Composition

Bachelor of Music (B.M.), Bachelor of Science in Music and an Outside Field (B.S.O.F.), Master of Music (M.M.), Doctor of Music (D.M.)

The following information is for entry into the 2025-26 school year.

Prescreening Requirements

All composition applicants must submit a prescreening portfolio via the JSOM Supplemental application by December 1.

Portfolio should include:

1.  Scores
   • Undergraduate applicants: two to three scores, no more than one large ensemble work
   • Graduate applicants: four scores representing a variety of forms and media (D.M. applicants: one of your scores must be for large instrumental ensemble - orchestra, wind ensemble, chamber orchestra, or sinfonietta)
2.  A chronological list of completed compositions, including date of composition, instrumentation, duration, and any performances if applicable. Please submit this under the 'Media' section with your other prescreening materials.
3.  Recordings of performances, if possible (or good MIDI realizations, if necessary)
   
   • D.M. applicants must submit live recordings of at least two of the works in the portfolio.

All scores should be in PDF format (no Finale, Sibelius, or Word files).

Recordings should be in mp3 or mp4 format. Use this filename format: <title>_<ensemble>_<year> composed>.pdf (or mp3/mp4). Example: Intrada_BrassQuintet_2024.pdf

Note for undergraduate applicants: enrollment in instrumental or vocal performance study is required for all undergraduate students every fall and spring semester. You must choose one of the following options upon submitting your JSOM Supplemental application:

Interview Requirements

Select applicants will be invited to a live interview after a review of all prescreening portfolios.

If you are invited, you will be scheduled for one of the following audition dates and will receive your schedule by email 3-4 weeks prior to your interview:

• Fri. January 17, 2025
• Fri. February 7, 2025
• Fri. March 7, 2025

International applicants are welcome to travel to Bloomington, but we can also offer the possibility of conducting the interview virtually. Please email musicadm@iu.edu to request an international virtual interview.

What to expect:

• Undergraduate interviews will be approximately twenty minutes.
• Graduate interviews will be approximately thirty minutes.
• You should be prepared for a brief ear-training examination (identification of intervals, triads, etc.).
• For more details and FAQ, visit the department's blog page.

Internal applicants

Please review application procedures for internal JSOM applicants.

Submit the following materials directly to the composition department chair, preferably in a shared online folder. Scores and recordings will be evaluated by the composition faculty and an interview may be requested.