Admissions Requirements
All Bridges programs require three items for admission.
- Application
- Audition
- Recommendation from your teacher
Application Requirements
- Bridges application form
- Letter of recommendation from a nominating teacher
- Preferably a teacher in the same area that you are applying for, e.g. band.
- Audition materials
- Please use the Bridges application form to submit your audition materials
- Please refer to your desired program's audition requirements as requirements vary by program and experience level
Bridges application form
Submission deadline
Applications for the Bridges Program are open all year round, but due by Labor Day each year if you want to be considered for a position at the beginning of the school year.
Audition Requirements
Please note, an audition does not guarantee a spot in the program.
Acting/theater class
Beginning students (little to no experience)
- Submit a short video explaining why you would like to join Bridges
Intermediate/advanced students
- Submit a video audition of a one-minute monologue that is age-appropriate from theatre, film, or television
- Submit a short video explaining why you would like to join Bridges
Dance class
Dance class is a new class, available Fall 2024.
Beginning students (little to no experience)
- Submit a short video explaining why you would like to join Bridges
Intermediate/advanced students
- Submit a short video of you dancing any style that best showcases your skill level
- Submit a short video explaining why you would like to join Bridges
Guitar class
Students admitted into our private lesson program may enroll for this class without submitting the additional materials.
- Submit a video or written summary of your musical experience, including years playing, ensembles you have participated in, and any outside events you have participated in (ex: districts, state, UMKC Honor Band). No guitar experience is required.
- Submit a short video explaining why you would like to join Bridges.
Keyboard skills class
Students admitted into our private lesson program may enroll for this class without submitting the additional materials.
- Submit a video or written summary of your musical experience, including years playing, ensembles you have participated in, and any outside events you have participated in (ex: districts, state, UMKC Honor Band). No keyboard/piano experience is required.
- Submit a short video explaining why you would like to join Bridges.
Electronic composition class
Electronic composition class is a new class, available Fall 2024. Students admitted into our private lesson program may enroll for this class without submitting the additional materials.
- Submit a video or written summary of your musical experience, including years playing, ensembles you have participated in, and any outside events you have participated in (ex: districts, state, UMKC Honor Band). No keyboard/piano experience is required.
- Submit a short video explaining why you would like to join Bridges.
Music theory class
Students admitted into our private lesson program may enroll for this class without submitting the additional materials.
- Submit a video or written summary of your musical experience, including years playing, ensembles you have participated in, and any outside events you have participated in (ex: districts, state, UMKC Honor Band). No keyboard/piano experience is required.
- Submit a short video explaining why you would like to join Bridges.
Music private lessons
Students interested in being admitted into our private lesson program must be nominated by their ensemble director and send in a video audition following the requirements.
- All students
- Short explanation on why you would like to join Bridges
- Composition
- Provide a score to at least one piece you have written; midi or live recording optional
- Instrumentalist
- One to two scales, a short excerpt or piece
- Percussion
- Two scales on a mallet instrument of your choosing, one snare drum etude or solo
- Vocalist
- Two contrasting excerpts or pieces
Acceptance Process
Students accepted into our programs will receive a formal email. Once accepted, Bridges students may stay in the program until they graduate high school as long as all program requirements continue to be met.
Available scholarships
The Bridges program has the capcity for 60 private lesson students and roughly eight to twelve students per group class. Once accepted into the program, students may continue until they graduate high school as long as all program requirments are being met. Openings are first offered to returning students, followed by new applications the week following Labor Day. Additional spots may come available throughout the year, so students are encourged to apply at anytime.
Group classes
Students accepted into group classes will be notifed the week of Labor Day or put on a waitlist and offered a spot as it becomes available. All applications submitted after Labor Day will be put on the waitlist and considered as positions become available or for the following academic year.
Private lessons
Students who apply for a position by Labor Day will be notifed the second full week of September if they will be moving to the next round. Students moving to the second round of auditions will be asked to come to UMKC's campus for a trial lesson with their possible private lesson teacher. Accepted students will be notifed the week after their trial lesson; lessons will offically begin the first week of October.
Students put on the waitlist may be accepted anytime throughout the year should a position become available. All applications submitted after Labor Day will be put on the waitlist and considered as positions become available or for the following academic year.
