Public school20K

MacEwan University

Edmonton, AB

LGBTQ+

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ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program

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ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Browse programs

Theatre

Music performance

Composition & music studies

Music technology

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BM Composition

Composition

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenAudition RequiredNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

In-Person or Virtual

Program Recognition

The Composition major is one of four Bachelor of Music routes at MacEwan, alongside Performance, General, and Recording and Production.

Training

Coursework covers 20th-century and contemporary composition, film scoring and video game music, songwriting, choral music, orchestration and arranging.

Students gain professional skills in industry-standard music production and notation software.

The Bachelor of Music focuses on jazz and contemporary popular music with academic rigour suited to graduate study.

Performance & Productions

Fourth-year Composition majors present a juried graduation recital of original works and arrangements for instrumental and vocal forces, in solo and ensemble settings.

Students present works in public performance and can access Bent River Records, the only university-run record label in Canada.

Professional Development

Graduates pursue careers as commercial and artistic composers and arrangers, with a curriculum that includes the business of music.

School info

Snapshot

Enrollment

20K

Costs & aid

Domestic tuition

CA$10,584

Canadian students

International tuition

CA$30,024

international students

School website

Program info updated Sep 11, 7:13 PM

Program Highlights

Program Recognition

The Composition major is one of four Bachelor of Music routes at MacEwan, alongside Performance, General, and Recording and Production.

Training

Coursework covers 20th-century and contemporary composition, film scoring and video game music, songwriting, choral music, orchestration and arranging.

Students gain professional skills in industry-standard music production and notation software.

The Bachelor of Music focuses on jazz and contemporary popular music with academic rigour suited to graduate study.

Performance & Productions

Fourth-year Composition majors present a juried graduation recital of original works and arrangements for instrumental and vocal forces, in solo and ensemble settings.

Students present works in public performance and can access Bent River Records, the only university-run record label in Canada.

Professional Development

Graduates pursue careers as commercial and artistic composers and arrangers, with a curriculum that includes the business of music.

Program Highlights

Program Recognition

The Composition major is one of four Bachelor of Music routes at MacEwan, alongside Performance, General, and Recording and Production.

Training

Coursework covers 20th-century and contemporary composition, film scoring and video game music, songwriting, choral music, orchestration and arranging.

Students gain professional skills in industry-standard music production and notation software.

The Bachelor of Music focuses on jazz and contemporary popular music with academic rigour suited to graduate study.

Performance & Productions

Fourth-year Composition majors present a juried graduation recital of original works and arrangements for instrumental and vocal forces, in solo and ensemble settings.

Students present works in public performance and can access Bent River Records, the only university-run record label in Canada.

Professional Development

Graduates pursue careers as commercial and artistic composers and arrangers, with a curriculum that includes the business of music.

Key Info

Enrollment Term

Fall 2026

These Fall 2026 enrollment dates have passed — dates for the next cycle aren't available yet.

University AppApplication

Apply

School Website School Website

Fee

CA$110

Deadline

Fall InternationalMay 1, 2026

FallJun 30, 2026

General Information · calendar.macewan.ca

Program AppApplication

Apply

Google Forms

Deadline

First Online Audition Submission DeadlineDec 1, 2025

Second Online Audition Submission DeadlineMar 1, 2026

Third Online Audition Submission DeadlineApplication Deadline (International Applicants)May 1, 2026

Application Deadline (Canadian/Domestic Applicants)Jun 30, 2026

Final Online Audition Submission DeadlineJul 7, 2026

Auditions

First In-Person AuditionJan 31, 2026

Second In-Person AuditionFeb 28, 2026

Third In-Person AuditionMay 2, 2026

Final In-Person AuditionJun 20, 2026

Dates Deadlines · macewan.ca

Audition Requirements

These requirements are from the Fall 2026 entry cycle. Fall 2027 requirements are typically posted between August and October and usually change only slightly — confirm on the official source before submitting.

Repertoire List

Prepare the repertoire and technical requirements for your principal instrument (voice, bass, drums/percussion, guitar, piano, winds, brass or strings).

Requirements emphasize jazz and contemporary popular repertoire plus instrument-specific scales, arpeggios and technique; each piece is no longer than four minutes.

Video

Required for online auditions: submit two video files, one performance video and one technical video.

Video recordings must be unedited one-take performances.

Video file names should identify the applicant, performance or technical file, year and instrument.

Audition Guidelines · macewan.ca

Good to Know

Application Logistics

Apply online through ApplyAlberta and select the Bachelor of Music.

The audition form requires a MacEwan student ID and a MacEwan University Google account.

Applications open October 1; published final application deadlines are May 1 for international applicants and June 30 for Canadian/domestic applicants.

Application fee: 110 CAD, paid through ApplyAlberta.

Admission Pathway

All Bachelor of Music students share a common first year and audition on a principal instrument; the same instrument audition applies to every major route.

Composition is a competitive major route that students declare after the first year; entry requires minimum grades in specific first-year courses and may consider grade point average. Admission to the Bachelor of Music is by the principal-instrument audition; there is no separate composition portfolio for admission.

Placement

MacEwan no longer requires aural-skills or theory placement tests for admission; optional self-study resources are provided to help applicants prepare.

Important Notes

Limited space is available, and eligible applicants are not guaranteed admission when the program or principal-instrument area fills.

Contact

Questions about the audition process or requirements may be sent to musicdegree@macewan.ca.

What's The Process

Audition Process

Apply to the Bachelor of Music and receive a MacEwan student ID before arranging your audition; auditions without an application on file are not reviewed.

Choose an in-person audition date at Allard Hall or submit recorded videos online through the audition form.

The admission audition is on your principal instrument (voice, bass, drums/percussion, guitar, piano, winds, brass or strings) and has two components: repertoire and technical skills.

Audition Expectations

Each repertoire piece may be no longer than four minutes.

Review the requirements for your instrument on the audition guidelines page before recording or attending.

When admission is competitive, performance in the audition is the primary criterion for admission.

Decisions

Monitor your To Do List in myStudentSystem for outstanding documents and decision notices from the Office of the University Registrar.

Contact

Department of Music: musicdegree@macewan.ca.

School info

Snapshot

Enrollment

20K

Costs & aid

Domestic tuition

CA$10,584

Canadian students

International tuition

CA$30,024

international students

School website

Program Recognition

The Composition major is one of four Bachelor of Music routes at MacEwan, alongside Performance, General, and Recording and Production.

Training

Coursework covers 20th-century and contemporary composition, film scoring and video game music, songwriting, choral music, orchestration and arranging.

Students gain professional skills in industry-standard music production and notation software.

The Bachelor of Music focuses on jazz and contemporary popular music with academic rigour suited to graduate study.

Performance & Productions

Fourth-year Composition majors present a juried graduation recital of original works and arrangements for instrumental and vocal forces, in solo and ensemble settings.

Students present works in public performance and can access Bent River Records, the only university-run record label in Canada.

Professional Development

Graduates pursue careers as commercial and artistic composers and arrangers, with a curriculum that includes the business of music.

Updated Sep 11, 7:13 PM