<p>Does anybody know about William & Mary's music program? I've decided to go to college for horn performance, and I'm looking into Virginia music schools. From what I see on their website, they have a "Music" major; not a "Music Performance" major, or any specific categories, which seem pretty commonplace in the better music schools.</p>
<p>I also do not see anything about an audition on the website (although admittedly I have not looked very hard); does anybody know if an audition is needed for a music major? And is there anybody on this website who goes there for music that I might be able to speak with?</p>
<p>Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>I post this as someone who loves music and loves W&M… if you want to go to school for music performance I recommend you don’t go to W&M.</p>
<p>It can be done, one of my friends from W&M has been accepted to performance related graduate programs. You should understand that the ensembles are mostly made up of talented non music majors who play because they enjoy it. If you are looking for peers that will spend all day in the practice rooms, you will not find it at W&M.</p>
<p>The strongest music program in VA is probably James Madison University.</p>
<p>W&M does not offer a BFA, only a BA in music and there is no conservatory. So if you’re looking for a specific performance major or to receive a BFA that’s not something W&M offers because we ground all of our programs in a liberal arts curriculum.</p>
<p>Furthermore there is no audition process. Every student applies to W&M only. Then in the second semester of sophomore year you declare a major. If you choose to declare that major in music there is still no audition; the major is open to all and encompasses both performance and composition (though certainly you can focus more on one than the other).</p>
<p>The fine arts are wonderful additions to our curriculum. They provide students a creative outlet within the liberal arts curriculum (so fine arts students also study science and history and English in addition to their specific art form).</p>
<p>You can make a fine art submission as part of your application but it’s not an audition; you just send a record of your performance to our music faculty for review and their review becomes part of your application.</p>
<p>Thank you both!</p>
<p>I suppose I’ll still apply to W&M as a backup; I think my academic scores are good enough that I could get in. In all honesty I am looking more towards JMU, but I want to have a few music schools I can definitely get into, in case the audition goes badly.</p>
<p>I appreciate the help!</p>
<p>While we understand that many applicants apply and W&M is not their first choice we encourage students to not think of W&M as a back-up or safety school. We admit only about 32% of those who apply so that means we turn away far more students than we admit.</p>
<p>Yes, but I’d still like to apply there because if I get into the actual school, I can definitely be in the music program; I meant it more as a backup music school. I’ve gone around the campus and apart from the lack of performance concentration in the music program, I really liked it.</p>
<p>Got it. See what you’re saying now. It is nice that our fine arts programs are open though we hope students who participate in them are talented in the arena because of course performance/artistic ability is part of the course work and grading criteria but yes, any student can enter the departments at W&M.</p>
<p>Some of the various ensembles of course do require auditions.</p>
<p>Yes- I’ve got a lot of practice to do this next year! And I’m very interested in the Wind Symphony and the Symphony Orchestra, one of which I’d definitely work for if I got into W&M.</p>
<p>Fantastic. We’d definitely encourage you to make a fine art submission as part of your W&M application ([William</a> & Mary - Arts Submissions](<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/applicationprocess/artssubmissions/index.php]William”>http://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/applicationprocess/artssubmissions/index.php)). It can really serve to highlight your talent to the Committee</p>
<p>FrenchHornPlayer: Another VA state school to look into is George Mason. They do offer a BS in performance and have many different ensembles. [George</a> Mason University School of Music | music.gmu.edu](<a href=“http://music.gmu.edu/]George”>http://music.gmu.edu/)</p>
<p>W&M; Will do! Thanks again for all the help.
Wirefox; I’m applying to George Mason as well. I know a few people from my school and some nearby who went to GM for music, and I’ve heard a lot of good reviews.</p>