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Areas of study with special requirements

Some programs require special materials in addition to the application and other than the audition. Please select your area of study for more information. If your area is not listed here, please see the undergraduate or graduate page for more details on required materials.

Please submit a portfolio of composed works.

Undergraduate applicants who are successfully prescreened will be invited to audition on the date selected on the application. Prescreen results will be communicated by email in early January.

Graduate applicants do not need to audition.

Portfolio requirements

Please submit a video with your application and follow the application procedures for Choral (PDF), Orchestral (PDF), and Wind (PDF) Conducting programs.

Students interested in pursuing an applied jazz instrument may do so by applying to the Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies or the Master of Arts in Music with concentration in Jazz. For all other degrees that require an audition, that audition must take place on a classical instrument.

Jazz audition repertoire sheets

Undergraduate applicants

Applicants must perform a successful audition on their major instrument. Applicants whose major instrument is piano or guitar must also successfully audition on a traditional band or orchestral instrument for the bachelor's degree in Music Education Instrumental program, or on voice for the bachelor's degree in Music Education Choral program. An interview with the music education faculty is also required.

Master's degree applicants

In addition to your application, please submit the following:

  • Transcripts demonstrating a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in a completed bachelor's degree in music education or the equivalent.
  • Recent video recording that demonstrates your musical proficiencies as applicable to the music education setting. (May include your own performance or performance of students you teach.)
  • A current professional resume.

Following submission of these materials, applicants must complete an acceptable interview with the faculty. A member of the faculty will contact you to schedule this interview. An audition is not required. 

Interdisciplinary Ph.D. applicants

If you are interested in learning more about the degree, please be in touch with Dr. Joseph Parisi (parisijo@umkc.edu), IPhD Coordinator, or other members of our Music Education faculty.

The following materials are required for the IPhD application:

  • Current professional resume or CV
  • Statement of Purpose — short essay explaining your future goals and reasons for your interest in doctoral study at UMKC
  • Recently written academic paper representative of your research and writing skills
  • Recording of a recent rehearsal or performance that represents your abilities as a music educator

Applicants will be notified in early January regarding an invitation for an interview with the faculty and audition information.

 

Graduate applicants for the master's degree in Musicology (PDF) must also submit a sample of writing from an upper-level music history class and a statement of purpose. Please upload these documents to your application on the "writing sample" page.

Applicants for the master's degree in Music Theory must submit an example of analytical writing from an upper-level music theory or music history class, as well as a statement of purpose. Please upload these documents to your application on the "writing sample" page.

An informal interview will also be arranged by faculty. This interview may be conducted online or by phone.

All applicants must successfully interview with the music therapy faculty.

Undergraduate applicants

Please prepare two popular songs of your choice in any genre to sing a cappella during the interview with music therapy faculty. In addition, you will audition on your applied instrument or voice type. (Applicants whose major instrument is piano or guitar must also successfully audition on a traditional band or orchestral instrument, or on voice.)

Graduate applicants

An audition for evaluative purposes is required for those with a bachelor's degree in music who are  applying for the master's degree in the Music Therapy Emphasis program. This audition will be scheduled separately from the interview and typically does not take place on one of the audition days. It is generally scheduled just before the start of the school year.

Board-certified music therapists returning for the master's degree in Music Therapy provide clinical skill competencies in lieu of an audition.

Interdisciplinary Ph.D.candidates have other requirements. Please contact the Director of Music Therapy for more information. 

Please submit a recording along with a sample of scholarly writing and a proposed program of audition repertoire (PDF) with your application for the doctorate and Artist's Certificate degree programs. Applicants who are successfully prescreened will be invited to audition on the date selected on the application.

Please submit a recording with your application for the master's, doctorate and Artist's Certificate degree programs. Applicants who are successfully prescreened will be invited to audition on the date selected on the application.

Audition repertoire sheet (PDF)

Please submit a recording with your application for the master's, doctorate and Artist's Certificate degree programs. Applicants who are successfully prescreened will be invited to audition on the date selected on the application.

Audition repertoire sheet (PDF)

Applicants interested in the Lyric Opera's Young Artist Program (YAP) should select the first audition date: Saturday, February 4th, 2023.

Audition repertoire sheet (PDF)

  • Requirements for graduate Theatre applicants

    • Admission to the UMKC School of Graduate Studies
    • Admission to the desired Theatre program
    • A Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from a recognized university or college. A student having a bachelor’s degree in another discipline may be admitted with a minimum of 18 hours in theatre courses. A student who does not have 18 undergraduate hours in theatre may make up the deficiency by taking theatre courses at UMKC. These courses will not be credited toward the requirements for graduation in the master’s program unless approved by the head of the Master of Arts program.

    UMKC Theatre graduate programs have additional application requirements.

Steps for admission

**The MFA Acting program is not accepting new students for the 2024-2025 academic year**
Prior to an offer into the Master of Fine Arts Acting program, the following materials must be received:
  • UMKC application and fee along with official college transcripts to the Office of Admissions.
  • Three letters of recommendation, each with the letter of recommendation form (PDF).
  • A headshot, resume and statement of purpose, including a two-page essay.
    • Page 1: The most memorable moment you’ve had in theatre
    • Page 2: A defining moment you’ve had in life unrelated to theatre
    • Or an “Un-essay”: As an alternative to the traditional essay, this year we are including the option of “Un-essays” that respond to the above questions. Your response can take any form that you’d like: free-writing, poetry, spoken word, video blog, film, a music playlist, collage, artwork, etc. We ask that if there is no text or spoken word involved in your response that you write a short artistic statement explaining how it relates to the questions.
  • We would like to receive these materials by March 1, 2024

Application materials should be uploaded to your application status page for review by the Theatre faculty.

 

Steps for admission

  • UMKC application and fee along with official college transcripts to the Office of Admissions.
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • A portfolio including the following, uploaded to your application status page:
    1. Artistic renderings.
    2. Drafted materials.
    3. Photographs and slides.
    4. Resume.
  • An interview with the faculty of the Division of Theatre
  • Please plan to submit your application, portfolio materials, and have your interview completed by no later than February 1, 2024.
Application materials should be uploaded to your application status page for review by the Theatre faculty.

Costume design

Brandon McWilliams

Lighting design

Victor En Yu Tan

816-235-2767

Scenic design

Gene Friedman

816-235-2773

Sound design

Tom Mardikes

816-235-2784

Stage management

Matthew Shiner

Technical direction

Adam Terry