Cello

Artist Diploma

Application & Audition Requirements

Your application must be submitted online by the appropriate deadline. To begin, create your Juilliard Admissions Account, gather all of the required application materials, and follow the instructions to complete your application.

Start your online application

An artistic resume must be uploaded as part of the online application. The purpose of submitting a résumé is to provide the Admissions Committee with a document that quickly sums up your background and accomplishments. The résumé should contain lists, not full prose paragraphs such as in a program bio. The elements to include in your résumé are as follows: 

• Your name and major (violin, jazz trumpet, soprano, etc.)
• Your contact information (including address, phone, and email)
• Education: Where you studied, degree or diploma earned (or to be earned)
• Teachers: Particularly for classical instrumentalists and vocalists, listing your most recent teachers and the dates when you studied with them is important information for the Committee
• Master classes where you performed: List teacher and date (for example, June 2020)
• Ensemble experience: Youth orchestras, choirs, jazz bands, etc.
• Competitions and awards: Include dates
• Performances: If including orchestral performances, only include those if you were the soloist; otherwise list recitals and chamber music performances
• Other experience: If you have done volunteer work, held a job, etc., those can be listed here 

You do not have to use these exact categories in this exact order. Use what is logical for your background, but make sure to put your name at the top of the document, and include your education and your teachers. DO NOT SUBMIT A PROGRAM BIO. It is not useful for purposes of applying to Juilliard.

Juilliard’s Admissions Committee uses your essay(s) to learn more about you as an individual and gain a sense of who you are beyond your application, transcript, and audition.

Essay Requirements

• 1–2 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font
• written in English (not translated from another language)
• must be your own original work
• submitted within the online application

Topics
You are required to submit two essays:

1. Describe a musical encounter or experience that was a defining moment for you in formulating your artistic values. Be specific  and tell us how that experience continues to influence your musical work to this day.
2. State your specific artistic and educational objectives for this period of study. Address how these objectives, and the resources provided by Juilliard, will help you achieve your professional goals. This statement is a critically important aspect of the admission review process.

Additional Essay Requirements
Additional essays are required for:

• Formerly Enrolled Juilliard Students
• Currently Enrolled Juilliard Students

Optional Essay
Should you have a personal or academic circumstance to share that you feel can provide context for a particular point on your resume - for example, a gap year, unusually low grades in a semester or year, etc. - you have the option to submit an additional short essay.

A one-minute video uploaded to the application in which you record yourself giving the following information:

• Your name
• Your major (i.e. flute, composition, organ). Voice applicants: please include your voice type
• Your current music teacher
• Your current school and level of study (for example, first-year undergraduate, 12th grade, etc.)
• One fact that you want the faculty and Admissions Committee to know about you that they cannot learn from your application materials, and that would give the faculty more insight into who you are as a person.
• Tell us about one piece of music that excites you and why.

In order to record your video via the online application, please use one of the following web browsers that support the ability to record your video: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, or Microsoft Edge. Please note that a computer should be used to upload your video (mobile devices are typically not supported for this functionality). To record your video, navigate to the "Music Introduction Video" tab in your application. There you will find instructions for starting the recording. Because the video will be recorded directly from the application, not uploaded as a video file, we recommend allowing yourself ample time to prepare and test your recording in the application module. You can record and save your video at any time before submitting your application, and can delete and re-record your video as needed prior to submission. 

Transcripts are an important component of the decision process. They help us determine if you have sufficient scholastic competence to succeed in coursework at the level for which you are applying. Please send your transcript by the requested deadline found in the application timeline above.  

The Juilliard School accepts both official and unofficial transcripts during the application process. Students who are admitted and plan to enroll in the fall will be required to submit a final official transcript of their studies. 

We understand that the current academic year has not ended, and that, if you are currently enrolled, you have not yet completed your program. Please submit your incomplete transcript as is by the deadline; an official final transcript will be required later, if you are admitted and choose to enroll. 

You may view the status of transcripts at any time by logging into your application account. Please note that it may take the Office of Admissions up to 7 business days to process your transcript after it has been received 

Unofficial versus Official Transcripts  

• An unofficial transcript is one that you upload to your application or status page.  
  • In addition to what is listed below in Transcript Requirements, unofficial transcripts must include your name and the name of your institution. 
  • Unofficial transcripts must be uploaded to your application or status page as a PDF. 
• An official transcript is one that is sent from your school directly to Juilliard. You should follow the process outlined by the Office of the Registrar at your school. If your school does not have an Office of the Registrar, please work with the school department or administrator that oversees course registration, grades, and the conferral of degrees. 
  • Many schools use secure electronic sending services such as National Student Clearinghouse, Parchment, eSCRIP-SAFE, or other systems. Electronic sending services must use this email address: [email protected]. 
  • Alternatively, your school can send us your official transcript via regular or express mail. Mailed transcripts must be sent in a sealed envelope directly from the issuing institution(s) to the Juilliard Office of Admissions. 

