All students interested in B.Mus. and B.A. in Music degrees must apply for admission with the University of Saskatchewan in the College of Arts and Science. In addition, all students interested in the B.Mus. degree must audition for entry into the program.

The application for B.Mus. and B.A. programs can be found at this link.

Information for B.Mus. Applicants

Applicants should complete the online application first, and then submit the additional audition materials. Applications are not considered complete until both the online application to the university and all additional audition materials have been submitted.

Audition Dates & Deadlines:

Please submit the following materials to music.admissions@usask.ca as part of your application:

• Personal resumé, including repertoire studied in the past year, musical activities, employment, community and volunteer work, and other relevant accomplishments
• One-page essay detailing interest in the B.Mus degree at USask and personal ambitions
• Two letters of reference, which must be sent directly from the Referees to music.admissions@usask.ca. One or both of these letters should come from current or past music instructors.
• Contact music.admissions@usask.ca to schedule your audition.

Students will be informed of their audition time approximately two weeks before the chosen date and must confirm that they will be present at least one week prior to the audition.

The Audition

The audition consists of 1) a performance, 2) an interview, and 3) a theory placement test

We highly recommend that you audition in-person if possible. This gives us a chance to interact with you and gives you a chance to meet our faculty. However, if you are unable to travel to Saskatoon, we will accept a recorded video audition that meets the specifications below and a live Zoom interview. 

1. Performance Audition

For all Auditions: please prepare approximately 10 minutes of music (2-3 pieces) in contrasting styles of Western classical music. You will be asked to introduce the titles and composers of your pieces in the audition. Students auditioning in brass, woodwinds, strings, or voice will need to arrange for an accompanist. Please see the instrument-specific requirements and accompanist information below.

Brass and Woodwind Instruments: prepare two pieces: 1) one technical piece that showcases your command of articulation, range, and technique and 2) one lyrical piece that highlights your tone, phrasing, and musical expression. If you have any questions or would like to discuss repertoire selections, please contact Dr. Glen Gillis regarding winds (glen.gillis@usask.ca) or Prof. Dean McNeill regarding brass (dean.mcneill@usask.ca)

Guitar: prepare two contrasting pieces, performed on a nylon-stringed classical guitar. You may also choose to perform a third selection in another genre (such as jazz), using a different guitar model. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Amanda Lalonde (amanda.lalonde@usask.ca)

Percussion: prepare two contrasting pieces featuring different instrumentation. Please make arrangements with Dr. Amanda Lalonde (amanda.lalonde@usask.ca) when you apply for your audition to ensure that we can provide the instrument set-up that you need.

Piano: prepare two contrasting pieces at the RCM grade 8 level or higher. If you have any questions or would like to discuss repertoire selections, please contact Prof. Kathleen Solose (kathleen.solose@usask.ca)

Strings: prepare two contrasting pieces: one movement of an unaccompanied work by J. S. Bach and one movement of concerto (with cadenza if applicable). If you have any questions or would like to discuss repertoire substitutions, please contact Dr. Véronique Mathieu (veronique.mathieu@usask.ca)

Voice: prepare three contrasting songs in a minimum of two languages (equivalent to RCM Grade 6 or higher). All pieces must be performed from memory and should illustrate the student's technical development, vocal range, and ability to communicate through singing. All pieces must be performed with a collaborative pianist. If specific to the selected repertoire, one piece may be performed with an acoustic instrument such as a guitar or lute, or be performed acapella. If you have any questions or would like to discuss repertoire selections, please contact Dr. Betty Allison (betty.allison@usask.ca)

• Deborah Buck: dbuck@sasktel.net
• Chris Kelly: cp.kelly@shaw.ca
• Dr. Sofia Mycyk: sofia.mycyk@gmail.com
• Naomi Piggott-Suchan: naomisuchan@gmail.com
• Karen Reynaud: operations@saskatoonsymphony.org

2. Interview

Music faculty members will speak with you for a few minutes about your musical training, experiences, interests, and ambitions.

3. Theory Placement Test

After your audition and interview, you will write a 30-minute theory test that includes questions about writing and identifying key signatures, scales, intervals, and chords (major, minor, diminished and dominant seventh) and about time signatures and rhythmic notation.

We use this test to determine which theory course is the most suitable starting point for you. Students who have less experience with theory may need to take MUS 101 before enrolling in MUS 133. If you have taken your Royal Conservatory Grade 7 Theory Exam or above with a score of 70% or higher, you can provide us with your exam documentation instead of writing the test.

The following resources might be helpful for your preparation:

• Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom
• teora Music Theory Web