High School Music Admissions

The UNCSA School of Music high school program is for students in grades 9–12. Students may enter into the high school Music program at any grade level with the exception of the Voice program, which enrolls in grades 11 and 12 only. Admissions is based on a combination of artistic and academic merits.

Application Deadline

Thursday, January 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. EST) Deadline

Applicants must submit the following in order to meet the January 15, 2026 deadline:

Select programs prescreen applicants to determine if an in person audition or interview will be conducted. For these programs, faculty offers or declines interviews based on the submitted application and required pre-screen materials.

Auditions

Applicants who meet the deadline—and advance past prescreening, if required—will be contacted by Admissions with instructions for scheduling an audition. Audition scheduling begins November 4, 2025.

Auditions for the 2026-2027 academic year are held in person on the UNCSA campus. Because audition slots are limited, applicants are advised to keep multiple dates available until they receive their confirmed audition date. In person auditions are strongly encouraged, but applicants unable to travel to the UNCSA campus for an audition may reach out to their Admissions Counselor to request a live virtual audition.

At our auditions for the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute scheduled to take place in Chicago, there may be audition spots available for applicants to other UNCSA School of Music programs. Applicants to the UNCSA High School who audition at this site are recorded for later assessment by the appropriate faculty.

Instrumental

Audition Dates Location
  • Saturday, Dec 6, 2025
  • Saturday, Jan 24, 2026
  • Saturday, Feb 7, 2026
  • Saturday, Feb 14, 2026
  • Saturday, Feb 21, 2026
UNCSA
1533 South Main Street,
Winston-Salem, NC 27127
  • Friday, Feb 13, 2026

Applicants who audition in Chicago are recorded for later assessment by the appropriate faculty.

Location provided upon registration.

Composition

Audition Dates Location
  • Saturday, Dec 6, 2025
  • Saturday, Jan 24, 2026
  • Saturday, Feb 7, 2026
  • Saturday, Feb 14, 2026
  • Saturday, Feb 21, 2026
UNCSA
1533 South Main Street,
Winston-Salem, NC 27127

Voice

Audition Dates Location
  • Saturday, Jan 17, 2026
  • Saturday, Jan 24, 2026
  • Saturday, Feb 7, 2026
  • Saturday, Feb 14, 2026
UNCSA
1533 South Main Street,
Winston-Salem, NC 27127
  • Friday, Feb 13, 2026

Applicants who audition in Chicago are recorded for later assessment by the appropriate faculty.

Location provided upon registration.

Admissions Criteria

GPA & Academic Requirements

Applicants should have a minimum unweighted GPA of 2.3 (C+), no more than one failing grade in the previous year's work and no more than two failing grades in their overall coursework.

Completed Application, Fees & Required Documents

  1. Complete the online application.

  2. Pay your Application Fee: $95 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, $130 for international applicants. Application fees are non-refundable.

    Payment Options
    • Online: Follow payment instructions at the end of the application or on your Admissions Portal.
    • Check or Money Order (through a U.S. bank): Make payable to "UNCSA" and include your full legal name. Mail your payment and fully legible name of the applicant to the Office of Admissions.
    • International Applicants: Use Flywire to pay your application fee online through an international bank or pay by check or money order through a U.S. bank as listed above.
  3. Upload all Required Application Documents prior to their appointed deadline.

Please note: If applying to two different UNCSA art schools (Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts), a completed second application and fee is required.