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Summer Composition
Application & Audition Requirements
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About this Program
Overview
Program Dates: July 8-20, 2024
Beginning in summer 2024, Juilliard will offer Summer Composition, a two-week intensive for composers in high school led by a faculty of world-renowned composers, including Juilliard faculty members and visiting guest faculty. Participants will live and study at Juilliard, which is in the heart of Lincoln Center and New York City. Juilliard Summer Composition will expose composers to the many skills, careers, and passions represented at the school and prepare them for success in college auditions and beyond.
Juilliard’s 2024 Summer Composition program will take place from Monday July 8 through Saturday July 20, 2024. Participants will arrive on Sunday July 7 and depart on Saturday July 20, 2024.
Curriculum/Sample Schedule
- Daily lessons with Juilliard Summer Composition faculty
- Daily composition lab
- Daily presentations and master classes with internationally renowned guest composers
- Daily seminars on composing and career development
- Seminar on college admissions led by Juilliard Admissions staff
- Mentored rehearsals of participant pieces with the Juilliard SummerComp Ensemble
- Professional recording of participant works
- Performance with Juilliard SummerComp Ensemble
- Visits to iconic NYC music and arts institutions
Detailed information on the admissions process is available below. Questions may be directed to [email protected]
Faculty
David Serkin Ludwig, Artistic Director, Studio Faculty
Daniel Felsenfeld, Composition Studio Faculty
Vivian Fung, Composition Studio Faculty
Jonathan Bailey Holland, Composition Studio Faculty
Amy Beth Kirsten, Composition Studio Faculty
Alyssa Weinberg, Composition Studio Faculty
John Corigliano, Seminar Guest
Viet Cuong, Seminar Guest
Reena Esmail, Seminar Guest
inti figgis-vizueta, Seminar Guest
Tania León, Seminar Guest
John Mackey, Seminar Guest
Eric Whitacre, Seminar Guest
Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Seminar Guest
The above faculty and guests are subject to change.
Eligibility
We welcome applicants who are:
- Students currently enrolled in high school. Students may also be recent high school graduates taking a gap-year before attending college. International students are also welcome to apply. Please note, Juilliard cannot assist in acquiring visas.
- Generally, this means ages 14-18 and students who have completed grade 9,10, or 11.
- Available to participate in the entire length of the program
Enrollment in Juilliard Summer Composition is limited to approximately 30 participants.
Application Timeline
Application Timeline
| Application Requirement | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Opens | December 1, 2023 |
| Online Application Due | February 1, 2024 |
| Application Fee or Fee Waiver Due | February 1, 2024 |
| Request for ADA Audition Accommodations Due | February 1, 2024 |
| Optional: Letter of Recommendation Due | February 15, 2024 |
| Admissions Decisions Posted to Application Status Page | March 1, 2024 |
| Financial Aid Request Due | March 15, 2024 |
| Financial Aid Decision Notifications | April 1, 2024 |
| Enrollment Deadline (including payment deposit) | April 12, 2024 |
Notification of Admission Results
You will receive notification of your admission status (admit or deny) through your application status page no later than March 1, 2024.
Application Fee & Waivers
Application Fee
The $50 USD application fee is nonrefundable and must be paid through your application status page upon submission of your application. Your application is not considered complete until the fee has been received.
Fee Waivers
Application fee waiver requests are available for:
- Students currently enrolled in the Juilliard Preparatory Division’s Music Advancement Program (MAP) or Pre-College
- Students currently enrolled in Tianjin Juilliard Pre-College
- Students who demonstrate significant financial need
Application fee waiver requests are available for students currently enrolled in the Juilliard Music Advancement Program (MAP) or Juilliard Pre-College, and Tianjin Juilliard Pre-College by the submission of one of the following:
- A Juilliard Preparatory Division transcript
- A letter or email from a Preparatory Division administrator confirming your enrollment.
- A screenshot of your Preparatory Division schedule in Juilliard’s Cadence portal
- A letter or email from a Tianjin Juilliard Pre-College administrator confirming your enrollment.
Application fee waiver requests are available for students who demonstrate significant financial need by the submission of one of the following:
- An official SAT or ACT fee waiver form signed by a high school guidance counselor OR
- An official NACAC-fee-waiver form signed by a high school guidance counselor OR
- A letter on school stationery from a guidance counselor stating one of the following:
- You are enrolled in or eligible to participate in the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch program (FRPL).
- Your annual family income falls within the income eligibility guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
- You are enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g., TRIO programs such as Upward Bound).
- Your family receives public assistance.
- You live in federally subsidized public housing, a foster home, or are homeless.
- You are a ward of the state or an orphan.
If you are unable to provide one of the above documents, you may provide the following:
- A letter from someone other than you (the applicant) that addresses your financial situation
All documentation must be in English. Original documents with translation are acceptable.
Fee-waiver requests will be evaluated after you have submitted a complete application. If you are requesting a fee waiver, please submit your application (including fee-waiver documentation) but do not pay the application fee.
Your Application Materials
Your Online Application
Your application must be submitted online by the appropriate deadline. To begin, create your Juilliard admissions account, gather all of the required application materials, and follow the instructions to complete your application.
Application
- Score submission of two recent compositions
- Two separate video or audio recordings of these two recent compositions
- Résumé
- Video introduction
- Optional: Letter of recommendation from primary instructor
See detailed descriptions of application video and recommendation letter requirements below.
