Please review and prepare all requirements thoroughly. Auditions and interviews are held in person at NIU in February, unless otherwise determined. Please register for an audition date.
If you are unable to attend NIU's official audition or interview days, please contact our music admissions coordinator for permission to schedule an independent audition or interview or to obtain approval to submit an unedited video audition or online interview.
Students seeking entry into the following programs need to review area-specific audition requirements found in the "repertoire and requirements by area" section of our audition page:
- Master of Music – performance
- Master of Music – individualized specialization: jazz studies
- Master of Music – individualized specialization: composition and theory
- Performer's Certificate
Please review the following requirements for your respective specialization. Certain requirements may be submitted as part of your Graduate School application requirements. In the event you are submitting additional written materials, a portfolio, videos, and/or playlist, these items must be submitted to our music admissions coordinator at least four business days prior to your interview. The following file formats are preferred:
Conducting
Choral
- Two conducting videos featuring pieces in contrasting style
- Your first video should be a rehearsal video demonstrating your rehearsal techniques of at least 15 minutes in length
- Your second video should be a concert video of an entire composition
- Each video should be one take – no edits within individual selections
- Your videos should be taken with the front of the conductor in view (instead of from the audience perspective) and of adequate audio quality of both the choir and instructions of the conductor in the rehearsal recording
- Selections can be either accompanied or a cappella
- Statement about conducting interest and goals
- This may fulfill the Graduate School personal statement requirement
- Conducting and/or choral music education-focused curriculum vitae
- This may fulfill the Graduate School resume/curriculum vitae requirement
- You may also submit a professional resume in addition to your conducting curriculum vitae
- Onsite audition
- Please contact our music admissions coordinator to schedule your on-site conducting audition.
Orchestral
- Two conducting videos of at least five minutes featuring pieces in contrasting styles
- Your recordings could be an excerpt of a longer piece. Please do not edit within the submitted excerpt
- Your videos should be taken with the front of the conductor in view (instead of from the audience perspective) and of adequate audio quality
- Conducting a full orchestra or chamber orchestra is strongly preferred
- Statement about conducting interest and goals
- This may fulfill the Graduate School personal statement requirement
- Conducting-focused curriculum vitae
- This may fulfill the Graduate School resume/curriculum vitae requirement
- You may also submit a professional resume in addition to your conducting curriculum vitae
- Onsite audition
- Please contact our music admissions coordinator to schedule your on-site conducting audition
Wind
- Two conducting videos of at least five minutes featuring pieces in contrasting styles
- Your recordings could be an excerpt of a longer piece, however, please do not edit within the submitted portion
- Two contrasting movements within the same piece qualify as two videos
- Your videos should be taken with the front of the conductor in view (instead of from the audience perspective) and of adequate audio quality
- Conducting a full wind ensemble is strongly preferred
- Statement about conducting interest and goals
- This may fulfill the Graduate School personal statement requirement
- Curriculum vitae demonstrating teaching, professional and conducting experience
- Experiences with athletic and marching bands should also be included
- This may fulfill the Graduate School resume/curriculum vitae requirement
- You may also submit a professional resume in addition to the conducting curriculum vitae
- Onsite audition
- Please contact our music admissions coordinator to schedule your on-site conducting audition
Recording
- Portfolio
- Your portfolio may include recordings, original compositions performed and recorded, released music content, a show reel of audio-visual content, or demos of songs currently being worked on
- Portfolios should contain three to five samples of your best work accompanied by a synopsis of that work and a description of your role in each instance
- A list of software and hardware previously used must also be included
- Statement about recording arts and audition production interest and goals
- This may fulfill the Graduate School personal statement requirement
- Music resume or curriculum vitae
- Your resume or CV should demonstrate your previous and/or current internships, projects, positions, and specific responsibilities as it applies to any creative/music endeavors
- This may fulfill the Graduate School resume/curriculum vitae requirement
- You may also submit a professional resume
- Please contact our music admissions coordinator to schedule your on-site recording interview
World Music
All applicants must submit and complete the following:
- Statement of purpose
- Your statement should discuss your background, career goals and how our program can benefit you throughout this process
- Your statement should be at least two pages in length
- This may fulfill the Graduate School personal statement requirement
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Your resume or CV should demonstrate your previous and/or current internships, projects, positions and specific responsibilities as it applies to any creative/music endeavors
- This may fulfill the Graduate School resume/curriculum vitae requirement
- You may also submit a professional resume
- Please contact our music admissions coordinator to schedule your on-site interview
Within our graduate world music program, students may pursue one of the following tracks. Please review the additional requirements dependent on your track:
Performance Track
Submit a YouTube playlist of performance clips featuring yourself as a soloist or ensemble. This playlist should be three to five performance clips.
Pedagogy Track
Submit a YouTube playlist of footage featuring yourself as an instructor. The combined duration of instruction should be a minimum of 30 minutes.
Research Track
Submit a 15- to 20-page writing sample on the topic of ethnomusicology/world, demonstrating proper writing style and references.