Audition Information

All students who wish to major or minor in music or take lessons must audition to be accepted to the College of Musical Arts, as well as apply to Bowling Green State University.

The College of Musical Arts is offering three methods of audition this year: 

  • In-person – highly preferred

  • Live Virtual 

  • Recorded Video Submission

Please note the dates below for in-person or virtual dates and check out the tabs further down the page for more detail about signing up to reserve a space!

Audition Days

Spring 2024 Admission: audition on or before December 1, 2023
Summer/Fall 2024 Admission:
  • Saturday, January 20, 2024
    In-Person Audition Day
    (reservation deadline January 5, 2024)
  • Friday, January 26, 2024
    Live Virtual Audition Day*
    (reservation deadline January 5, 2024)
    *virtual audition will take place in Eastern Standard Time 
  • Saturday, February 17, 2024
    In-Person Audition Day
    (reservation deadline February 3, 2024)
  • Monday, February 19, 2024
    Recorded Video Admission (deadline for scholarship consideration)
  • Saturday, February 24, 2024
    In-Person Audition Day (Final music scholarship deadline) 
    (reservation deadline February 3, 2024)
  • Saturday, April 13, 2024
    In-Person Audition Day & Junior Auditions 
    (reservation deadline March 30, 2024)
  • (More Information About Junior Audition Day)

Once you complete your BGSU Application and are admitted to the University, follow the directions below to access the Audition Reservation Form. 

Incoming Freshman/Transfer students:

Current BGSU Students & Music Minor Applicants: contact the Music Admissions Office for access. 

Juniors: More Information About Junior Audition Day

Musical Theatre: If you are a vocal student interested in a major in Musical Theatre, please view the Musical Theatre audition information.  There is a separate audition process for musical theatre students. 

For audition questions, call (419) 372-8577, or email MusicAdmissions@bgsu.edu.

Auditions days can be lengthy. Your exact schedule for the day will be sent via email by one week before your audition.

  • Virtual audition days typically begin around 11:00am, and auditions commonly run as late as 5:00 or 6:00pm. Please plan on being available during that time.  

  • In-person audition day check-in typically begins around 10:00am, and auditions commonly run as late as 4:00 or 5:00pm, depending on the date and instrument. Please plan on being available during that time. 

Audition Day activities include, but are not limited to:

  • A welcome session

  • Separate Q&A sessions for parents & students

  • Time to warm up

  • Your audition

For audition questions, call (419) 372-8577, or email MusicAdmissions@bgsu.edu.

With this opportunity you will get to experience the same activities as a typical on-campus audition day complete with information sessions and Q&A chats. If you choose this option, we recommend that you have high speed internet for the best connectivity.

Thank you!

Vocalists

  • Vocalists are required to perform with accompaniment. Live or recorded accompaniment is acceptable for live virtual auditions.

For audition questions, call (419) 372-8577, or email MusicAdmissions@bgsu.edu.

We encourage all applicants to present an in-person campus audition to visit the Moore Musical Arts Center and meet our faculty or to do a Live Virtual Audition through GetAcceptd. However, these options may not always be possible. 

To be considered for music scholarship, recorded video auditions must be received by the College of Musical Arts by Monday, February 19, 2024.

  • Recorded video auditions will be considered for both entrance to the CMA AND music scholarships if submitted by the scholarship deadline. 

  • Complete the University application and Audition Reservation Form prior to submitting a video recording. 

  • There is no fee to submit a video recording.

To upload your files:

  • Submit files directly to musicadmissions@bgsu.edu
  • If sending a link to your videos (YouTube, Google Drive, etc.), make sure that it is sharable so faculty can review your submission.  

The recorded audition should consist of selections as described under Undergraduate Audition Requirements. The audition should be utilizing the highest quality equipment available. 

Vocalists: either a live pianist or an accompaniment track must be used. A capella auditions will not be accepted. The recording must show the student singing. 

For audition questions, call (419) 372-8577, or email MusicAdmissions@bgsu.edu.

Admission to Bowling Green State University as a music major or minor is competitive. Most applicants will receive email notification of their audition results within 1-2 weeks of their audition date, followed by an official letter in the mail. If submitting a recorded audition, results will be sent 1-2 weeks after scheduled audition days.

There are three possible audition decisions:

1. Approved: The student meets minimum entrance criteria and is allowed to begin formal study as a music major or minor at Bowling Green State University contingent upon unconditional admission to the University.  

2. Not Approved: The student does not meet minimum criteria to be a music major/minor. Students that are “Not Approved” to major in music may attend BGSU if they declare a different major and have been admitted to the University. Students not approved to major or minor in music may re-audition beginning in the fall of the next academic year.

3. Delay Decision: Students are placed on a waitlist. Final decisions will be made after the scholarship audition deadline.

Please note that a Music Theory placement exam will be given online in May to students that have been accepted to the College of Musical Arts. Visit the Music Theory Exam and Study Guide page to prepare. The results of this exam places students in the appropriate theory class to begin the music curriculum. Information for accessing the online exam will be sent via email in May.

For audition questions, call (419) 372-8577, or email MusicAdmissions@bgsu.edu. 

Updated: 09/27/2023 11:10AM