Submit a DVD (preferred) or a CD with two selections (and only two selections) from the following:

• One movement of a major concerto (exposition plus cadenza) OR a concert piece (such as Saint-Saëns Rondo Capriccioso, Ravel Tzigane, or Sarasate Carmen Fantasy.)
• One movement of solo Bach.

The recording must be labeled, both on the recording and on the outside case. Include your name, your intended major (violin), the degree program for which you are applying, and the order of the recorded repertoire.

Please note: Your DVD, which may be unaccompanied, may also be produced with home-quality recording equipment; a studio-quality recording is not necessary. Also, memorization is not essential for prescreening purposes, though it will be required for the final audition.

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Submit a DVD (preferred) or a CD to include two contrasting selections (and only two selections) chosen by you. The recording must be labeled, both on the recording and on the outside case. Include your name, your intended major (Concertmaster Academy), and the order of the recorded repertoire.

Please note: Your DVD, which may be unaccompanied, may also be produced with home-quality recording equipment; a studio-quality recording is not necessary.

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Submit copies of 2-3 original scores with CD recordings, if available (do not send midi realizations), as well as a chronological list of completed compositions, including date of composition, instrumentation, duration, and any performances.

Recordings should be labeled with the composer's name and title(s) of the work(s) included. Applicants for graduate programs (MM, PS, DMA) should include at least one work for large ensemble (chamber orchestra, full orchestra, or band). Also required is a DVD demonstrating your technical and musical accomplishment on an instrument; this recording, which may be unaccompanied, may also be produced with home-quality recording equipment; a studio-quality recording is not necessary.

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Materials must be received by CIM no later than the following deadlines (Date of postmark has no applicability):

Fall admission:All materials are due by December 15.

Spring admission:All materials are due by October 15.

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Materials should be forwarded to the following address:

Cleveland Institute of Music
Admission Office
11021 East Boulevard
Cleveland, OH 44106

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You must submit SAT or ACT scores if you are applying for undergraduate study and are one of the following:

1. US citizen
2. US Permanent Resident
3. International student enrolled at a U.S. high school

Your score must come to CIM directly from the testing center or be recorded officially on your high school transcript. If you have not yet registered for one of these examinations, you should do so now!

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Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

If you are an international applicant for whom English is a second language, you must complete the TOEFL examination (No other form of testing or evaluation is acceptable).

Plan early to take the TOEFL test during the fall months so that your test score arrives at CIM in good time. You cannot be admitted without meeting this requirement! Test results must come directly to CIM from the testing center.

Applicants for the Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degree programs must attain the following minimum standard: 79 (iBT test), 213 (computer test), 550 (paper test).

The minimum requirement for non-degree programs (Artist Certificate, Artist Diploma, and Professional Studies) is: 61 (iBT test), 173 (computer test), 500 (paper test).

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Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for graduate applicants.

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Your application must include two confidential letters of recommendation from persons unrelated to you who are qualified to attest to your musical ability.

When you complete CIM's online application, you will be required to provide the names and e-mail addresses of the persons who have agreed to provide your recommendations. Your referees will be contacted directly.

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Note: (Faxes and/or copies sent to students are not accepted and will be shredded.)

First-Year & Undergraduate Transfer Applicants

If you are applying for undergraduate study, whether as a first-year or transfer student, you must submit transcripts from the secondary schools you have attended in sealed, official school envelopes.

Any transcript that fails to meet this confidentiality requirement will not be added to your application. Home-schooled students must also submit transcripts that indicate subjects studied and grades earned.

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CIM will consider you to be a transfer applicant if you were ever enrolled at a college or university and will not be graduating before beginning study at CIM. Conversely, as long as you graduate from that college or university before enrolling at CIM, you will not be considered to be a transfer applicant.

Undergraduate transfer applicants must submit both secondary school and college/university transcripts.

Note: Faxes and/or copies sent to students are not accepted and will be shredded.)

You must submit transcripts from the schools you have attended in sealed, official school envelopes.

Any transcript that fails to meet this confidentiality requirement will not be added to your application.

You will be required to submit transcripts from the following:

• Your current college or university
• Any previous school from which you have earned a degree or diploma
• Any other previous school from which you would like to receive transfer credit

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CIM's acceptance rate is higher for applicants who perform live auditions, and so it is an advantage for you to audition in Cleveland. If you are unable to do so and wish to send a recorded audition, please check below to see if your recording will be accepted; some departments require live auditions.

If you submit a recorded audition, the members of our faculty will want to see you, too; therefore, DVDs are required. Your recording must be labeled, both on the recording and on the outside case. Include your name, your intended major and degree program, and the order of the repertoire included.

Recordings should be forwarded to the Admission Office and not to individual faculty members. Please keep original recordings and forward high quality duplicates only. Recordings become the property of the Cleveland Institute of Music and are not returned.

The following departments require live auditions:

• Audio Recording
• Bassoon
• Bass Trombone
• Clarinet
• Composition
• Eurhythmics
• Flute
• Horn
• Oboe
• Orchestral Conducting
• Organ
• Timpani and Percussion
• Trombone
• Trumpet
• Tuba
• Viola

Additionally, all applicants for the Artist Certificate, Artist Diploma, or Doctor of Musical Arts programs must audition live.

The following departments accept recorded auditions (DVDs only):

• Cello
• Collaborative Piano
• Double Bass
• Guitar
• Harp
• Harpsichord
• Piano
• Violin
• Voice

Recordings should be forwarded to the Admission Office and not to individual faculty members. You are advised to retain original recordings and to forward high quality duplicates only. Recorded auditions become the property of the Cleveland Institute of Music and are not returned.

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For detailed information, visit our International Applicants page

Certified English translations of all non-English documents must be submitted along with originals. Documents submitted without translations will not be accepted.

If you are already in the U.S., you must be prepared to provide authoritative information concerning your stay in the U.S. (passport, visa, etc.)

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You must submit a recorded audition demonstrating technical and musical accomplishment on an instrument or voice. The following link contains the audition repertoire for all majors offered at CIM. Please review the requirements for your instrument and approximate those as closely as possible on your recording:

• Audition Requirements PDF

Your recording must be labeled, both on the recording and on the outside case. Include your name, intended major and degree program, and the order of the repertoire included.

Recordings should be forwarded to the Admission Office and not to individual faculty members. Please keep original recordings and forward high quality duplicates only. Recordings become the property of the Cleveland Institute of Music and are not returned.

If you are planning to double major in performance, you may substitute your live performance audition for this recording.

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Collaborative Piano Applicants

Audition information for collaborative piano is available in two PDFs:

• Audition Requirements for Collaborative Piano
• Vocal Repertoire for Collaborative Auditions

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Before your audition date will be scheduled, you must submit for prescreening scores of original works (and CDs or DVDs, if available).

You are strongly urged to submit prescreening materials before the deadline of December 1 in order to secure one of your preferred audition dates; by December 1, many dates are already full and closed. You must also submit a recorded audition demonstrating technical and musical accomplishment on an instrument or in voice.

The Audition Requirements PDF contains the audition repertoire for all majors offered at CIM. Please review the requirements for your instrument and approximate those as closely as possible on your performance recording.

Your recordings must be labeled, both on the recording and on the outside case. Include your name, intended major and degree program, and the order of the repertoire included.

Recordings and scores should be forwarded to the Admission Office and not to individual faculty members. Please keep originals and forward high quality duplicates only. These items become the property of the Cleveland Institute of Music and are not returned.

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