Admissions
Applications are now open for the 2025-26 season. The application deadline is December 6, 2024 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
2025–26 VACANCIES
Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Tenor Trombone, Bass Trombone, Percussion, Keyboards, Harp, Violin, Viola, Cello
WAITLIST APPLICATIONS*
We often have additional vacancies open up over the course of the year, so we encourage musicians who play the following instruments to apply as well: Bass, Oboe, Tuba, Timpani
Scroll down for more information on applications and auditions, and click here for more information on the academic program.
*Applicants who are applying solely for the waitlist will not be required to pay the application fee in order to have their application reviewed. The application fee and enrollment deposit will only be required after waitlist applicants are accepted and entered into the program.
Photo by David DeNee
Application Checklist
Admission to TŌN requires audition and academic review. The elements of the application are:
- Completed online application form
- Resume/curriculum vitae
- Prescreening excerpts (listed in the Audition Repertoire section below)
- A two-to-four-minute videotaped personal statement
- School transcripts: Unofficial transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended for at least one academic year can be uploaded to the application. Copy of official transcript(s) only need to be requested from the issuing institution(s) after applicant has received a live audition invitation, and no later than May 1, 2025.
Refer to the section at the bottom of this checklist for more information on mailing and emailing official transcript(s). - TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score for international applicants (This requirement may be waived if the candidate has an undergraduate degree from an English-speaking institution. Please see the below section titled International Candidates for more information.)
- Two recommendations, at least one being an academic reference
- Short-answer essay question: Statement of Purpose
- Short-answer essay question: Orchestral Challenges in the 21st Century
- $75 non-refundable application fee (Applicants auditioning for waitlist positions do not need to pay the application fee in order to submit an application.)
Note: Students accepted into TŌN must pass both artistic and academic requirements.
Audition Repertoire
Audition Prescreening
Members of TŌN are selected on an audition basis. To be considered for an audition, view the audition prescreening excerpts, and videotape and upload these excerpts to your TŌN application in the Media Requirements section. Prescreening video excerpts may be submitted as multiple files.
Please note that prescreening excerpts include a video of your personal statement; see the prescreening list for detailed instructions. You may request PDFs of the excerpts by emailing [email protected].
Please note: TŌN tunes to A440 and piano accompaniment is not required for your solo piece.
Final Auditions
The repertoire for final auditions can be found here. Sight reading may be asked during the final audition. Applicants invited to the final auditions may request PDFs of the excerpts by emailing [email protected].
Please note: TŌN tunes to A440.
Essays and Personal Statement
Applications to TŌN require a two–four minute videotaped personal statement and two short-answer essay questions: Statement of Purpose, and Orchestral Challenges in the 21st Century.
Personal Statement Video
Tell us what you love about music. Why TŌN? What qualities do you feel like you would bring to the program? What are your career goals? What does TŌN offer that you feel will help you succeed?
Statement of Purpose
Please submit a 300–500 word essay in response to the following statement: TŌN is a program designed to provide you with opportunities to develop and hone skills that will help you in your career path after you graduate. As an applicant to the program, you are expressing your interest to be a committed member of TŌN for the next two to three years. Please tell us why you feel TŌN is a good fit for you at this stage, and why you feel it is to your advantage to make TŌN your priority during your time in the program.
Orchestral Challenges in the 21st Century
Please submit a 300-500 word essay that answers the following questions: What are the major challenges you believe orchestral musicians will face in the coming years? What changes need to take place in order to help these artists stay relevant in the future?
Interviews
Applicants are assigned interviews at the discretion of TŌN’s audition committee. These interviews will take place the week after on-campus auditions. Your application is considered complete without an interview and will receive full consideration even if you are not assigned an interview. If the audition committee would like to speak with you in order to find out more information, or if they have any questions related to your application materials, then you will be assigned an interview. It is not possible to request an interview. These interviews will be conducted on Zoom.
You will be informed on March 9, 2025 if you are required to have an interview and those interviews will happen March 11–13. There will be a form to fill out where you can select an available time to meet with members of the audition committee. A Zoom link will be provided based on the time you select.
Recording Guidelines
TŌN requires all applicants to submit their performance materials and personal statement as video files. Video recordings for the pre-screening round (due in December) can submit individual files of each excerpt/solo. If TŌN is holding an audition where there is no pre-screening round, then you will be required to upload a one-take video file of the entire finals audition list. Please see the top of this page to see which application type TŌN is currently accepting.
Sound
To ensure the best sound quality, it is advised that the applicant use an external microphone. Make sure to test different spacing and placement positions to see what sounds best for your instrument and the room you are in.
Framing
Please be mindful of how you will look in the frame of your video recording. The audition committee needs to be able to see you clearly. It is advised that you frame yourself from the torso up.
