Direct entry into the composition program in first year is designed to accommodate applicants who have already demonstrated significant commitment to the creation of music in a style based upon traditional and/or recent Western Art Music procedures. In addition to the academic, audition/interview and theory requirements, applicants who wish to be considered for entry into the composition program in first year must submit a portfolio of compositions with their Music Questionnaire application. Applicants who do not submit the required portfolio by the posted Music Questionnaire deadline will not be considered for direct entry into the composition program, but will be considered for entry into the common first year program.
The Portfolio should include the following:
· at least four works, totalling at least 15 minutes in duration, written for a variety of ensembles.
Popular and commercial music should not appear in the portfolio, except as an addendum.
· demonstrate recent and substantial activity as a composer as well as the candidate’s willingness to
explore and be challenged.
· various methods of pitch organization, rhythmic structure and motivic/thematic development.
· accurate notation is expected.
· candidates are welcome to submit recordings of performances of their scores. In the case of
electroacoustic works, a score is not necessary. Otherwise works with recordings only will not be
considered. A work for acoustic instruments recorded from a live or studio performance is not
considered electroacoustic music.
At the Interview candidates will be expected to demonstrate:
· Knowledge of repertoire up to and including the year of application to the program
· Substantial insight into the music you have listened to or performed.
· Superior ability in ear training (aural identification of intervals, chords and cadences).
Successful candidates will also display a superior ability in music theory (e.g. a mark of 80 or higher in the required theory prerequisites).