New Student Orientation

New Student Orientation

SFCM New Student Orientation

Orientation is required for all incoming undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students.

Orientation contains a number of required information sessions, placement examinations, and auditions. In addition to the PDFs and information below, new students should reference their Admitted Student Portal for additional information regarding expected communications from Student and Academic Affairs. Continuing students should reference the PDFs below for the most updated excerpts and placement exam information.

For information regarding semester payments and billing, visit the Tuition & Fees page.

 

On this page:

Orientation Schedule
App & Landing Page
Placement Exams
Auditions

 

Orientation Schedule & App

App & Landing Page

Visit the Orientation Schedule landing page to see the Orientation schedule and download the app (passphrase: sfcmfall2025). 

Students must log in using the temporary password sent to their SFCM email. Guests are encouraged to create an account to receive notifications during the event.

Schedule Overview
EventDate
Check In, Opening Ceremony, Info Sessions (Families Welcome)August 25
Campus Job FairAugust 26
Placement ExamsAugust 26-28
Workshops and Info Sessions August 26-28
Academic AdvisingAugust 29
RegistrationAugust 30
Auditions TBA 
Other Important Dates

See the 2025-2026 academic calendar for a full list of important dates.

Fall 2025
New Student Move-InAugust 22*
Returning Student Move-InAugust 24
Labor Day Holiday - Offices ClosedSeptember 1
Fall Main Session and Module 1 classes beginSeptember 2

*Due to limited drop-off space in front of the Bowes Center, Residential Life will assign students a designated drop-off window. Assignments will be made by August 1.

 

Placement Exams 

All new SFCM students are required to take placement exams/assessments. The type of assessments will be determined by your application status, degree level, major, and transfer status. A confirmation of assigned assessments will be sent by Academic Affairs the week prior to orientation.

Navigate to the SFCM Placement Exam page to review the most up to date exam information.

Auditions

Instrumental Auditions

- Large Ensemble (SFCM Orchestra, New Music Ensemble, Baroque Ensemble, Opera Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and other special projects)
- Chamber Music
- Guitar Ensemble
- Historical Plucked Strings (Lute, Baroque, Theorbo) 
- Hire SFCM

Requirements & Info
Opera & Musical Theatre Auditions

Select the following links to view the 2025-2026 Opera & Musical Theater season announcement and audition requirements. Audition sign up links will be posted on August 15 along with the full orientation schedule. Please note, Hire SFCM auditions are open only to Juniors and Seniors.

Season Announcement

Audition Requirements

Hire SFCM Auditions
Hire SFCM Auditions

Hire SFCM Musicians gives Conservatory students a taste of the performing musician's life, providing the opportunities they need to succeed. Musicians are always in demand to perform at private functions throughout the year, running the gamut from weddings to corporate celebrations or graduations. Students accepted into the Hire SFCM program are automatically accepted into the Conservatory Connect class, which takes live music into schools, hospitals, retirement homes, children's facilities, and other places where people of limited means and mobility are seldom reached. Those accepted will be required to complete four Conservatory Connect visits each semester on a pass/fail basis and will be eligible for paid Hire SFCM gigs. Hire SFCM is an optional program. 

Returning students will receive an email from the program director to sign-up for an audition time. New students eligible for the program will be able to sign-up for an audition time during Orientation. The audition is not open to freshmen, sophomores, classical-only double bass players, classical-only percussionists, or harpists/bassists/percussionists who lack access to a car.  

 

Audition Requirements and Information
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