As one of the nation’s most diverse collegiate music programs, we offer a variety of degree options to fit your personal interests and career goals. One of our greatest strengths is helping students find a successful bridge to their career in music.
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Brass
Fostering limitless experiences and connections.
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Jazz & Commercial Music
Providing hands-on experience as performers, engineers and producers.
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Keyboard
Offering exceptional training for performers and teachers.
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Liberal Arts in Music
Pursuing a passion for music along with other academic interests.
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Music Education
Preparing tomorrow’s teachers and researchers.
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Music Minor
Providing opportunities to explore music as part of your collegiate studies.
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Music Theatre
Providing holistic training in acting, singing, and dancing.
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Music Therapy
Building careers using music in service to and rehabilitation of others.
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Percussion
Building skillsets for successful, competitive musicians.
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Strings
Preparing students to excel as a versatile, modern musician.
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Theory & Composition
Training musicians through outstanding instruction and mentorship.
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Voice & Opera
Developing students for a multitude of performing opportunities.
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Woodwinds
Preparing students for diverse careers in teaching and performance.
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Music Theatre Admissions
A triple-threat program preparing students for a career on the stage.
Music Theatre
Key Admission Dates
Fall 2023
- Freshman Early Action Deadline (Florida Residents only) October 15
- Final Deadline for Freshman and Transfer applicants to apply to FSU and submit prescreening materials. December 1
- Prescreen results released by December 15
- Zoom callback round December and January
- Final Callbacks on campus February 26, March 5
- Admission decisions released on a rolling basis March
Music Theatre
Application Requirements
1 Apply to Florida State University
Complete the Florida State University Application and pay the $30 application fee.
Florida resident Freshman applicants who apply by October 15 may be considered for an Early Action decision on December 15 based on their academic profile. However, all students must successfully pass an audition in January or February in order to gain admission to the College of Music.
Instructions for Freshman applicants
Instructions for Transfer applicants
Applicants whose native language is not English are required to demonstrate spoken and written proficiency by providing examination results. Proficiency exam exemptions are granted if certain conditions are fulfilled.
2 Apply to Music Theatre
Complete the Music Theatre Supplemental Application and any additional materials required for your major. The Supplemental Application allows you to select your preferred audition date, and will be added to your Application Checklist within 1-2 hours of submitting your application to FSU.
Submit your Pre-Screen Materials via the Application Status Check:
- Theatrical Resume
- Headshot
- Music Theatre Future/Career Goals: A short statement describing your professional goals and your desire to major in Music Theatre (650 words max.)
- Letters of Recommendation (3 required): You will enter your recommenders’ contact information and they will be contacted via email and prompted to upload their letter.
- Pre Screen Videos (Uploaded to the Portfolio section – see full description of Audition Requirements):
- Two contrasting musical selections
- One Contemporary Monologue
- Two contrasting dance pieces (one ballet and one jazz or contemporary)
Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning November 1. Final Deadline is December 1.
3 Complete your audition
For those who progress beyond the prescreen round, initial callbacks will be conducted via Zoom in December and early January. Students will be emailed a dance combination to record and upload prior to the audition. Students under final consideration will be invited to campus for a live audition.
Be sure to review the audition requirements below.
Music Theatre
Audition Requirements
Choose your instrument of choice to see specific audition requirements.
Prescreening Requirements:
Each piece should be filmed/uploaded as a separate piece of media. No continuous videos. Florida State University has adopted the 2020-2021 Musical Theatre Common Prescreen Criteria:
Slate: There should not be a separate “slate” video. Instead, slates are to appear at the beginning of each piece.
- The proper slate for a song is to share your name, the song title, and show in which it appears.
- The proper slate for a monologue is to share your name, the title of the play, and the playwright.
Songs: Students should prepare two contrasting pieces:
- One song should be a ballad and one song should be an uptempo. One song should be written prior to 1970. This song can be either the uptempo or the ballad. The second song should be written after 1970 and contrast the style of the first.
- Each song file should be 60-90 seconds (this time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece and is strictly adhered to; please do not upload media files longer than 90 seconds)
- Students must sing to live or recorded accompaniment. No “a cappella” singing.
- Songs should be filmed in a ¾ shot which means the top of the head to the knees should be visible in the frame.
Monologue: Students should prepare one monologue:
- One 60-90 second contemporary monologue (written during the 20th Century-present) from a published play. (This time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece and is strictly adhered to; please do not upload media files longer than 90 seconds.)
- The contemporary monologue should be filmed in a “close-up” shot which means the top of the head to the chest should be visible in the frame.
