Music Audition Requirements
Music Auditions
All students applying as a music major or music minor are required to participate in a live audition, either in-person or virtually. Please visit our Audition Registration page for more information on our Live Audition Days. If you are unable to attend a live audition day, either virtually or in-person, please contact the Fine Arts Recruitment Office at fineartsrecruit@pepperdine.edu to schedule an independent audition.
Instrumentalists participating in an in-person audition may be asked to sight read. Those participating in a virtual audition will NOT be asked to sight read.
Supplemental Fine Arts Application
All applicants to the music program, including minors and those pursuing instrumental ensembles, are required to submit a Supplemental Fine Arts application. When you select a music degree or interest in instrumental ensembles in your CommonApp, this Fine Arts Application will be listed in your Pepperdine Application Portal.
As part of your supplementary application, instrumentalists will be asked to provide a music resume and repertoire list. Should you like to substitute one of the required solo works with a standard orchestral/band excerpt, please contact the Fine Arts Recruitment Office at fineartsrecruit@pepperdine.edu. Below are some examples of what these items may look like, provided by current Pepperdine music students.
Music Fundamentals & Skills Assessment
All students applying as a music major or music minor are required to complete the Music Fundamentals & Skills Assessment in order to be admitted to the Music department. Those participating in an Audition Day, either virtually or in-person, will have the opportunity to take the MFSA immediately following their live audition. All applicants will have a link to the MFSA and instructions on how to complete it emailed to them after submitting their supplemental Fine Arts Application.
Those applying to join our instrumental ensembles but NOT seeking to add a music major or minor do not need to complete the MFSA.
For specific questions about the MFSA, applicants may contact N. Lincoln Hanks, Associate Professor of Music, at lincoln.hanks@pepperdine.edu.
Music Minors
Those interested in pursuing a music minor should reach out to the Fine Arts Recruitment Office at fineartsrecruit@pepperdine.edu. All live audition requirements and required supplemental materials are the same as the requirements for the corresponding major, with the exception of the Songwriting Minor.
Instrumental Ensembles
If you are interested in pursuing instrumental performance at Pepperdine but are not pursuing a music major or music minor, we encourage you to consider auditioning for our Instrumental Ensembles, which are open to all Seaver students regardless of major. Those interested in joining our Instrumental Ensembles should reach out to the Fine Arts Recruitment Office at fineartsrecruit@pepperdine.edu.
Learn about the music audition requirements for Seaver College's Fine Arts Division at Pepperdine University.