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Auditions & Repertoire

a piano in cha with symphony hall through the window behind it

You will be great!

We know how stressful and intimidating auditioning can be, so we do our best to inform applicants about what to expect throughout the day and in the audition room.

Each year, applicants tell us that our audition weekend was their most welcoming and enjoyable. We look forward to seeing you in sunny California from late January through February!

 

Audition Formats

In-person audition weekends in San Francisco are the best opportunity to get to know our campus, faculty, current students, and city! We encourage all student to attend in-person auditions. Applicants for the Artist Diploma program and String and Piano Chamber Music program must attend in-person auditions. 

Virtual or recorded auditions are available upon request when audition sign-up is open, following the pre-screening decision deadline. For entry in the Spring semester, audition options are arranged individually via email. For entry in the Fall semester, a request form will be provided alongside the release of audition slots in mid-December.

Practice Rooms are available to applicants on audition days and are assigned warm up time prior to their audition time. Applicants are unable to use practice rooms before their audition day. The Admissions Office suggests looking into the following companies in San Francisco that may offer practice room rentals: Union Music, SF Community Music Center, Music City Rehearsal, Lennon Studios, Little Mission Studio, and Secret Studios.

 

Spring Semester 

The following programs will not be accepting applications for Spring 2024 admission. They will only be accepting applications for Fall 2024.

  • Conducting - All Programs
  • Piano - Artist Diploma
  • String and Piano Chamber Music - All Programs
  • Technology and Applied Composition - Graduate and Postgraduate
  • Opera Studies - Artist Diploma

 

Repertoire, Prescreening, Dates

To view audition repertoire requirements and dates, select your area of study in the table below. Audition dates are subject to change. Applicants should not book travel until they have received an audition time confirmation from the Office of Admissions.

Many of our areas require a prescreening round before students are invited to their official audition. Applicants who apply to a prescreened area are required to upload recordings in their application. Applicants will be notified via their student portal and email if they have been invited to a live audition or denied during the prescreening round. 

Area of Study  Prescreening 

Brass

none

Classical Guitar

none

Conducting

has prescreening

Collaborative Piano 

none

Composition

has prescreening

Historical Performance

none

Percussion

has prescreening

Piano

has prescreening

Roots, Jazz, and American Music

has prescreening

Strings

some have prescreening

String and Piano Chamber Music

has prescreening

Technology and Applied Composition

has prescreening

Voice and Opera Studies

has prescreening

Woodwinds

none

Getting to SFCM

Airports:
San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco, CA 94128.

Oakland Airport
1 Airport Dr, Oakland, CA 94621

Our Addresses:
View our facilities

Ann Getty Center for Education
50 Oak St. San Francisco, CA 94102

The Ute and William K. Bowes, Jr. Center for Performing Arts (The Bowes Center)
200 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102

 

Public Transportation:
SFCM is a short walk from the Civic Center BART and is right next to the Van Ness MUNI station.

For a door to door experience when taking BART, transfer to MUNI at the Embarcadero Station and get off at the Van Ness Station which is right across from the Ann Getty Center. 

Plan your trip on BART.gov or call 650-992-2278.
Plan your trip on MUNI or call 415-701-2311.

Traffic and parking is unpredictable in Hayes Valley and Civic Center areas so give yourself extra time to find a space. There are several lots in the surrounding area as noted below:



PERFORMING ARTS GARAGE

360 Grove St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Entrance on Grove, between Franklin and Gough



CIVIC CENTER PLAZA GARAGE

355 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Note: All are a 3 minute walk from campus

San Francisco Symphony
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102


San Francisco Opera
War Memorial Opera House
301 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102
See performance calendar here. 

SFJAZZ
SFJAZZ Center
201 Franklin Street San Francisco, CA 94102
See performance calendar here. 


SF Ballet
War Memorial Opera House
301 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102
See performance calendar here. 

San Francisco is small but mighty. While the city is “big” in terms of attractions and amenities, it is geographically small—only 49 square miles. That makes it very easy to see and do a great many things in a short period of time.


SF Travel has list of 28 things not to miss in San Francisco including the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Alcatraz, and more!