Your Score Submissions and Recording Submissions
- Two recent scores uploaded in PDF format. Name, title of piece, and year of composition should be included on the score.
- Accompanying audio or video recordings
- Recordings are in support of the scores and may be live music or digital realizations of your works.
- Each video/audio file must be uploaded individually.
- Video or audio recordings of a live performance or recording session is preferred. Digital realization is also acceptable.
For any questions about score or recording requirements, you may reach out to: [email protected]
Format:
Acceptable audio formats include:
- .aac, .aif, .aiff, .iff, .fla, .m4a, .mpa, .mp3, .ra, .wav, and .wma
Acceptable video formats include:
- .3g2, .3gp, .avi, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .mxf, .webm, and .wmv
PLEASE NOTE: Some .mov files use a codec that is not supported by the application. We recommend that .mov files be converted to another accepted format to avoid uploading difficulties.
The application platform can support media files as large as 5GB, but please be advised that larger files will take longer to upload and may stall if you have an unstable connection.
Your Resume
An artistic résumé must be uploaded as part of the online application. The purpose of submitting a résumé is to provide the Admissions Committee with a document that quickly sums up your background and accomplishments. The résumé should contain lists, not full prose paragraphs, such as in a program bio. The elements to include in your résumé are:
- Your name and instrument(s) studied (ex: composer, composer and pianist, etc.)
- Your contact information (including address, phone, and email)
- Education: Secondary school, pre-college, or other diploma programs you may currently attend or have previously attended; and the degrees or diploma(s) you have earned or are in the progress of earning.
- Teachers: Your most recent teachers and the dates when you studied with them
- Compositions: Indicate works premiered, performed, recorded, and/or commissioned, with date/venue/city/state and who the piece was commissioned by
- Performance Experience: Master classes (teacher and date), recitals, chamber music, choir, orchestra, band, musical theater roles, opera roles, competitions, etc.
You do not have to use these exact categories in this exact order. Use what is logical for your background, but make sure to put your name at the top of the document and include your education and your teachers.
Your Introduction Video
Guidelines:
Applicants are required to submit a video in which you:
- Introduce yourself and state your full name.
- Respond to one of the following prompts:
- Describe what you hope to achieve by attending Juilliard Summer Composition or
- Describe one musical moment or experience in your life that you are especially proud of
Format:
You are required to upload your files in a video format. Acceptable file types include:
- .3g2, .3gp, .avi, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .mxf, .webm, and .wmv
PLEASE NOTE: Some .mov files use a codec that is not supported by the application. We recommend that .mov files be converted to another accepted format to avoid uploading difficulties.
The application platform can support media files as large as 5GB, but please be advised that larger files will take longer to upload depending on your internet connection and may stall if you have an unstable connection.
Your Recommendations
Optional Recommendation Letter: You must indicate who will be submitting your letter of recommendation within the online application. Your recommendation should come from your primary composition or music teacher and address your dedication, openness to corrections, technique, and performing skills.
The recommendation letter itself is not due until later in the application timeline. Your recommender will receive an email with a link to securely upload a letter to our application system.
- We will only accept recommendations received through our application system.
- This is an optional addition to your application; letters of recommendation are NOT required or necessary.
Additional Requirements
International Students
International students are welcome to apply. Please note, Juilliard cannot assist in acquiring visas for Juilliard Summer Composition.
Applicants with Disabilities
Juilliard seeks to facilitate the full participation of applicants with disabilities in the audition process. The school makes reasonable accommodations or adjustments for qualified individuals with known disabilities in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
Juilliard will not make pre-admissions inquiries as to whether a student has a disability; however, applicants with documented disabilities who require reasonable accommodations in order to participate in the audition process must notify the Office of Academic Support and Disability Services (OASDS) in writing by the appropriate deadline.
You will be required to submit documentation of your disability to OASDS; this information will be kept strictly confidential. You must complete the following forms in order for the school to evaluate your specific needs:
- Applicant Release of Disability Related Information Form
- Audition Accommodation Request Form
For more information and to access the forms please visit the Office of Academic Support and Disability Services page.
Decisions & Enrolling
Scholarship & Financial Aid
Cost of Attendance
2024 Pricing for Juilliard Summer Composition
| Tuition | $2,960 USD |
| Room & Board | $1,540 USD |
| Application Fee | $50 USD |
| Total Price | $4,550 USD |
Fee Descriptions
- Tuition: Includes all lessons, coachings, classes, workshops, lectures, recording and performance fees, and musical excursions
- Room & Board: Includes housing accommodations in Juilliard’s residence hall and a cafeteria meal plan providing 19 meals per week. Students are required to use Juilliard accommodations and purchase the meal plan in order to participate in Summer Composition.
Scholarship & Financial Aid
Limited need-based financial aid is available for admitted students. Once admitted to the program, students who wish to apply for financial assistance are invited to submit a letter explaining their financial situation along with their parent or guardian’s 2021 or 2022 tax form. International and U.S. students are eligible to apply for financial aid. Please note that most financial aid offers cover only a portion of tuition. You will receive notification of your financial aid offer through your application status page.
Cancellation Policy
Juilliard is not responsible for cancellation or early termination of the program or any interference with the use of Juilliard facilities that may be caused by factors beyond Juilliard’s reasonable control, as determined by Juilliard. In the event of cancellation or early termination, Juilliard’s sole liability will be to provide the student with a prorated refund of fees paid for participation in the program.