Admissions

In order to pursue the BM, BA or a minor in music at SMU, applicants must apply and gain admission to SMU and, in a separate application, to the Division of Music. It is recommended that applicants apply to SMU and to Meadows in the same semester. Audition registration is accessed through the Meadows Music Application. Read more about auditions and how to access the Meadows Music Application further below.

Audition Dates, Types and Deadlines for 2021-22

Meadows offers three ways of auditioning: live on-campus, virtual via Zoom, or sending in a recorded audition. Registration for Music auditions is found within the online Meadows Music Application. After your Meadows application has been submitted, you will receive an email with a link to your online status page where you can log in and register for your audition or submit your recorded audition. See further below for information on how to access the Meadows Music Application. 

Voice applicants, on-campus or virtual audition

Voice applicants interested in auditioning live for faculty (on-campus or virtual) are required to submit a pre-screen video by Nov. 1 if applying to SMU as Early Action or Early Decision, or by Dec. 1 if applying to SMU as Regular Decision or Early Decision II. Voice applicants who pass the pre-screen will be emailed information on how to register for an audition.

All virtual audition applicants other than Voice

All applicants aside from voice who wish to participate in a virtual audition must first submit a pre-audition video recording by or before 7 days prior to the live, virtual audition date. That way, in the event technical issues were to arise, our faculty will have the highest quality representation of applicants’ playing. The pre-audition recording is not a pre-screen. Applicants who register for a live virtual audition will meet with faculty by Zoom.

Music Education, Music Therapy, and Music Composition

Applicants will interview with faculty via Zoom during the week prior to the audition day and will receive information on how to register for the interview.

Recorded auditions

Applicants will submit an audition video without meeting faculty or participating in music audition days. Music Education, Music Therapy, or Music Composition applicants submitting a recorded audition will be emailed information about registering for an interview with faculty.

Application deadlines: Meadows and SMU

Meadows Application Deadlines

Within your Meadows Music Application (found further below), you will be asked to select either an on-campus audition, virtual audition, or a recorded audition.

• If you are doing an on-campus audition:
  • Your Meadows Music Application and audition registration must be submitted by or before 7 days prior to audition date. Note that in order to register for an on-campus audition, you must first submit your Meadows application, after which you will receive an email with a link to your status page where you can log in and register for your audition. Since auditions are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, we recommend registering for an audition at least 4-6 weeks in advance of your preferred audition date. Audition registration closes once audition slots have filled or one week prior to the audition, whichever comes first.
• If you are doing a virtual audition:
  • your Meadows Music Application and audition registration must be submitted by or before 7 days prior to audition date. Note that in order to register for a virtual audition, you must first submit your Meadows application, after which you will receive an email with a link to your status page where you can log in and register for your virtual audition.
• If you are doing a recorded audition:
  • and applying to SMU as Early Action or Early Decision I, your Meadows application and recorded audition are due by or before Nov. 1.
  • and applying to SMU as Regular Decision or Early Decision II, your Meadows application and recorded audition are due by or before Jan. 15.

Applying to SMU

All music applicants must apply to Meadows School of the Arts and, in a separate application, also apply to SMU. We recommend applying to both within the same semester. See details and deadlines for SMU applications here.

Transfer students

• Fall Transfer: Apply to SMU by April 1 - audition during the posted on-campus audition dates or by recorded audition.
• Spring Transfer: Apply to SMU by November 1, audition by/on December.

Note that all transfer students are required to complete college algebra or a college-level math course before transferring to SMU. We strongly encourage you to plan ahead and check with your transfer admission counselor to ensure that you have satisfied admission requirements. Plan ahead to optimize your possibility of earning a Transfer Scholarship, and check out the Transfer Equivalency Guides.

Pro Tip: Early Action versus Early Decision SMU application

Early Decision is a binding agreement to attend SMU if you are accepted to the university, even if you are not also accepted to the Meadows Music Division. For those who wish to apply by the November 1 “Early” deadline, we recommend that music applicants select “Early Action” instead of “Early Decision.” By applying Early Action, music applicants can keep their options open while expressing strong interest in SMU.

How to access the Meadows Music Application portal

The information below helps applicants navigate to the online Meadows Music Application. Please read, then find the application link at the end of this section:

1. When you click on the “Start Your Meadows Application” button below, it will take you to a page titled “Your Application to SMU.”
2. If you have submitted an SMU application and have previously logged in to your personal status page, click on “Log in” under “Returning Users,” using the same username and password.
   • If you have not yet applied to SMU and therefore have not received your SMU personal status page login credentials, see “First-time users” and click on “Create an account” to log in.
3. After logging in, scroll to the bottom of that page:
   • Select “Start New Application”
   • In “Select application type,” choose 2022, then in the drop-down menu select “Meadows Music Application”
   • Click on “Create application”
4. Registering for your audition: After you submit your Meadows application, you will receive a confirmation email with directions on how to go to your online status page. There you will find a link to register for your audition.

Start Your Meadows Application

Additional required steps

• View and prepare the required undergraduate audition repertoire.

• Complete the Undergraduate Theory Assessment prior to your audition day.

  • After submitting your completed Meadows Music Application, you will receive instructions in a separate email on how to access the Theory Assessment; you can also find this information on your status page of your submitted Meadows Music Application.

• Complete the Meadows Applied Teacher Request Form.

  • NOTE: This form is not required for students whose instruments are bassoon; double bass; euphonium; guitar; oboe; saxophone; trumpet; or tuba.
  • Complete the Meadows Applied Teacher Request Form by February 19, 2021 after submitting the Meadows Music Application. This form can be found within your Meadows Music Application.

2021-2022 Music Audition FAQs

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meadowsadmission@smu.edu
214-768-3217
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