This program is offered on a full-time basis only and begins in September. We have ONE admissions cycle per year.
Prerequisites
An appropriate bachelor's degree with high academic standing from a recognized university is required. Applicants in performance must pass an audition.
Application Supporting Documents
We must receive all the following documents at this address by the document deadline.
Graduate Department of Music
University of Toronto
80 Queen’s Park
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 2C5
- ONE (1) official paper transcript of your academic record from every post-secondary institution attended. Include a description of grading systems used, and full course titles. Note: The transcripts you receive in sealed envelopes are confidential and must not be opened.
- Applicants from universities other than the University of Toronto should provide course descriptions for specialized music courses where content is not clear from the course titles on the transcript.
- At least TWO letters of reference (one from an instructor in your major area and one from an instructor familiar with your academic work). Please contact your referees in advance to obtain an e-mail address (preferably a university e-mail address). Be sure to inform your referees that you are doing this and that the University of Toronto, School of Graduate Studies will be contacting them by email. Referees have the option of sending hard copies instead.
- A sample of your writing in a jazz-related research document (approx. 1500 words).
- Substantial repertoire list (25-30 pieces) titled with your name and instrument; lead sheets for any original pieces. Sample Repertoire List
- Audition fee of $75.00 Canadian. Please make certified cheques or money orders payable in Canadian or US funds to the University of Toronto and mailed to the Graduate Department of Music, University of Toronto. Note: credit cards and personal cheques are not accepted.
- Name of applied teacher you wish to study with.
- Proof of English proficiency for applicants from Universities where English is not the language of instruction and examination. Please note that an offer of admission cannot be made unless the minimum score is achieved.
on-line application form 
Accompanist
For the jazz audition, accompaniment is the responsibility of the candidate. It is expected that a trio or quartet format will be sufficient (piano or guitar, bass, drums). The use of recorded accompaniment is strongly discouraged in graduate auditions.
$75.00 Cdn Audition Fee
You must send a
certified cheque or
money order for $75 Cdn payable to the
University of Toronto to the Graduate Department of Music. Personal cheques are not accepted.
Note: Individual auditions will be scheduled only after the audition fee has been received.
Recordings
Auditions in person are highly encouraged. Applicants living over 300 miles from Toronto may request permission to submit a DVD. The complete audition requirements must be followed and be of good tonal quality. If the audio portion of recorded auditions is substandard quality the audition materials will not be considered. The audition fee of $75.00 Cdn still applies.
Guidelines for Recorded Jazz Auditions
Auditions
Successful applicants must show experience as a solo performer with an advanced technical and interpretive ability. Improvisation must indicate imagination and thorough mastery of the selected repertoire.
Candidates must submit a substantial repertoire list (25-30 pieces). The list must include representative pieces from the major stylistic areas: traditional, swing, bop, hard bop, cool, post-bop, standards, blues, modal, free, fusion and ‘Latin’ styles. Click here for a sample repertoire list. The list must also include at least three original pieces. Please provide lead sheets for any original pieces. At the 30 minute audition, jurors will select repertoire from the candidate’s approved list (usually 5 pieces including one ballad and one up-tempo tune).
Candidates who are skilled in jazz arranging and composition are encouraged to provide scores (Photocopies only. No originals please.), with supporting recordings (if available) to assist the jury in their assessment.
Scores of all compositions on the audition program must be provided for the jurors.