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Curtis Institute of Music

Philadelphia, PA

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Program

BM Music

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program

BM Music

Concentration

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ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Browse programs

Quick links

BM Music

Brass

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

Prescreen RequiredAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program Recognition

A world-renowned classical music conservatory founded in 1924, admitting students on artistic promise alone

One of the most selective conservatories in the world, with a deliberately small student body of around 160 for highly personalized, intensive training

Training

Brass majors complete Chamber Music, Orchestra, and Orchestral Repertoire Class/Sectionals alongside private study, plus a required graduation recital

Single-position studios (such as tuba) offer exceptional one-on-one mentorship

Performance & Productions

Learn-by-doing approach: students perform from the start in the Student Recital Series and the Curtis Symphony Orchestra

Brass players rotate among private lessons, quintets, chamber ensembles, a full brass choir, weekly studio classes, and Curtis Symphony Orchestra work.

Small studio enrollment creates constant playing assignments across horn, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, and tuba.

Location

Located in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood of Philadelphia

Reciprocal agreement with the University of Pennsylvania lets eligible students take courses there at no cost

Value

Curtis is fully tuition-free: every admitted student receives a full-tuition merit scholarship, always

School info

Snapshot

Admit rate

school-wide

Grad rate

96%

Enrollment

109

Costs & aid

Tuition & fees

$3,500

Before aid

Student Fees · curtis.edu College Scorecard

Program info updated Aug 7, 12:19 AM

Program Highlights

Program Recognition

A world-renowned classical music conservatory founded in 1924, admitting students on artistic promise alone

One of the most selective conservatories in the world, with a deliberately small student body of around 160 for highly personalized, intensive training

Training

Brass majors complete Chamber Music, Orchestra, and Orchestral Repertoire Class/Sectionals alongside private study, plus a required graduation recital

Single-position studios (such as tuba) offer exceptional one-on-one mentorship

Performance & Productions

Learn-by-doing approach: students perform from the start in the Student Recital Series and the Curtis Symphony Orchestra

Brass players rotate among private lessons, quintets, chamber ensembles, a full brass choir, weekly studio classes, and Curtis Symphony Orchestra work.

Small studio enrollment creates constant playing assignments across horn, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, and tuba.

Location

Located in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood of Philadelphia

Reciprocal agreement with the University of Pennsylvania lets eligible students take courses there at no cost

Value

Curtis is fully tuition-free: every admitted student receives a full-tuition merit scholarship, always

Program Highlights

Program Recognition

A world-renowned classical music conservatory founded in 1924, admitting students on artistic promise alone

One of the most selective conservatories in the world, with a deliberately small student body of around 160 for highly personalized, intensive training

Training

Brass majors complete Chamber Music, Orchestra, and Orchestral Repertoire Class/Sectionals alongside private study, plus a required graduation recital

Single-position studios (such as tuba) offer exceptional one-on-one mentorship

Performance & Productions

Learn-by-doing approach: students perform from the start in the Student Recital Series and the Curtis Symphony Orchestra

Brass players rotate among private lessons, quintets, chamber ensembles, a full brass choir, weekly studio classes, and Curtis Symphony Orchestra work.

Small studio enrollment creates constant playing assignments across horn, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, and tuba.

Location

Located in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood of Philadelphia

Reciprocal agreement with the University of Pennsylvania lets eligible students take courses there at no cost

Value

Curtis is fully tuition-free: every admitted student receives a full-tuition merit scholarship, always

Key Info

Enrollment Term

Fall 2027

University AppApplication

Apply

School Website

Fee

Online Application Fee

$150

Deadline

Regular DecisionDec 10, 2026

Applying · curtis.edu

Program AppApplication

Dates

Opens later

Fees

Screening Fee

$100

Audition Fee Balance

$50

Audition · curtis.edu

Prescreen Requirements

Repertoire List

Prescreening repertoire varies by instrument

Repertoire - Trumpet

Solo: one movement of the Hummel or Haydn Concerto in E-flat, and the Pakhmutova Concerto for Trumpet (beginning to No. 12)

Two standard etudes of contrasting styles (Bitsch, Bordogni, Bousquet, Brandt, Charlier, Sachse, Smith Top Tones, Wurm, or similar)

Three orchestral excerpts from the published undergraduate list

Repertoire - Horn

Recorded in one continuous take, no editing: first movement of Strauss Horn Concerto No. 1; fourth-horn solo from the third movement of Beethoven Symphony No. 9 (mm. 83–99); the short call from Wagner Siegfrieds Rheinfahrt

Trombone (Tenor and/or Bass, Unaccompanied; Each Work One Uninterrupted Recording)

One movement from a concerto, sonata, or substantial solo work

One technical etude (Kopprasch, Tyrell, or Blazhevich) and one lyrical etude (Bordogni, Rochut, or equivalent)

