Composition

All Composition applicants are required to undergo a portfolio review, which is broken into two steps.  The first step requires that the candidate forward specific materials for faculty critique.  The second step involves meeting with the composition faculty panel for the portfolio review itself.  Candidates will make an advanced reservation for a portfolio review appointment when registering with the School of Music, but this appointment reservation will only be confirmed if the candidate’s work receives a positive critique after the first review.

Once scheduled, the portfolio review appointment can be changed by logging into the website, cancelling the scheduled appointment and selecting a more preferable one from those available.  The portfolio review fee is non-refundable, unless the application is withdrawn prior to December 1. Candidates who are unable to travel to campus in order to interview personally with the composition faculty panel will have the option to “audition by recording” when registering for an appointment. Portfolio review appointments are subject to minor time change until two weeks before.  Applicants will be notified in advance if such a change is necessitated, and the School of Music will make every effort to collaborate so that travel plans are not significantly disrupted.  Final appointment confirmations will be forwarded via email one week before the scheduled portfolio review date.  Only candidates who receive positive feedback from the faculty critique will receive this confirmation email.

Portfolio Requirements:

Be aware that a CD recording is the only acceptable medium.  DAT, mini-disc, cassettes, and other media types or files will not be accepted. Although arrangements of works by other composers are welcome, they will be considered supplementary to the basic requirement for three original works.
The portfolio containing the three manuscripts and recordings must be received in the School of Music by December 1.  The portfolio should not be sent to the Undergraduate Admission office.  To prevent your materials from being misdirected, please forwarded directly to the School of Music at the exact address listed below:

Carnegie Mellon School of Music
Recruitment and Enrollment, CFA 108
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA
15213- 3890

*recordings and manuscripts will not be returned

The composition faculty will review and critique manuscripts and recordings throughout the month of December.  The results of this review will be forwarded at the close of December. Portfolio review appointments will only be confirmed and honored for candidates whose work receives a positive critique.

Portfolio Reviews:

At the Portfolio Review, applicants will meet with the composition faculty panel to discuss personal compositional processes, background, and future goals.  To a great extent, the composition portfolio review resembles an interview.  It will not be necessary, therefore, for applicants to perform excerpts of their works, either vocally or instrumentally, during the review.  It will not be necessary for candidates to bring copies of the portfolio or other works to the review appointment.  Composition candidates are not required to complete a separate instrumental or vocal audition.  Candidates may be required to participate in various placement tests or proficiencies on the day of the portfolio review.

Applicants are notified of the result of the portfolio review in writing only after all candidate meetings have occurred. Generally, these result letters leave the School of Music one week after the last audition date. If the result is favorable, the Music School will recommend acceptance to the Office of Admission, and the Office of Admission will determine if the student’s academic records meet the standards of Carnegie Mellon.  If the result is not favorable, the applicant will not be admitted to the School of Music, but could be admitted to Carnegie Mellon through an existing application to another School of study.