Prescreening Videos + Live Auditions
Prescreening Videos
All programs require a prescreening video recording or portfolio, which is due with the online application. Applicants who advance through the prescreening round will be invited to audition live at NEC or, in select situations, submit a final audition recording. Video-recorded auditions are only allowed for applicants to certain programs who live outside a 500-mile radius of NEC.
Audition Dates by Instrument (Fall 2026)
AD Instrumental
Friday, February 6, 2026
AD Jazz/CMA
Friday, February 13, 2026
AD Opera
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Bassoon
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Cello
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Monday, February 16, 2026
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Chamber Music for Pianists
Monday, March 2, 2026
Choral Conducting
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Clarinet
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Monday, February 16, 2026
Collaborative Piano
Monday, February 16, 2026
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Composition (for Harvard+NEC and DMA only)
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Contemporary Musical Arts
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Double Bass
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Flute
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Sunday, February 15, 2026
French Horn
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Guitar
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Harp
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Jazz Bass and Guitar
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Jazz Brass
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Jazz Composition
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Jazz Drums and Percussion
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Jazz Piano
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Jazz Saxophone
Monday, February 16, 2026
Jazz Violin
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Jazz Voice
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Music Theory
An interview date will be arranged with qualifying applicants after prescreening.
Musicology
An interview date will be arranged with qualifying applicants after prescreening.
Oboe
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Orchestral Conducting
Monday, February 23, 2026
Percussion
Friday, February 13, 2026
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Piano
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Professional Piano Trio
Monday, March 2, 2026
Professional String Quartet
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Saxophone
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Trombone
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Trumpet
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Euphonium
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Tuba
Friday, February 13, 2026
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Viola
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Violin
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Monday, February 16, 2026
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Vocal Performance
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Monday, February 16, 2026
Sunday, February 22, 2026