Acceptance into a graduate music program requires academic acceptance by the university as well as acceptance by the Department of Music and Dance. Departmental acceptance is based on the quality of your audition and/or supplemental materials.
The Graduate School will issue acceptance to the university to applicants who meet the admissions requirements upon departmental recommendation. The Graduate School cannot process our department's acceptances until your graduate application is complete.
Graduate Music Application Process
The graduate application process is composed of three equally important elements. Leaving any one of them incomplete will result in an incomplete application and/or lack of funding.
- Apply to UMass Graduate Admissions
- Required Materials: College transcripts; Recommendations; Resume; TOEFL scores (if applicable)
- Priority Deadline: December 1
- Apply to Your Instrument/Area
- Required Materials: Music Application plus an audition and/or appropriate Supporting Materials
- Priority Deadline: December 1 for Music Application and Supporting Materials.
- Priority Audition Deadline: February 18, 2026.
- Recommended: Directly contact the faculty related to your instrument or academic field to introduce yourself and your intentions.
- Apply for Funding
- Required Materials: GenEd Teaching Assistantship Application, which requires at least one writing sample and a summary of teaching experience.
- Priority Deadline: December 1
- Learn more about Teaching Assistantships in the music program.
Graduate Degree Programs: Audition or Not?
Graduate programs that DO require an instrumental audition:
View Graduate Audition Requirements
- Master of Music in Collaborative Piano
- Master of Music in Music Education (Performance)
- Master of Music in Performance
- Master of Music in Jazz Performance
- Professional Performance Certificate (Graduate non-degree program; see Performance page for details)
- Jazz or Classical Performance Certificate (Non-degree supplemental programs for current MM students)
Graduate programs that DO NOT require an instrumental audition:
All Supporting Materials can be uploaded to the Graduate Application Portal.
- Master of Music in Conducting*
- Master of Music in Composition
- Master of Music in Jazz Composition and Arranging
- Master of Music in Music Education (Conducting*, Research, or Pedagogy)
- Master of Music in Music History
- Master of Music in Music Theory
- PhD in Music Education
*After submitting their Supporting Materials, applicants for any Conducting concentration may additionally require a live interview with the conducting faculty as well as conducting/rehearsing a UMass ensemble.
Teaching Assistantships & Exams
See Graduate Music Teaching Assistantships & Financial Aid for full details of TA appointments and how to apply.
Audition Optional: If your degree program does not require an audition, you may elect to perform an audition if you would like to be considered for a TA that includes performing.
In addition, TA positions in the GenEd area may be combined with TAships awarded by studio faculty.
Diagnostic Exams: Graduate diagnostic exams are taken after enrolling and are not part of the application process.
Graduate Record Exam: The GRE is not required for any graduate program offered by the Department of Music and Dance at UMass Amherst.
Deadline Summary - 2025–2026 Graduate Admissions Cycle
- October 1, 2025—Spring 2026 entry deadline for all graduate application materials (including audition)
- December 1, 2025—Priority deadline for the following materials for Fall 2026 entry:
- January 15, 2026—Final deadline for Music applications if planning to attend an on-campus Audition Day
- Priority Audition Deadline: February 18, 2026.
Submissions received after priority deadlines listed above will be reviewed in the order that they are received for purposes of admission and TA consideration.
Applicants must complete the Music Application by January 15 to guarantee a time during an Audition Day..
All Remote Auditions require faculty approval. See Graduate Audition Requirements for details.
All audition days for Fall 2026 applicants take place in February 2026. Audition Day availability is as follows for each instrument (numbers refer to dates in February):
Woodwind
Flute - Feb. 1, 7
Oboe - 1, 7
Bassoon - 1, 7, 14
Clarinet - 1, 7
Saxophone - 1, 7
Brass
Trumpet - 1, 7, 14
Horn - 1, 7, 14
Trombone - 1, 7, 14
Euphonium - 1, 7, 14
Tuba - 1, 7, 14
Piano - 1, 7, 14
Percussion - 7, 14
Classical Voice - 1, 7, 14
Jazz
Jazz Saxophone - 1, 7
Jazz Brass - 1, 7, 14
Jazz Piano - 1, 7, 14
Jazz Guitar - 1, 7, 14
Jazz Bass - 1, 7, 14
Jazz Drum Set - 1, 7, 14
Jazz Voice - 1, 7, 14
Strings
Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass - 4, 8, 18
Contact information
For inquiries pertaining to the Graduate School application and related materials:
UMass Graduate School Admissions, @email, 413-545-0722
For general inquiries about the graduate program and supplemental materials:
Nicole Avakian, Graduate Program Coordinator, @email, 413-545-0311
For inquiries about auditions and the Music Application:
Nate Gowen, Director of Music Admissions, @email, 413-545-6048
For inquiries about the graduate degree and its concentrations:
Christopher White, Director of Graduate Music Studies, @email
The University of Massachusetts Amherst prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, mental or physical disability, or veteran status, in any aspect of the admission or treatment of students or in employment.