you'll need to know in advance:
Audition Process by Degree Type
Audition Day for Undergraduates
We invite you and your family to join the School of Music in one of our favorite events of the year: Audition Day.
Audition Day is centered around our professors getting to meet you and hear you play. But it's also much more—it's a time to celebrate the School of Music and all of the students, professors, technicians, librarians, and staffers who make up our artistic community at the heart of the University of Iowa.
We'll send you an updated schedule the week before your Audition Day spot, but here's what you and your family and guests can expect:
- Your private audition
- An open house for incoming students, parents, and guests—meet some of our current Hawkeye music majors, professors, and administrators
- Tours of the Voxman Music Building, our spectacular home in downtown Iowa City
- A special session about our Music Education program for future K-12 music teachers
- An informational session about our unique Music Therapy program
- Plenty of time to check out Iowa City and the UI campus
Please join us!
How to register for Audition Day
You'll sign up for Audition Day and apply to the School of Music as part of your application to the University of Iowa. Here are the steps:
- Submit the University of Iowa online application, making sure to check the box labeled "Music (Interest)" when asked about areas of study you'd like to pursue at Iowa.
- When you're accepted to the University of Iowa, we'll create a personal "MyUI" portal for you and give you instructions for using it. Your MyUI page will have all the information and resources you'll need to continue your Hawkeye journey.
- In your MyUI Admissions Profile under "Next Steps", you'll find the School of Music application form. You'll complete that form to apply to the School of Music and select your spot for Audition Day!
- Find your instrument or specialization to learn about the specific requirements for your audition. You'll also find information about the professors in your area, and how to contact them with questions.
Do you have a hardship that prevents you from auditioning in person, or are you a resident of Alaska, Hawaii, or a foreign country? If so, please contact the Admissions Counselor listed on your instrument's audition requirements page to ask about auditioning online.
Auditions for Graduate Students
Are you ready to take your musical journey to the next level as an MA, DMA, or PhD student in performance? Our professors are eager to talk with you!
As a first step, find your instrument or specialization in this list of studios offering auditions for graduate degree programs.
On that page, you'll find the audition requirements for your instrument, as well as contact information for one or more of the area's faculty members. Please contact the listed faculty member to learn more about their studio.
You'll arrange your audition with our Admissions Counselor after you've submitted and passed all application and/or prescreening requirements per your studio of interest.
Learn more about the graduate admissions process in the School of Music. For general information about graduate studies at the University of Iowa, visit the Graduate Admissions website.