There are four stages to the audition process. They include:
- Application to Audition, including a 15 minute video
- Live Audition
- QTAC Application
- Acceptance
Applications to audition open on Wednesday 6 May 2026. The due date is 4pm on Monday 7 September 2026. All on-time applications that progress to the second round of auditions are considered for our first-year Music scholarships.
The School may accept late applications to audition on a case by case basis. Late applications are not considered for our first-year Music scholarships. Under no circumstances will late applications be considered after 4pm on Monday 23 November 2026.
Application Formats
The School of Music determines which instrument you can study in the Bachelor of Music program if you are successful in obtaining an offer of a place through the audition process.
Applicants may audition for one or two of the following:
- Brass (any of euphonium, horn, trombone, trumpet, tuba)
- Classical Guitar (not electric guitar)
- Composition
- Harp
- Percussion (including drum kit)
- Piano (not electric keyboard)
- Strings (any of cello, double bass, violin, viola)
- Woodwind (any of saxophone, bassoon, clarinet, flute, oboe)
- Voice
Instrumental and voice applicants must submit a video recording performing three Western Art Music works of contrasting styles from different periods for the audition. Works should be presented with accompaniment when required: applicants must make personal arrangements for accompaniment. Blues, jazz, popular, folk, rock and similar genres are not acceptable repertoire for your audition. Percussionists must supply your own sticks and mallets for the audition.
Composition applicants must submit an audio recording of three varied compositions (or excerpts) of approximately two minutes each, demonstrating a range of instrumentation and/or style and including the staff notation and recording (the recording may be a midi realisation). Electronic works without score may also be included. You are not required to play your own compositions in your video submission, but if you are invited to the second round of live auditions, you will be asked to perform your scores where possible, and required to demonstrate your skill on an instrument that can participate in ensemble performances with other composition students in workshops.
The School of Music does not provide verbal or written feedback on your audition.
Application to Audition
In the Application to Audition all applicants submit a link to an audio-visual recording of their 15-minute audition on YouTube.
For performers, your audition video must be unedited and recorded in a single take. Your recording will be considered purely on the basis of your performance skills and musicianship. The quality of the recording is not taken into consideration. Phone, tablet and other audio-visual devices are all acceptable. Accompaniment is not necessary, but you may use pre-recorded accompaniment if you wish. If you are unable to access an instrument to make a recording, please email Dr Anna Grinberg.
For composers, your audition video must include the staff notation and recording (which may be a midi realisation). Electronic works without score may also be included. If you are unable to access the equipment to make a recording, please email Dr Anna Grinberg.
Recordings will be viewed by academic staff, and you will be notified on Tuesday 15 September 2026 if you have progressed to the second round of live auditions. Live auditions will be scheduled at the School of Music on the following dates:
- Saturday 19 September 2026
- Sunday 27 September 2026
If you are unable to travel to Brisbane for the live round of auditions, your audition panel will arrange a Zoom or telephone interview after they have reviewed your audition video.
If you are able to travel to Brisbane but are not available for your scheduled audition date and time, we will schedule a mutually convenient date and time with you for a live audition at the School of Music, or, if that is not possible, a Zoom or telephone interview.
All live auditions must take place by 4pm on Friday 27 November 2026.
Live Audition
We look forward to welcoming you to The UQ School of Music for your audition. Please arrive at the School of Music (location details below) at least 20 minutes before your scheduled audition time. You (and your accompanist, if you have one) can use a practice room for 15 minutes to prepare for your audition.
When you arrive, our student volunteers will take you and any family or friends who are with you to our waiting room. From there, a student volunteer will take you and your accompanist upstairs to a practice room, and then to the room for your audition.
Your audition and interview will take approximately 15 minutes. You may be asked to perform specific parts of your audition repertoire, or to perform a complete work: don’t expect to perform all your audition repertoire. You will be asked questions about your practice and your interests: this is also your opportunity to ask School of Music teachers questions about the School, our programs, and so on.
The audition process is flexible and accommodating. For example, it is not mandatory to have an accompanist if this is difficult for you to arrange. We want to make the audition as smooth and easy for you as possible: for us, it is an opportunity to get to meet you and to get to know you better.
Applicants auditioning on all instruments except classical guitar, composition, and piano are likely to require accompaniment for one or more of the works in their audition repertoire. Applicants must make personal arrangements for accompaniment. Details of potential accompanists are available at the Accompanists’ Guild of Queensland website.
External Auditions
If you can’t attend an in-person audition, you will be sent a Zoom invitation to meet with School of Music teachers. Due to sound quality issues on Zoom, you are not expected to perform your audition repertoire at this interview: teachers will refer to your audition video instead. Your Zoom interview is your chance to ask and answer questions about your practice, the School, our programs, and so on.
Travelling to Campus
There is free parking at Saint Lucia campus on the weekend. You can also travel to campus by public transport (bus and City Cat). The closest location to our building is the Conifer Knoll Parking Station (#98D).
The School of Music is located in the Zelman Cowen Building, (Building 51), on Staff House Road. A campus map is available at mazemap.com. More information on parking and transport is available at http://www.uq.edu.au/parking. The UQ Maps app may also assist you with navigating the campus via your smartphone.
Refreshments
Most food outlets on campus are not open on weekends. Saint Lucy Caffe e Cucina (near the tennis courts, a 10-minute walk from our building) will be open, and the EzyMart near Wordsmith’s Café may also be open.
Applying for a Place in the Bachelor of Music Program
In addition to your audition, you must also apply for a place in your chosen Bachelor of Music program and meet all entry requirements for your program.
All domestic students and international students currently undertaking Year 12 studies in Australia apply through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) for a place in the Bachelor of Music program. Domestic students apply for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), while international students apply for a full fee paying (FFP) place.
- UQ Bachelor of Music single degree program – QTAC Code 723002
- UQ Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Education (Secondary) dual degree program – QTAC Code 723202
- UQ Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Arts dual degree program – QTAC Code 723302
- UQ Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Science dual degree program – QTAC Code 723402
- UQ Bachelor of Music/Diploma of Languages dual degree program – QTAC Code 723502
- UQ Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Mathematics dual degree program – QTAC code 740018
- UQ Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Business Management dual degree program – QTAC Code 740501
See the QTAC website for detailed information about applying for a place, including application due dates.
All international students not currently undertaking Year 12 studies in Australia apply directly through UQ International for a full fee paying (FFP) place in your preferred Bachelor of Music program. See the UQ International website for detailed information about applying for a place, including application due dates.
Accepting a Place in the Bachelor of Music Program
Once all auditions have been completed, the School determines if you have passed the audition requirement for the Bachelor of Music program. In making this decision, the School takes into consideration your performance in the audition and your musical and educational background. The School will advise you of its decision by mid-October.
All domestic students receive offers from QTAC based on your QTAC preference listing and eligibility for entry. You will receive an offer from QTAC for your UQ Bachelor of Music program providing it is your highest eligible preference and you meet all entry requirements: if it is your preferred program, please list it as your first preference.
The major QTAC offer round for the Bachelor of Music single degree is in December: the main QTAC offer round for each of the Bachelor of Music dual degrees is either December or January. See the QTAC website for detailed information about offer rounds.