Arts Supplement
Music Portfolio "Arts Supplement" Submission
Submission Deadlines
Early Decision: | November 1 |
Early Action : | November 1 |
Regular Decision: | January 1 |
Spring Transfer: | October 1 |
Fall Transfer: | March 1 |
Submission Instructions
Provide 1-5 items. Images (up to 5MB each), Video (up to 250MB each), Audio (up to 30MB each) and PDFs (up to 10MB each). You may also link to media from YouTube, Vimeo and SoundCloud.
Our department prefers video submissions, if possible. Please ensure that your media appears right-side up after you have uploaded it into Slideroom. There should be absolutely no editing. Please submit live performances, not studio-produced work.
You are welcome to submit a resume and/or letters of reference.
See instructions for individual instruments below.
Brass and Winds
Submissions must adhere to departmental guidelines and be submitted by the appropriate decision deadline to guarantee review.
Please submit complete movements from two contrasting pieces from the standard solo repertoire, or orchestral excerpts, representing different styles and /or time periods.
All audio or video recordings must be "live" recordings without overdubs or edits.
Ensemble recordings must feature the applicant who must be clearly audible.
Cavalier Marching Band
All submissions must adhere to the following guidelines and be received by the appropriate decision deadline to guarantee review.
Please submit at least two pieces of contrasting musical content approximately five minutes in duration. Students may elect to perform on more than one instrument if they play a secondary instrument for marching band purposes. Brass, winds, percussion, colorguard, and twirler supplements will be accepted (no drum major conducting). Colorguard recordings should be a close up camera view from a winter guard or marching band performance. Twirler videos should be a full, unedited routine set to music. Please also submit a PDF resume of achievements related to your experience in band. Include your high school, personal email, and phone number on this resume.
Composition
All submissions must adhere to the following guidelines and be submitted by the appropriate decision deadline to guarantee review.
The student should decide if the greatest strength of their work is in performance or in the composition/arrangement. This is an especially important consideration for guitarist, singer, or pianist songwriters, since only one faculty member will review the portfolio. If the student feels that original composition is the primary strength (as opposed to instrumental or vocal facility), the portfolio needs to be tagged as such even if they are the performer. Criteria examined for composition portfolios are irrespective of genre. They include character, aptitude, demonstrated training, and originality. Students may submit audio recordings, scores, videos, or any combination that shows their strongest compositional work.
Electronic and Computer Music
All submissions must adhere to the following guidelines and be submitted by the appropriate decision deadline to guarantee review.
The student should decide if the greatest strength of their work is in the technical realization of the final product. If the primary focus is in the composition of original music, please submit to the composition track. Apply to this category if the focus of the portfolio is on performance of electronic music, programming original software, multimedia design, building hardware, or using technology in an innovative musical manner. Criteria examined for electronic and computer music portfolios are irrespective of genre. They include character, aptitude, demonstrated training, and originality. Students may submit audio recordings, documentation, videos, or any combination that shows their strongest electronic and computer music work.
Hip Hop
All submissions must adhere to the following guidelines and be submitted by the appropriate decision deadline to guarantee review.
Apply to this category if the focus of the portfolio is on original hip hop musical work, including production (composition, tracking, sequencing, drum programming), and/or vocal performance (rapping, singing, spoken word). Applicants should indicate which aspects of the work submitted are original, crediting collaborators and any samples used in the work. Criteria examined for hip hop portfolios are irrespective of sub-genre. They include character, aptitude, demonstrated experience, and originality. Students may submit audio recordings, documentation, videos, or any combination that shows their strongest work.
Jazz Instrumentals
All submissions must adhere to the following guidelines and be submitted by the appropriate decision deadline to guarantee review.
Please submit three selections:
- one blues;
- one standard or classical jazz composition (i.e., a George Gershwin or Cole Porter song, or a Charlie Parker or John Coltrane tune); and
- one ballad.
For extra credit: one original composition by the applicant. Performances should feature the applicant's ability to play a melody, improvise on the changes and, for pianists and guitarists, comp.
All audio or video recordings must be "live" recordings without overdubs or edits.
Ensemble recordings must feature the applicant who must be clearly audible.
Percussion
All submissions must adhere to these guidelines and be submitted by the appropriate decision deadline to guarantee review.
Please submit two or three contrasting solo pieces. Of these, at least one piece should be on a battery instrument and one on a keyboard instrument.
All audio or video recordings must be "live" recordings without overdubs or edits.
Ensemble recordings must feature the applicant who must be clearly audible.
Piano
All submissions must adhere to these guidelines and be submitted by the appropriate decision deadline to guarantee a review.
Please submit:
- A Prelude and Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier, a Toccata or three contrasting movements from a Partita, French or English Suite by J.S. Bach, or two contrasting sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti
- A fast outer movement of a sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven (except Op. 49), or Schubert
- A significant 19th, 20th, or 21st century solo work (no concerto)
All audio or video recordings must be "live" recordings without overdubs or edits.
Ensemble recordings must feature the applicant who must be clearly audible.
Strings
Classical Voice
All submissions must adhere to the following guidelines and be submitted by the appropriate decision deadline to guarantee review.
Three Selections Required:
1. One Italian art song or aria (can substitute German or French)
2. One English language art song or aria
3. One song, aria, folk song or musical theater selection of the student's choice.
All audio or video recordings must be "live" recordings without overdubs or edits.
Other Classical Instrumental Performance (please identify instrument such as guitar, harp, etc.)
All submissions must adhere to the following guidelines and be submitted by the appropriate submission deadline to guarantee review.
Please submit two or three contrasting pieces. Preferably, one of the works will be from the classical period and the contrasting piece will be of the student's choosing.
All audio or video recordings must be "live" recordings without overdubs or edits.
Ensemble recordings must feature the applicant who must be clearly audible.
Other Instrumental Performance, Except Jazz (such as non-western, bluegrass, pop instrumental performance, etc.)
All submissions must adhere to the following guidelines and be submitted by the appropriate decision deadline to guarantee review.
Please submit a selection that demonstrates facility on the instrument and fluency in the improvisational language within the chosen genre.
All audio or video recordings must be "live" recordings without overdubs or edits.
Ensemble recordings must feature the applicant who must be clearly audible.
Contact Us
If you are interested in finding out more about the music program, fill out the music interests and information form and let us know your academic and performance music interests.
Additional Information & Websites
- Office of Undergraduate Admission for applying to the University of Virginia
- Office of Undergraduate Admission/Arts for more information about Optional Visual and Performing Arts/Architecture Supplements
- University of Virginia Undergraduate Record for additional information regarding the undergraduate music program
- Arts Scholar Program
- Student Financial Services Financial Aid
- The University of Virginia Prospective Students website
- Common Application website