Lighting
Be aware of how the light is hitting you during your recording. If the light is coming from behind you (e.g. you’re standing in front of a window), then it will be hard for the committee to be able to see you. You can have better lighting by letting the light from a window hit your face, or by placing a lamp in front of you.
Staging
We recognize that not everyone has access to a stage or large room to record in. Because of this, you should be aware of what is appearing in your background so there are no unnecessary distractions.
Submitting your video files
All video files must be uploaded directly in the Portfolio section of the application, unless instructed otherwise by a TŌN staff member. The application supports the following video formats: .3g2, .3gp, .avi, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .mxf, .webm, and .wmv.
Transcripts
Unofficial transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended for at least one academic year can be uploaded to the application. Your application will not be reviewed until all transcripts have been received.
Copies of official transcript(s) only need to be requested from the issuing institution(s) after the applicant has been accepted into TŌN, and no later than July 1, 2025.
Official transcript(s) from issuing institution(s) can be mailed in a signed/sealed envelope to:
The Orchestra Now
Attn: Admission Committee
Bard College 30 Campus Rd, P.O. Box 5000
Annandale-on-Hudson NY, 12504
Digital official transcript(s) from issuing institution(s) can be submitted to [email protected].
Percussion Requirements
- Marimba (Adams Alpha Series 5.0 Octave Rosewood)
- Xylophone (Adams Alpha Series 4.0 Octave Rosewood)
- Glockenspiel (DeMorrow Bell 2.5 Octave, height adjustable)
- Bass Drum (Pearl Philharmonic Series, 36")
- Timpani (Adams Philharmonic Dresden Classics, 32", 29", 26", 23")
- Crash Cymbals (Sabian 18" HHX Overture)
- 1 tall snare drum stand
- 3 trap tables
Instruments needed for the audition that aren't provided:
- Snare Drum
- Tambourine
- Triangle
Applicants should make sure they bring:
- Snare drum/drums (NO snare drums will be provided. Extra snare stands will be available in the audition room)
- Extra crash cymbals
- All auxiliary instruments
Warm-up rooms will have the following:
- Timpani (Adams Philharmonic Classics, 32", 29", 26", 23")
- Marimba (Brand and Model TBD)
- Xylophone (Brand and Model TBD)
- Glockenspiel (Brand and Model TBD)
- 2 tall snare drum stands
Financial Aid
Students in TŌN receive a fellowship covering tuition and a bi-weekly taxable fellowship stipend (see below). Students are required to pay a non-refundable enrollment deposit of $515 ($500 deposit plus $15 service fee). The deposit amount is credited to the first semester of enrollment costs. A security deposit of $225 is collected upon acceptance into the program, and will be credited if student commences or withdraws from the program. Students pay both a health services fee of $470 and a registration fee of $200 for the academic year. A leave of absence/maintenance of status fee is $500 for the year or $250 per semester.
TŌN does not provide or compensate for housing. Students are expected to be in residence, living near campus while the orchestra is in season (mid-July through May). Apartments and houses for rent can be found near the Bard College campus. Students are also able to apply for on-campus room and board, but the room and board fee is solely the responsibility of the student.
Stipends
Stipends are taxable. A United States Social Security number is required for stipend payments.TŌN students will receive biweekly checks or direct deposits, and a W-2 at the end of the year. Stipends cease upon graduation. If a student has received the full stipend in the third year and has still not graduated, they will not receive additional stipend.
Stipend amounts are divided annually into 3 academic periods, a fall semester, a spring semester, and a summer session. Based on how weeks may fall within a year, payment amounts and schedules may be adjusted slightly, but generally, the student receives $10,500 in the fall semester (10 pay periods September to January), $10,500 in the spring semester (9-10 pay periods January to May or June), and $3,000 in the summer session (6 pay periods June-August). Once again, stipends cease upon graduation.
International Candidates
Student Visa
Once accepted and deposited, international students will be connected with the Office of International Student & Scholar Services to discuss/commence the visa process.
English Proficiency
TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo test results are required for students for whom English is not the first language or the language of instruction. Bard does not offer a full-scale English as a Second Language program. Therefore it is critical that all students, domestic and international, have the appropriate level of English fluency before they arrive on campus. We read every application in full, with particular attention to the candidate's essays and recommendations.
We require all international students to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language.* Test score guidelines: TOEFL score of at least 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (Internet-based). We also accept the IELTS instead of the TOEFL, with a band score of no less than seven.
Applicants can also take the Duolingo English Test and must receive a score greater than 120. More information can be found here.
*Students who have spent the majority of their secondary education in an English-medium program may be eligible for a waiver of the language testing requirement.