At least three orchestral excerpts of contrasting style

Bass trombone also records six major scales and arpeggios in one continuous take (F, Gb, G, Ab, A, Bb)

Repertoire - Tuba (Unaccompanied; Separate File per Selection, Mouthpiece Visible)

Blazhevich Etude No. 9; Snedecor Low Etudes for Tuba No. 4; Vaughan Williams Tuba Concerto (mvt. 1 to reh. 5, cadenza to end); Wagner Die Meistersinger Overture and Ride of the Walkure excerpts

Letters of Recommendation

Three recommendations: one from your current private teacher and two from musicians or mentors qualified to judge your talents (no relatives)

Include each recommender's email address; they receive a link to submit on your behalf

Transcript

Upload an unofficial copy of your high school or college transcript with the application

Official transcripts are due by July 15 after an admission decision

Essay

One written essay responding to one of three prompts

One video essay responding to one of three prompts

Repertoire List - Performance Program

A list of composers and works (including technical studies) you consider part of your repertoire

Repertoire list documentation: at least one concert or recital program featuring your name

Audition · curtis.edu

Verified for Fall 2027 entry

Audition Requirements

Additional Materials

Live Audition Repertoire

Repertoire - Trumpet

Hummel or Haydn Concerto in E-flat, complete; Pakhmutova Concerto (beginning to No. 12)

Two standard etudes of contrasting styles

All orchestral excerpts listed in the prescreening requirements; sight-reading may be asked

Repertoire - Horn

All major and minor scales and arpeggios

One movement of a concerto or sonata; one etude by Kopprasch and one by Gallay

The published set of orchestral excerpts (Brahms, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, R. Strauss, Ravel, Wagner)

Repertoire - Trombone (Bass and Tenor)

One complete concerto, sonata, or substantial solo work

One technical etude and one lyrical etude

At least three orchestral excerpts of contrasting style

May be asked to play all major and minor scales and to read at sight in alto, tenor, and bass clefs

Repertoire - Tuba

Snedecor Low Etudes; J.S. Bach Bouree 1 and 2 from Cello Suite No. 3 (8va, no repeats); Vaughan Williams Tuba Concerto (complete or selected movements); Wagner, Prokofiev, and Mahler excerpts per the published list; sight-reading may be required

Audition · curtis.edu

Good to Know

Application Logistics

Apply through the Curtis online application portal; all documents are submitted within the platform

A 75 USD late fee applies to materials submitted after the deadline

SAT scores are optional for Bachelor of Music applicants

Non-native English speakers submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge scores

Placement

Admitted students take music theory, aural-skills, and keyboard placement assessments at orientation for course placement only, not admission

Eligibility

Applicants must hold a high school diploma or equivalent by the time they enroll

What's The Process

Audition Process

Submit the online application with a screening video to be considered for the live auditions

Applicants are notified of their live-audition status no later than one month before the audition date

Curtis seeks a single tuba student; applicants may apply to the undergraduate or graduate program with no preference

Audition Expectations

Live auditions are held on campus in Philadelphia during February and March

If in-person rounds are not possible, the admissions team coordinates equitable live virtual auditions

No regional auditions are held

Around 30 minutes of warm-up time is provided in a designated practice room

Applicants should possess physical aptitude for the chosen instrument, a good ear, a sense of rhythm, and the ability to read at sight

Decisions

Admission and financial aid decisions are released April 1

Contact

Admissions: admissions@curtis.edu, (215) 717-3172

Scholarship Info

Full-Tuition Scholarship

Every admitted student receives a full-tuition merit scholarship, regardless of financial circumstances

No separate financial-aid application is required for the full-tuition scholarship

Living Expenses

Need-based financial aid is available to help cover living expenses

School info

Snapshot

Admit rate

school-wide

Grad rate

96%

Enrollment

109

Costs & aid

Tuition & fees

$3,500

Before aid

Student Fees · curtis.edu College Scorecard

Program Recognition

A world-renowned classical music conservatory founded in 1924, admitting students on artistic promise alone

One of the most selective conservatories in the world, with a deliberately small student body of around 160 for highly personalized, intensive training

Training

Brass majors complete Chamber Music, Orchestra, and Orchestral Repertoire Class/Sectionals alongside private study, plus a required graduation recital

Single-position studios (such as tuba) offer exceptional one-on-one mentorship

Performance & Productions

Learn-by-doing approach: students perform from the start in the Student Recital Series and the Curtis Symphony Orchestra

Brass players rotate among private lessons, quintets, chamber ensembles, a full brass choir, weekly studio classes, and Curtis Symphony Orchestra work.

Small studio enrollment creates constant playing assignments across horn, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, and tuba.

Location

Located in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood of Philadelphia

Reciprocal agreement with the University of Pennsylvania lets eligible students take courses there at no cost

Value

Curtis is fully tuition-free: every admitted student receives a full-tuition merit scholarship, always

Updated Aug 7, 12:19 AM

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