TŌN is now accepting applications for violin, viola, bass, flute, and percussion players for the 2023–24 academic year beginning in September. Applications are due by July 15, 2023.
Photo by David DeNee
Admission to The Orchestra Now requires audition and academic review. The elements of the application are:
Note: Students accepted into TŌN must pass both artistic and academic requirements.
School transcripts: Unofficial transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended for at least one academic year can be uploaded to the application. Official transcript(s) only need to be requested from the issuing institution(s) after applicant has received a finals audition invitation, and no later than Friday, May 21, 2021.
Audition Prescreening
Members of The Orchestra Now 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: The Orchestra Now 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: The Orchestra Now tunes to A440.
Students in The Orchestra Now 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.
The Orchestra Now 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.
*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.
Bard College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a regional accrediting agency approved by the United States Education Department. Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, 2nd Floor West, Philadelphia, PA 19104; phone 267-284-5000.
https://www.msche.org/institution/0267/
The New York State Education Department has registered the following courses of study leading to Bard College bachelor, masters, and doctoral degrees: the bachelor of arts, bachelor of music, bachelor of science, master of arts in curatorial studies, master of arts in teaching, master of fine arts, master of business administration in sustainability, master of music in vocal arts, master of music in conducting, master of music in curatorial, critical, and performance studies, master of science in environmental policy, master of science in climate science and policy, master of education in environmental education, master of science and master of arts in economic theory and policy, and the master of arts, master of philosophy, and doctor of philosophy degrees in decorative arts, design history, and material culture. New York State Education Department, Office of Higher Education, Office of College and University Evaluation, Room 960 EBA, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234; phone 518-474-1551.
http://www.nysed.gov/heds/IRPSL1.html
Bard is also a member of the American Council on Education, American Council of Learned Societies, Association of American Colleges and Universities, College Entrance Examination Board, Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, Education Records Bureau, and Environmental Consortium of Hudson Valley Colleges and Universities.
Notice of Nondiscrimination
Bard College is committed to ensuring equal access to its educational programs and equal employment without regard to an individual’s sex, gender, race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, veteran status, military status, domestic violence victim status, ex-offender status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Students, employees, applicants, and other members of Bard College community (including, but not limited to, vendors, visitors, and guests) shall not be subject to discrimination or harassment prohibited by law or otherwise treated adversely based upon a protected characteristic. Similarly, the College will not tolerate harassing, violent, intimidating, or discriminatory conduct by its students, employees, or any other member of, or visitor to, the College community. This includes, without limitation, sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual violence, dating violence, and domestic violence.
Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Bard College complies with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. This act assures students attending a postsecondary institution that they will have the right to inspect and review certain of their educational records and, by following the guidelines provided by the College, to correct inaccurate or misleading data through informal or formal hearings. It protects students’ rights to privacy by limiting transfer of these records without their consent, except in specific circumstances. Students have the right to file complaints with the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. College policy relating to the maintenance of student records is available, on request, from the Office of the Registrar.