          Office of Admissions
          The Juilliard School
          60 Lincoln Center Plaza
          New York, NY 10023

 Transcript Requirements 

• Your transcript(s) must show all prior and current post-secondary coursework. 
  • For students studying outside of the United States, your coursework must be equivalent or similar to a U.S. undergraduate curriculum. Typically, this includes at least 24 credits of liberal arts courses. 
  • You will be notified if an official evaluation of your transcript is required in order to verify your academic level. Companies such as The Evaluation Company (use this link for a discounted evaluation: SpanTran Pathway - The Juilliard School), WES, or ECE can provide this service for a fee. 
  • If you are pursuing post-graduate studies, you must send us both your undergraduate and graduate transcripts. 
• If you have already completed your program of study, your transcript must also include the degree/diploma conferred and your graduation/completion date. 
• If your transcript is not in English, we require the transcript in its original language as well as a certified translation. 

In your application you will be required to identify two individuals who will provide your recommendations.* The recommendations should:

• be from a teacher, conductor, coach, or artistic mentor
• address your talent and accomplishments
• discuss the following individual characteristics that indicate potential for success in the field: perseverance, dedication, collegiality, and leadership

*Please note that currently enrolled Juilliard students are also required to have two letters of recommendation in support of their application. These letters can come from internal faculty members or those not affiliated with The Juilliard School.

The recommendations themselves are not due until later in the application timeline. Recommenders will receive an email with a link to securely upload their letters to our application system. We will only accept recommendations received through our application system.

You may view the status of recommendations at any time by logging into your application account.

A dossier is defined as a collection of files and materials on the same subject. For musicians, this is a combination of performance and biographical materials that can be used for promotional and professional uses and is similar to an Electronic Press Kit.

Your dossier should include the following, as appropriate: 

• a program bio
  • A program bio can include your background information, performance and education experience, career highlights and achievements, and any additional descriptions about your musical style.
• a representative repertoire list from the past two years, including examples of important works from the contemporary literature
  • The representative repertoire list should include the pieces you have performed within the last two years, along with contemporary and classical literature in your repertory.
• press clippings/reviews
  • As part of the dossier, you may include press clippings or reviews from any performances or recordings that received media coverage. This can include quotes from an album review, a venue, or a musician you’ve collaborated with, as well as any additional articles discussing your performance or work.
• a list of recordings
  • The list of recordings may include any pieces that you have professionally recorded.
• a link to your website 
• a press kit
  • The press kit can include the above materials listed, along with any additional promotional materials that you have that are related to your music career.

All of the required materials for the dossier should be combined into one PDF file and uploaded to your application status page by February 16. Please note that you will not be able to upload the dossier until you have received an official audition invitation.

A key element of your study at Juilliard is your major teacher assignment. Music students receive 15 one-hour lessons per semester with a Juilliard studio faculty member.

How to Indicate Your Preferences

• You are required to submit your teacher preferences through the online application
• If your preferences change, you can update your selections through your application status page

How Your Preferences are Used

• Your teacher preferences are confidential and do not affect admissions decisions. Studio faculty are not advised of teacher preference selections until after admission decisions are finalized by the committee
• We aim to confirm studio assignments with notification of admission
• If admitted, your teacher assignment will be based on your preferences to the greatest extent possible. No teacher assignment can be made without a documented request for a specific teacher

Researching Teachers

If you are not familiar with our faculty, we strongly recommend researching the teachers in your major prior to the application deadline, as follows:

• Review the teachers’ online bios in our directory and listen to recordings of each artist
• Ask your current teacher(s) for recommendations
• Consult with friends who may have studied with them
• Optional: Set up a meeting or lesson with the teacher(s). Although not all faculty are available to meet with applicants due to their teaching and performing commitments, you may use this form to request contact information for up to four teachers. Scheduling the meeting and payment of any lesson or meeting fee is your responsibility.

This program provides a scholarship for the full cost of tuition. If you are a US citizen or permanent resident, you may apply for federal student loans to assist with additional required fees and living expenses by completing the FAFSA.

Visit the Office of Financial Aid for more information.