- Monologues cannot be from musicals, television shows, or movies.
Dance: Students should prepare two videos:
- 30-60 seconds of dance, in whatever dance discipline you are most comfortable with: jazz, ballet, modern, African, hip hop, lyrical, or contemporary (no tap). Please use steps, movement, and physical vocabulary that you are familiar with and can execute well. Regardless of which style of dance you execute, the choreography and the movement should be story-driven and connected to the music where the applicant is dancing with a sense of purpose. Dance media can be self-choreographed, but must be a solo video of you. This can include a show, competition, or other performance so long as you are clearly featured on your own. All choreography must be performed to music; no “a cappella” dance media please.
- Ballet, no more than 30 seconds. Execute a brief series of plié, tendu and grande battement; and also pirouette en déhors (to both sides), and grand jeté across the floor.
- All dance media should be filmed in a “full body” shot taking care to keep the student’s entire body in the frame at all times.
- Applicants do not need to slate in any dance media.
- Helpful hint: Applicants are encouraged to keep a full-length mirror behind the filming device so as to see themselves as they execute choreography.
Audition Guidelines:
After the prescreening round, a number of qualified applicants will be invited for a callback audition. First round callbacks will be held on Zoom in December and January.
The audition should demonstrate that the student has a strong potential for developing the skills and artistry necessary for a professional career. Enrollment is small and highly selective.
Applicants who have questions about appropriate repertoire please contact Prof. Alisa Hauser.
Common Questions
Expand AllAll undergraduate applicants must pass an audition to enter the College of Music. Auditions are scheduled via the Music Supplemental application, submitted on the Application Status Page. Applicants who complete their supplemental application by December 1st are generally able to secure their first-choice audition date, but requests are honored on a first-come, first-served basis.
Prescreenings are required for the following instruments/degree programs:
- BM or BFA in Music Theatre
- BM in Piano Performance
Prescreening submissions are due by December 1 and results will be released by December 15. Applicants who are successful in this first round will be invited to campus for a full audition on one of the dates listed above. (Music Theatre will have a second round via Zoom, followed by a final round on campus).
Auditioning for the music minor also requires a successful audition. Repertoire requirements are generally identical to the requirements for music majors. Students who wish to apply for a music minor should contact musicadmissions@fsu.edu for access to the application.
Current students who wish to apply to the College of Music should contact musicadmissions@fsu.edu for access to the application.
Auditioning for the music minor also requires a successful audition. Repertoire requirements are generally identical to the requirements for music majors.
Everyone who auditions as a music major is automatically considered for talent scholarships and assistantships, and no additional application is necessary.
While all students are encouraged to audition on campus, most studios will accept a recorded video audition in lieu of a live audition. Students who wish to audition on campus but have scheduling conflicts may request an alternate on-campus audition date. Please note the following recorded audition guidelines:
- CD/DVD submissions will not be accepted – upload your recording(s) to YouTube or Vimeo and attach to the application. YouTube videos may be Public or Unlisted, but not Private.
- Recordings must include video (no audio-only recordings, please) and should be unedited. Video links are to be submitted on the Application Status Page.
- Some areas prefer one continuous recording and others prefer individual recordings of each selection. See repertoire requirements for your instrument for clarification.
- Begin each recording facing the camera and introduce yourself and the piece(s) you are about to present.
- Please ensure that recordings are of the highest quality possible and that all audition requirements are uploaded. We do understand that most applicants will not have access to professional recording equipment – faculty will take this into account in their evaluation. Watch/listen to your recordings before you submit them!
- Voice auditions must be accompanied – no a cappella singing, please. Instrumentalists should play unaccompanied.
- Exceptions:
- Applicants for Music Theatre will not submit recorded auditions. Auditions will be conducted live, via Zoom. Final callbacks will be on campus.
- Percussion auditions must be completed on-campus except in extraordinary situations (e.g., international applicants). Please contact musicadmissions@fsu.edu if you wish to request a recorded or remote audition.
Recorded Auditions must be submitted no later than midnight on February 1.
An accompanist is provided, free of charge, for all voice and music theatre auditions on campus. Rehearsal time is not provided, however, and scores should not be submitted in advance. Please bring neat copies, in a book or organized in a binder, in the appropriate key(s). Students may bring their own accompanist to the audition if they wish.
Instrumental auditions will be unaccompanied.
Students are allowed a maximum of three audition attempts per instrument/voice, per degree level (bachelors, master’s, doctoral). Applicants are allowed one audition per application.