Portfolio/Audition Requirements

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:

• 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.

• Selections that demonstrate how you interpret melody, form, time feel and improvisation over chord changes. 

• 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.

Your portfolio must include an artist statement of 250–500 words that includes all of the following:

• Your background in the study and practice of music, including a crucial moment in your artistic development.

• Your main musical passions and artistic influences right now – what you are currently listening to.

• Genre(s) of music you are interested in performing and studying.

• What you are interested in exploring or experimenting with at CalArts.

• What attracts you to the particular Specialization to which you are applying. You may include a CalArts class, faculty, and/or offering that excites you the most.

• Your long-term goals as a professional musician.

The faculty want to learn more about you, directly from you! We ask that you record a 60–90 second short video of you introducing yourself. You should discuss:

• Your current artistic practice or what you perform, compose, produce, arrange, write, dance/choreograph, film, etc.

• A person, place, idea, or thing that inspires you and your music.

• A new artistic approach or skill you’d like to bring into your practice that you want to learn more about or haven’t tried before.

In your Video Introduction, you should:

• Record for only 60–90 seconds

• Speak directly to the camera

• Not read from a prepared statement

• Not make edits

• Not add special effects or on-screen overlays

• Upload the video or link directly to the portfolio section of the CalArts Application

• Use the recording equipment you have; cellphone cameras or consumer cameras are okay.

The Jazz BFA and MFA programs do not hold required auditions. Instead, if needed by our faculty, we will contact you about scheduling a virtual interview.

Two letters of recommendation are required for the BFA, three for the MFA. At least one recommendation should be written by a person who understands your designer work, such as a performance instructor or art teacher.

All letters of recommendation should be received by the application deadline, so it is highly recommended that you contact your recommenders months before. We request that you submit the requests for your letters of recommendation through the online application, as it will allow you to track when we receive your requested letters.

Only if this is not possible, you may download the Letter of Recommendation Form (pdf) and have your recommender send their letters by mail to the Office of Admissions. Please choose only one method – either through the online application (preferred) or by mail – per recommender. Letters of recommendation will not be accepted via credentialing services such as Parchment or Naviance.

Mailed letters of recommendation should be sent to:

CalArts Office of Admissions
24700 McBean Pkwy.
Valencia, CA 91355
United States of America

Please note, letters of recommendation must be written in English or accompanied by a certified English translated document.