Audition Guidelines 2025-2026

Audition Deadline and Information

  • All auditions will occur in person on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at Thoresen Performance Center, Winnetka campus.
  • Applicants must prepare two contrasting selections.
  • The deadline for submitting the application is March 15, 2025.
  • The applicant must submit a brief student biography and a letter of recommendation from their private instructor. These items must be submitted via the application form by March 15, 2025.

Collaborative Pianists

  • The use of a collaborative pianist is required for all instrumentalists (except pianists, unless playing concerti) and vocalists. This does not apply to unaccompanied works.
  • Students must secure the pianist of their choice; the payment for the pianist will be at the student’s expense.

Eligibility

  • Participants must be enrolled in private instruction at the Music Institute of Chicago.
  • Participants must not be older than 19 years old on April 1, 2025.
  • Merit Scholarship auditions are most appropriate for students with a high level of accomplishment.

Divisions

  • There are two divisions: A Junior Division for students ages 12 and under and a Senior Division for students ages 13-19.
  • Please determine the appropriate division according to the student’s age on April 1, 2025.
  • Junior division auditions will be held between approximately 9 am and 12 pm.
  • Senior division auditions will be held between approximately 1 pm and 5 pm.

Requirements for Merit Scholarship Recipients

  • MIC strongly encourages merit scholarship recipients to participate in an ensemble at MIC (e.g., chamber music, jazz combo, MIC Chorale, etc.)
  • In support of this, full tuition for two semesters of one ensemble will be waived as part of the benefits of the merit scholarship.
  • Recipients are expected to perform at donor events and other opportunities that showcase MIC students in the community.
  • Recipients may be required to send thank you letters to donors who have made scholarship funding available.

Adjudication

  • Merit scholarships will be awarded solely based on the performance level exhibited at the audition.
  • Auditions will be adjudicated by a panel of professional musicians.
  • Awards will be based on the average of adjudicators’ scores.

Results

  • Emails will be sent informing students of the results of the auditions no later than May 31, 2025.

Awards

  • Awards will range from $500 to $1000 in $250 increments.
  • The number of awards is finite and is based on the projected endowment payout.
  • A limited number of discretionary scholarships may be awarded to students in the areas of winds, brass, voice, string bass, and percussion.