Choral and Sacred Music
Bachelor of Arts (Choral Music emphasis)
All of the materials listed below must be received by the December 1st deadline. Any application not complete by December 1 may be removed from consideration.
Required items:
- USC Undergraduate Application- the following documents will also be submitted online with the USC application:
- Résumé
- Statement of Objectives
- Materials to be delivered to USC Admission (click here for the "USC Contact Us" page, then select "USC Office of Admission" to obtain the correct mailing address)
- Official transcripts
- SAT or ACT test scores
- TOEFL score report - required from all applicants for whom English is a second language, regardless of educational background or immigration status
- Prescreen Recording – to be mailed directly to the Thornton Admission Office (see address below)
USC Thornton Office of Admission
927 West 35th Street- PIC 212
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0021
**Please do not send any additional materials to the USC Thornton Office of Admission.
Audition Information
PRE-SCREENING: Fall applicants to programs in Choral and Sacred Music must submit an audition recording (in DVD format [preferred] or CD recording may be submitted instead) to be pre-screened by the faculty. The results of this pre-screen will determine whether or not an applicant will be invited to perform a live audition on the USC campus in Los Angeles.
Recordings must be received by the Thornton admission office by the December 1st deadline to be pre-screened by the faculty. The recording must be labeled with the following information:
First and Last Name Date of Birth USC ID# Program to which you are applying (i.e. BM Music Industry: Oboe) Year you are applying for (i.e. Fall 2010) Anticipated Class standing (Freshman, Transfer, or Grad)
Students should prepare two selections of contrasting styles. These selections should be pieces from the standard solo voice literature. Applicants are encouraged to prepare at least one of these selections in a foreign language and all selections must be memorized.
LIVE AUDITION: Based on the results of this pre-screen, the faculty will choose to invite a select group of applicants to the USC campus in Los Angeles for a live audition. At the live auditions, accompanists will be provided. Applicants will be asked to demonstrate basic sight singing and pitch retention ability during the audition. Freshman applicants (usually graduating high school seniors) will also be scheduled to take a one hour test covering basic aural and written theory skills. If a live audition is not possible, your prescreen recording may be used in lieu of a live audition.
Please visit our Audition page for more specific information regarding audition dates.
Master of Music
All of the materials listed below must be received by the December 1st deadline. Any application not complete by December 1 may be removed from consideration.
Required items:
- USC Graduate Application to be submitted with the following documents online
- Statement of Objectives
- Résumé (*see Additional Information below)
- Writing Sample (*see Additional Information below)
- Repertoire List (*see Additional Information below)
- 3 Letters of Recommendation (see the USC online application for instructions on how to submit)
- Materials to be delivered to USC Admission (click here for the correct mailing address)
- Official transcripts
- TOEFL score report - required from all applicants for whom English is a second language, regardless of educational background or immigration status
- Prescreen Recording – to be mailed directly to the Thornton Admission Office (see address below)
USC Thornton Office of Admission
927 West 35th Street- PIC 212
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0021
**Please do not send any additional materials to the USC Thornton Office of Admission.
Audition Information
Choral Music: DVD recording of both a choral ensemble performance of a minimum of 10 minutes and a rehearsal of a minimum of 10 minutes conducted by the applicant, including choral works from several periods and styles, with at least one being a twentieth-century work.
Sacred Music: DVD recording of both a choral ensemble performance of a minimum of 10 minutes and a rehearsal of a minimum of 10 minutes conducted by the applicant, including choral works from several periods and styles, with at least one being a twentieth-century work. While it is preferred that sacred music applicants submit this conducting audition recording, an individual performance cassette tape in voice, piano or organ may be submitted instead of or in addition to the conducting audition recording.
Additional Information
Applicants should have a minimum of two years experience as the regular conductor of a choral ensemble.
Recordings must be received by the Thornton admission office by the December 1st deadline to be pre-screened by the faculty. Applicants who do not provide the required pre-screening materials by the stated deadline will not be considered for an invitation to audition in person. The recording must be labeled with the following information:
First and Last Name Date of Birth USC ID# Program to which you are applying (i.e. BM Music Industry: Oboe) Year you are applying for (i.e. Fall 2010) Anticipated Class standing (Freshman, Transfer, or Grad)
*All applicants must submit a brief résumé specifically noting conducting experience and a repertoire list divided into categories of works sung, works studied and works conducted.
*A scholarly writing sample must be submitted (not more than 10 pages, an excerpt from a larger paper is acceptable).
Doctor of Musical Arts
All of the materials listed below must be received by the December 1st deadline. Any application not complete by December 1 may be removed from consideration.
Required items:
- USC Graduate Application to be submitted with the following documents online
- Statement of Objectives
- Résumé (*see Additional Information below)
- Writing Sample (*see Additional Information below)
- Repertoire List (*see Additional Information below)
- 3 Letters of Recommendation (see the USC online application for instructions on how to submit)
- Materials to be delivered to USC Admission (click here for the correct mailing address)
- Official transcripts
- GRE score report (general test only)
- TOEFL score report - required from all applicants for whom English is a second language, regardless of educational background or immigration status
- Prescreen Recording – to be mailed directly to the Thornton Admission Office (see address below)
USC Thornton Office of Admission
927 West 35th Street- PIC 212
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0021
**Please do not send any additional materials to the USC Thornton Office of Admission.
Audition Information
Applicants to these programs are required to submit an audition tape according to the following guidelines.
Choral Music:DVD recording of both a choral ensemble performance of a minimum of 10 minutes and a rehearsal of a minimum of 10 minutes conducted by the applicant, including choral works from several periods and styles, with at least one being a twentieth-century work.
Sacred Music: DVD recording of both a choral ensemble performance of a minimum of 10 minutes and a rehearsal of a minimum of 10 minutes conducted by the applicant, including choral works from several periods and styles, with at least one being a twentieth-century work. While it is preferred that sacred music applicants submit this conducting audition recording, an individual performance cassette tape in voice, piano or organ may be submitted instead of or in addition to the conducting audition recording.
Some applicants may be contacted by the faculty of the Department of Choral and Sacred Music with an invitation to audition live on the USC campus during the spring semester.
Additional Information
Applicants should have a minimum of four years experience as the regular conductor of a choral ensemble.
Recordings must be received by the Thornton admission office by the December 1st deadline to be pre-screened by the faculty. Applicants who do not provide the required pre-screening materials by the stated deadline will not be considered for an invitation to audition in person. The recording must be labeled with the following information:
First and Last Name Date of Birth USC ID# Program to which you are applying (i.e. BM Music Industry: Oboe) Year you are applying for (i.e. Fall 2010) Anticipated Class standing (Freshman, Transfer, or Grad)
*All applicants must submit a brief résumé specifically noting conducting experience and a repertoire list divided into categories of works sung, works studied and works conducted.
*A scholarly writing sample must be submitted (not more than 10 pages, an excerpt from a larger paper is acceptable).
