Apply and Audition

Please complete the Dewberry School of Music Application no later than two weeks prior to your preferred audition date below:

Monday, November 2, 2026

Saturday, December 5, 2026

Saturday, January 23, 2027

Friday, January 29, 2027

Saturday, February 6, 2027

Late Audition Date for Transfers and Current Students Only

Saturday, March 20, 2027

Note: Our March 20, 2027 late audition date for transfers and current students takes place after the March 1 music merit scholarship consideration deadline. If you wish to be considered for music merit scholarship, you must audition prior to March 1.

Applying Early-Action?

If you apply early-action to the university (November 1), you can audition at any of our audition dates before March 1. Your audition date will not directly impact your university early-action decision.

Are Auditions/Interviews Required?

A Dewberry School of Music audition and/or interview is required for all students who wish to apply for admission into George Mason University as a music major or music minor. To sign up for an audition, you must complete the Dewberry School of Music Undergraduate application.

• University Early Action, Honors College, and University Merit Scholarship Consideration Deadline: November 1 
  
  (Schedule audition by November 7)
  
   
• University Regular Decision Deadline: February 1 
  
  (Schedule audition by February 7)
  
   
• School of Music Merit Scholarship Consideration: Complete an audition prior to March 1
  
   
• Spring Admission Priority Deadline: October 1

Undergraduate Dewberry School of Music Application

Please complete the Dewberry School of Music Undergraduate Audition Application no later than two weeks prior to your selected audition date to secure an audition time. Details for your audition will be sent by email in the weeks leading up to the audition. 

Transfer applicants applying for the Fall semester after the March 20 Audition Day should plan to submit their SlideRoom application and complete their audition no later than the last Friday in July.

Note: Please ensure that when setting up your SlideRoom account, you provide an email address you check regularly as this is how the School of Music will communicate important audition information and results. 

Results: Your Dewberry School of Music results will be sent by email following the audition. In order to be accepted to the Dewberry School of Music, you must be admitted to George Mason University. George Mason University admission decisions are separate, and follow a different timeline. In many cases, your Dewberry School of Music audition may take place prior to knowing your admissions decision. 

Please contact the School of Music with any questions.

Find audition requirements by concentration.

Is an audition required to become a music major or music minor?

All students applying to George Mason University as a music major or music minor will complete an audition. 

Are auditions in-person or virtual?

All auditions take place in-person at our George Mason University Fairfax Campus.

When will I receive my audition results?

Audition results from our Official Dewberry School of Music Audition Days will be sent approximately 2 weeks after an audition has been completed.

If I apply early action to the university, do I have to complete my audition by a certain date?

No, you are able to audition at any of our audition dates before March 1. However, we encourage students applying early action to sign up for your preferred audition date by completing the Dewberry School of Music application by November 1.

I submitted my Dewberry School of Music application, am I guaranteed the date I chose?

Yes, for undergraduate students, you are guaranteed the audition date of your choice. The only time it could change is if our campus is closed due to inclement weather, or if the audition date you have chosen is full. In the instance of either, a representative of the Dewberry School of Music will contact you regarding next steps.

If I want to audition on a specific date, when should I sign-up?

Prospective students should sign-up for their preferred audition date no later than two weeks prior. For example, if you wish to complete an audition on December 5, you must submit your Dewberry School of Music application by no later than November 21. This allows us enough time to create the audition day schedule, reserve our spaces, confirm the schedule with our faculty, and relay information to everyone signed up to audition that day.

Please complete and submit your Dewberry School of Music Application including all required pre-screen materials by no later than December 1.

Saturday, December 5, 2026*

Saturday, January 23, 2027

Friday, January 29, 2027

Saturday, February 6, 2027

*This date recommended for masters and performance certificate program students applying to begin in the Spring semester. Please submit your graduate admissions and Dewberry School of Music Application by no later than November 1.

Graduate School of Music Application and Audition Process

Once you complete your Graduate Admissions Application, you will be sent a link to complete the Dewberry School of Music Application from the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA). In addition to filling out the School of Music Application, you will need to submit all required pre-screen materials, and sign up for a preferred audition date.

Once your School of Music Application is submitted into SlideRoom, our faculty will review your pre-screen materials. Those who are invited in for a live in-person audition will be contacted directly by our Recruitment and Auditions Coordinator.

Note: If you would need to travel a significant distance to attend our in-person auditions, please submit your graduate admissions and Dewberry School of Music Application by no later than December 1. This will help ensure invitations for live in-person auditions can be sent out by early January and allow you enough time to make travel arrangements.

• Fall Admission Standard Deadline: February 1
• Spring Admission Deadline: October 1 

During the application process, applicants will be given a link to SlideRoom to submit their School of Music pre-screening materials and register for an audition date. Following your audition, your admission decision will come directly from the college after your application has been reviewed. See below for more information. 

Required Application Materials 

Please compile the following materials to be submitted on the University application and SlideRoom. 

• Online Application
• Pre-screening materials (See below for more information.) 
• One- to two-page Goals Statement 
• Two Letters of Recommendation 
• Transcripts from all colleges/universities where a previous degree was earned – undergraduate bachelor’s degree or higher (unofficial copies can be uploaded to the online application and considered for admissions purposes). 
• Resume 
• Repertoire list (Performance and Pedagogy only) 
• Philosophy of Music Education Statement (Music Education only)

Applicants who were educated outside of the United States can find detailed information about Transcripts, Evaluations, and English Language Proficiency Requirements at the International Student page. 

For general information about admission to our programs, contact CVPA Graduate Admissions or visit the College of Visual and Performing Arts Graduate Admissions page.

Find pre-screening and audition requirements by concentration.

• Saturday, January 23, 2027
• Friday, January 29, 2027
• Saturday, February 6, 2027*

*Only date for DMA Jazz applicants to complete a live audition*

Doctoral conducting auditions will be scheduled individually with the candidate and will be determined by the respective ensemble schedule.

For Conducting applicants, please note that the Conducting program will not be accepting applications for DMA Wind Conducting. All other conducting programs are open and accepting applications.

Fall consideration only: January 15

Auditions/Interviews for all doctoral programs are scheduled after review of application and pre-screening materials. During the application process, applicants will be sent a link to SlideRoom to submit their materials and register for an audition date.

Only those candidates who have passed the pre-screening round will be invited to audition/interview. The Dewberry School of Music will contact applicants directly to schedule an audition/interview.

Following your audition, your admission decision will come directly from the college after your application has been reviewed. See below for more information. 

Entrance Requirements For All Doctoral Programs:

Please compile the following materials to be submitted on the University application and SlideRoom:

• Online Application 
• Master’s degree in music from accredited college or university with overall GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.50 or above in the area of specialization (music education, performance, conducting, or composition).
• A sample of academic writing about music, such as a graduate-level paper from a musicology, music theory, or music education course taken during master’s-level studies.
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty members or those who can evaluate the applicant’s academic, professional, and artistic potential.
• Resume of academic, artistic, and professional accomplishments and positions. DMA applicants should include a repertoire list of publicly performed works.

Applicants who were educated outside of the United States can find detailed information about Transcripts, Evaluations, and English Language Proficiency Requirements at the International Student page. 

Find pre-screening and audition requirements by concentration.