School of Music

In addition to submitting a complete application for admission to the University of South Carolina, students who want to enroll in the School of Music as music majors or minors must audition. Schedule your audition through the School of Music Admissions office by calling 803-777-4281.

The audition serves as both an admissions entrance audition and a scholarship audition. Note that music applicants may also schedule a jazz audition and/or an audition on a strong secondary instrument, including voice, for additional music scholarship consideration.

Students who plan to major in an area other than music, but who want to participate in USC School of Music ensembles, are also eligible to perform an audition to be considered for music scholarships.

2012-13 School Of Music audition schedule

• Saturday, December 1, 2012 - auditions for all areas, including jazz (Prospective students wishing to be reviewed for Spring 2013 admission must audition on this date.)
• Saturday, January 19, 2013 - auditions for all areas, except flute, bassoon and percussion
• Saturday, January 26, 2013 - auditions for flute, bassoon, guitar, organ, percussion, piano, strings, voice (+ jazz in these specific areas only)
• Saturday, February 16, 2013 - auditions for brass, strings (but no guitar), percussion, woodwinds (+ jazz in these specific areas only)
• Saturday, March 2, 2013 - auditions for all areas, including jazz, except strings (but there will be guitar auditions)

Everyone who auditions on or before March 2 will be reviewed for all available music scholarship funds for the 2012-13 academic year. 

For prospective USC freshmen

You should have applied for admission to USC before you perform your audition, as the application deadlines happen prior to our official audition dates. You do not need to know for certain whether your application was accepted or denied prior to scheduling and visiting for your audition; most applicants will find their USC applications are still pending when we hear their auditions. Schedule your audition date as soon as possible.

For prospective transfer students at the University of South Carolina

Transfer students have more time to apply to USC, as the deadline for transfer students applying for Fall 2013 entry occurs in the summer of 2013. However, transfer students should plan to audition on one of the listed audition dates to be reviewed for Fall 2013 music admission and music scholarships. Transfer students who plan to start in Spring 2013 should plan to audition December 1, 2012. 

For applicants wanting to major in jazz studies

You will audition for the jazz faculty and for the faculty in your area of study in two separate auditions. For example, jazz saxophonists will perform a jazz audition for jazz faculty, performing the repertoire as listed with the jazz audition requirements. Then, in a separate audition, jazz saxophonists will perform an audition for saxophone faculty, performing the required saxophone repertoire. View audition requirements for more information about required audition repertoire.

All auditions are held on the USC campus in Columbia.

Auditions are not for individual School of Music ensemble placement; auditions are for those who hope to major or minor in music and for students of all majors who hope to be reviewed for music scholarships. Auditions for ensemble groups have different requirements and timelines. Contact individual ensemble offices and faculty for more information.

Register online for an audition. You also may register by downloading and completing the audition form, then returning the form by fax or email.
Download the form in MS Word format
Download the form in PDF format