Acceptance into the Music Program as an undergraduate major or minor requires academic acceptance by the university and departmental approval, no later than the semester before intended enrollment.
Music majors work toward either a Bachelor of Music degree (BM) or a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree (BA). Students may also Minor in Music.
Please direct all inquiries regarding music admissions and visits to Nathaniel Gowen (Department Admissions Director) at @email or by phone at 413-545-6048.
Undergraduate Music Admissions — Three Steps
Step #1: Apply to UMass Amherst
- Current UMass Students: Skip to Step 2.
Step #2: Submit a Music Application
Before submitting the Music Application, applicants must:
- Have their Common App completely filed for UMass Amherst or be currently enrolled at UMass Amherst.
- Check the Audition Requirements for their instrument.
- Applicants to Composition, Music History, and Music Theory concentrations: check Supporting Materials.
- Confirm a remote audition if one is needed. See Step #3 for details.
Step #3: Audition
The 3 ways to audition, in order of most- to least-preferred:
- Audition Day. Available for Fall Entry applicants, selected in the Music Application. See Music Audition Days section of this page for further information.
- Special Arrangement. For applicants unable to attend an Audition Day or who are applying for Spring Entry, email @email after submitting your Music Application with your availability to set up an individualized audition date and time.
- Remote Audition. All Remote Auditions require faculty approval. To seek approval for a Remote Audition, email @email before submitting a Music Application with the following information:
- Your instrument
- Your intended degree
- Where you live
- Your reason for requesting a remote audition
Applications, Auditions, and Supporting Materials have deadlines that must be observed. See the 'Deadlines' section of this page for further information.
Music Audition Days
Live music auditions take place in the East Wing of the Bromery Center for the Arts at UMass Amherst.
View undergraduate Audition Requirements here.
All Audition Days for Fall 2027 applicants take place in February 2027.
The 2027 Audition Days will be posted here by August 2026.
Deadline Summary
2026–2027 Undergraduate Admissions Cycle
2026–2027 Undergraduate Admissions Cycle
Incoming Freshman
- October 15, 2026—Common App and Music Application deadline for Spring 2027 entry
- November 5, 2026—Common App deadline for Early Action Fall 2027 entry
- December 1, 2026—Audition and supporting materials deadline for Spring 2027 entry
- December 15, 2026—Reply deadline for Spring 2027 entry
- January 15, 2027—Common App deadline for Regular Decision Fall 2027 entry
- January 15, 2027—Music Application deadline for incoming freshman whose primary major is music and all prospective students who plan to audition during an Audition Day
- February 28, 2027—Audition and supporting materials deadline for incoming freshman whose primary major is music and music scholarship consideration.
- April 5, 2027—Music Application deadline for incoming students applying for music as a Minor or second major
- May 1, 2027—Enrollment deposit deadline for Fall 2027 entry
May 12, 2027—Audition and supporting materials deadline for all minors and secondary music majors for Fall 2027
Transfer Students
- November 5, 2026—Common App/MassTransfer and Music Application deadline for Spring 2027 entry
- December 1, 2026—Audition and supporting materials deadline for Spring 2027 entry
- December 15, 2026—Enrollment deposit deadline for Spring 2027 entry
- January 15, 2027—Music Application deadline for prospective students who plan to audition during an Audition Day
- February 28, 2027—Audition deadline for music scholarship consideration.
- March 1, 2027—Priority deadline for Common App/MassTransfer and Music Application deadline for Fall 2027 entry
- April 15, 2027—Final deadline for Common App/MassTransfer and deadline for auditions and supporting materials for Fall 2027 entry
June 1, 2027—Enrollment deposit deadline for Fall 2027 entry
Current UMass Students
- November 9, 2026—Music Application deadline for current students applying for Spring 2027 entry
- December 15, 2026—Audition and supporting materials deadline for Spring 2027 entry
- January 15, 2027—Music Application deadline for students who plan to audition during an Audition Day
- April 5, 2027—Music Application deadline for current students applying for Fall 2027 entry.
- May 12, 2027—Audition and supporting materials deadline for Fall 2027 entry
Scholarship Information
All undergraduate applicants for the Music degree are automatically considered for departmental music scholarships if they satisfy all of the following criteria:
- Audition on an instrument (or voice)
- Intend to be a music major (either BM or BA)
- Complete the audition by February 28 for Fall entry
Students that do not satisfy all the above requirements are not normally considered for departmental music scholarships.
Massachusetts residents, please note: Prospective students who are recipients of the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, the Stanley Z. Koplik award, or another type of state-sponsored tuition waiver must indicate “Yes” for the question regarding tuition waivers in the Music Application.
Failure to do so accurately may result in the nullification of certain awards the music program offers to prospective students.
If a prospective student receives a tuition-waiver style award after the Music Application is filed or if uncertain about whether the Music Application is notated correctly, please email @email.
Contact information
For questions about the application process, auditions, scholarships, and the Music Program in general, or to arrange a department visit, please contact Nathaniel Gowen, Department Admissions Director, at @email, or by phone at (413) 545-6048.
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.