Portfolio Guidelines
Via the portfolio section of the CalArts Application, you are invited to submit a portfolio containing 4 examples of your artistic work. Please number your examples beginning with what you consider to be your strongest ones—reviewers will examine them in the order that you indicate. Please note that there are no live auditions for Jazz applicants—all applicants are evaluated by a recorded audition only.
Your portfolio should include:
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Four selections: two that demonstrate your main area of musical interest (original compositions are encouraged, but not required) and two contrasting jazz standards of your choice.
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Selections that demonstrate how you interpret melody, form, time feel and improvisation over chord changes.
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Performances with a small group (2–8 musicians) of any instrumentation.
Please number your examples beginning with what you consider to be your strongest ones—reviewers will examine them in the order that you indicate. Please label each work sample with title, composer, personnel, instrumentation, and date of creation, via a separate PDF document if necessary.
Materials to upload include recordings, videos, scores, and/or other relevant materials. You may link to media hosted on external websites, but please ensure that reviewers will have permission to view this media.
Once your portfolio is uploaded, it can be viewed and rearranged until the final submission is made. No changes can be made following the final submission of your portfolio. Be sure to submit your portfolio to the correct degree level and program.
Auditions
Applicants applying to the Jazz BFA and MFA programs are required to participate in a virtual interview. There will be no in-person audition. Following your application submission, we will review your application and contact you to schedule your interview.