Shenandoah Conservatory’s focus on professional arts training began 135 years ago as Virginia’s first flagship school of music.
A Shenandoah Conservatory graduate education will elevate your artistry and provide you
with a rigorous learning experience.
Changes Due to COVID-19
As federal, state and local approaches to combating the spread of COVID-19 evolve over the coming year, it may become necessary for Shenandoah Conservatory to modify the ways in which auditions and interviews are held. Core program requirements would not be altered.
Virtual & Visit Options Prescreening & Audition Registration
Audition Information
All Conducting, Piano Performance and Voice applicants must submit a Prescreening.
Submit your prescreening materials via Acceptd. You must prepare your prescreening materials as outlined in the Graduate Audition Guidelines.
You must first submit the prescreening. After successful completion of the prescreening, you will be invited for an audition. You WILL NOT be able to register for an audition before successfully completing your prescreening.
The deadline to submit a prescreening for a composition, conducting, collaborative piano, piano performance, voice performance or vocal pedagogy is
January 15, 2023.
If you have questions, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions, at SUGradAdmissions@su.edu.
Register for your Audition
Register for your audition via Acceptd. Dates are limited and may fill and close well in advance of the audition date. Virtual audition registration will be available on November 1, 2022.
Graduate Audition Dates
- February 10, 2023
- February 11, 2023 (virtual only)
- February 20, 2023
Review the Graduate Audition Guidelines for audition requirement details.
Voice applicants (all majors): live accompaniment is required. Applicants will be provided an accompanist upon request via auditions@su.edu.
Woodwind, Brass, Strings, Percussion, Piano applicants (all majors): accompaniment is not required.
If you have questions, please contact the Admissions Auditions Team at auditions@su.edu.
Your audition registration will be confirmed via email once we have received all required application materials. Before your audition day, you will be emailed a schedule and confirmation. Please set your spam blocker to accept emails from su.edu.
Applicants are strongly recommended to complete their audition live, virtual on the offered virtual audition date if you are unable to come to campus.
Whenever possible, auditions, interviews and portfolio reviews will be held live online via Acceptd’s online platform, Audition Room. Students with internet stability issues or audition day conflicts may email Admissions (auditions@su.edu) to request to submit a recorded audition or alternative interview date.
It is strongly recommended that applicants verify the requirements with their admissions counselor prior to submitting a recorded audition.
Videos must be prepared following the Graduate Audition Guidelines. We will NOT accept any other type of recorded audition.
Program Applications and Prerequisites
| PROGRAM | START TERM | INFORMATION | APPLICATION DEADLINE | APPLY NOW |
| Performance (Instrumental, Keyboard, Voice & Conducting) | Fall (August) | Program Specifics PDF |
See Graduate Audition Guidelines |
Apply |
| Pedagogy | Fall (August) | Program Specifics PDF |
See Graduate Audition Guidelines |
Apply |
| PROGRAM | START TERM | INFORMATION | APPLICATION DEADLINE | APPLY NOW |
| Music Therapy | Fall (August) | Program Specifics PDF |
April 15, 2023 | Apply |
| Performing Arts Leadership & Management |
Fall (August) | Program Specifics PDF |
Rolling Admission | Apply |
| Music Education | Summer (May) | Program Specifics PDF |
May 1, 2023 | Apply |
| PROGRAM | START TERM | INFORMATION | APPLICATION DEADLINE | APPLY NOW |
| Collaborative Piano | Fall (August) | See Graduate Audition Guidelines |
Apply | |
| Composition | Fall (August) | See Graduate Audition Guidelines |
Apply | |
| Conducting | Fall (August) | See Graduate Audition Guidelines |
Apply | |
| Pedagogy (Classical Voice) | Fall (August) | Program Specifics PDF |
See Graduate Audition Guidelines |
Apply |
| Pedagogy (Contemporary Commercial Music Voice) |
Fall (August) | Program Specifics PDF |
See Graduate Audition Guidelines |
Apply |
| Performance (Conducting, Instrumental, Keyboard, Voice) |
Fall (August) | Program Specifics PDF |
See Graduate Audition Guidelines |
Apply |
| PROGRAM | START TERM | APPLICATION DEADLINE | APPLY NOW |
| Church Music | Summer (May) | See Graduate Audition Guidelines | Apply |
| PROGRAM | START TERM | INFORMATION | APPLICATION DEADLINE | APPLY NOW |
| Music Therapy Certification Eligibility |
Fall (August) | Program Specifics PDF |
April 15, 2023 | Apply |
| PROGRAM | START TERM | APPLICATION DEADLINE | APPLY NOW |
| Artist Diploma | Fall (August) | See Graduate Audition Guidelines | Apply |
Learn more about Shenandoah Conservatory
Financial Aid
- Graduate Assistantships, both full and partial, are awarded to masters, doctoral, and artist diploma students. The award (which includes full or partial tuition and a stipend) is renewable for up to three years pending satisfactory academic progress and the recommendation of the immediate supervisor.
- DMA/Artist Diploma (Post-Master’s) Teaching Assistantships are awarded to doctoral and artist diploma students and consist of a full tuition waiver and a $9000 annual stipend. The award is renewable for three years pending satisfactory academic progress and the recommendation of the immediate supervisor.
- Shenandoah Conservatory strongly recommends that all entering students submit a FAFSA to the Shenandoah University Office of Financial Aid.