Visit & Audition Day for students entering in Fall 2026 is January 31, 2026.

*String Auditions will be held on January 24th, 2026.

Audition Day Activities!

With the exception of the audition itself, all activities are optional. We do recommend RSVPing to the activities you plan to attend in order to save a spot. Family and friends are welcome to all events, except the individual audition.

Music Visit Day - Save the Date!
Composition BM Events (Area meeting, Studio tours, Mini-Concerts)
Meet the Faculty + Q&A
Current Student Panel

A full schedule of offered activities will be given to you at check-in. If you are able, we encourage you to see and do as much as you can while you are here to get a taste of what it's like to be a student of Music at UCSB.

Audition & Visit Day Schedule

Saturday, January 24, 2026 | String Auditions 

Saturday, January 31, 2026 | Audition & Visit Day Schedule

8:15 AM Check-In Start & Practice Rooms Open
9:15 AM–10:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM–12:00 PM Voice Auditions – By Invitation
9:30 AM–11:45 AM Piano Auditions – By Invitation
10:00 AM–10:40 AM Composition Area Talk – Music 1145
10:30 AM–11:00 AM Gamelan Ensemble Performance – Music 1231
10:40 AM–11:20 PM Studio Tour –  meet at Music 1145
11:20 AM–12:00 PM Composition Performances  – Music 1145
12 PM–12:30 PM Voice Area Meeting & Lunch
12:30 PM–1:00 PM Chamber Choir Open Rehearsal – Geiringer Hall  (All are welcome)
1:00 PM–1:15 PM Mini Masterclass with Professor Benjamin Brecher – Geiringer Hall
1:15 PM–1:30 PM Mini Masterclass with Dr. Isabel Bayrakdarian – Geiringer Hall
1:00 PM–4:00 PM Voice Auditions Continue – By Invitation
1:00 PM–3:00 PM Piano Auditions – By Invitation
1:30 PM–2:30 PM Meet the Faculty + Q&A: Meet faculty from our Theory, Musicology, and Ethnomusicology areas! – Music 1145
2:30 PM–3:00 PM Student Panels: Meet Current UCSB Music Students – Music 1213

Music Ensemble Performances (Ongoing)

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Gamelan Ensemble – Music 1231
1:00 PM - 1:40 PM Middle Eastern Ensemble – Music Bowl
Student performances at various times throughout the day
Chamber groups: TBA
Additional ensembles: TBA

Please note that Voice and Piano area meetings are available for prospective students. Details are included in individual live audition invitations.

Campus Tour

The UCSB Welcome Center offers self-guided tours, but will be closed on Audition Day. We are trying to organize a private tour for incoming students. More info TBA.

 

Audition for your Instrument

Please click on the instrument you plan to audition for to access the form. Each link will take you to a google form. You'll be expected to fill out questions that will create a formatted musical resume that the audition committee will see for each applicant. At the end of the form, you'll have the option to submit your prescreening recording, schedule your audition time, or submit a recorded audition  - options will vary by instrument and are also described, below.

For all instruments, except voice and piano, a recorded or zoom audition is available as an alternative to a live audition, however, you are strongly encouraged to audition at UCSB if you are able. All forms and prerecorded auditions submitted in lieu of a live audition are due January 10. If you missed this deadline, submit the form as soon as possible and we will try to evaluate your application.

If you plan to audition live, please submit the form and sign up for an audition time no later than one week before auditions.  Auditions submitted after this date will not be considered, however, you can audition for lessons once a student is on campus (see the Fall kickoff page for details). Auditions for the BM for continuing students taking lessons through the year will be available at the end of Spring quarter.

 

 

 

Perform an audition according to the specific requirements for your chosen major preference.

See specific audition requirements by clicking on your level:

First-Year or Transfer

Cello – No Prescreen. Live auditions will be scheduled at a later time, or you may submit a recording at the end of the form.

Composition – Portfolio due January 10. Your portfolio must include:

  • Statement of Objective as composition major
  • Three works, submitted with score (.pdf) and a link to recording, or separate (.mp3 or .wav)
  • Complete List of Works, indicating any performances and recording

Piano – Prescreen is required, due December 5th. Submit Prescreen using the form.
          Live audition eligibility will be confirmed by invitation on or before January 5th for those invited to audition.

Viola – No Prescreen. Live auditions will be scheduled at a later time, or you may submit a recording at the end of the form.

Violin – No Prescreen. Live auditions will be scheduled at a later time, or you may submit a recording at the end of the form.

Voice - Prescreen is required, due November 30th. Submit Prescreen using the form.
          Live audition eligibility will be confirmed by invitation on or before January 5th for those invited to audition.