Audition Information
Interested in applying to middle school arts programs? The information on this page is provided to give students time to practice and prepare for auditions in advance.
- Applicants can submit virtual audition videos and materials for middle school arts programs directly through MySchools––learn how in the video tutorial below.
- The deadline to submit auditions is Friday, December 8.
- Click the links below to learn more about the admissions process and audition components for various citywide, borough, and district arts programs. Be sure to check each program's eligibility.
CITYWIDE PROGRAMS
Mark Twain IS 239 Admissions and Auditions
Eligibility: Open to NYC residents
Mark Twain, located in Coney Island, Brooklyn, has ten talent areas, each with its own admissions program.
- The following programs will rank applicants based on talent test: Computer/Math, Creative Writing/Journalism, Science
- The following arts programs will virtually audition applicants, and admissions will be based solely on the audition: Art, Dance, Drama, Media, String Instruments, Vocal, Wind Instrument.
- Applicants may apply to one or two admissions programs at Mark Twain. This may include two programs using talent tests, two programs using auditions, or one of each.
- For Residents or Students of District 21: Applicants who live or attend school in District 21 and are interested in the District 21 talent programs can also use the same components listed below to apply. Learn more in the "District 21 Auditions" section below.
- Visit Mark Twain's website to learn more about auditions for this school's programs.
Audition components by discipline are as follows:
Art (Open to NYC Residents)
- Eligibility: Open to NYC Residents
- Learn about what this program requires by visiting their website
Dance (Open to NYC Residents)
- Eligibility: Open to NYC Residents
- Learn about what this program requires by visiting their website
Drama (Open to NYC Residents)
- Eligibility: Open to NYC Residents
- Learn about what this program requires by visiting their website
Media (Open to NYC Residents)
- Eligibility: Open to NYC Residents
- Learn about what this program requires by visiting their website
Strings Talent (Open to NYC Residents)
- Eligibility: Open to NYC Residents
- Learn about what this program requires by visiting their website
Winds Talent (Open to NYC Residents)
- Eligibility: Open to NYC Residents
- Learn about what this program requires by visiting their website
Vocal Music (Open to NYC Residents)
- Eligibility: Open to NYC Residents
- Learn about what this program requires by visiting their website
Professional Performing Arts School Auditions
Eligibility: Open to NYC residents
Professional Performing Arts School has one program, Theatrical Arts, that requires the two following audition components:
- Acting: Students perform a one-minute monologue from memory. Choose characters that you relate to and decide to whom your characters are talking and why. Students select their own monologue to perform but are welcome to review and select a monologue from a pool of several suggested diverse pieces available here.
- Before performing, briefly introduce yourself, and provide the following information:
- Your name
- Your Student ID number (OSIS number)
- Singing: Students sing 16 bars of a memorized song of any genre. Songs can be performed acapella or with accompaniment. Choose a song performed by a character you relate to and decide to whom your character is addressing and why.
- Before perfoming, briefly introduce yourself, and provide the following information:
- Your name
- Your Student ID number (OSIS number)
Special Music School Auditions
Eligibility: Open to NYC residents
Prepare and submit BOTH videos specified below. The following instruments are permitted for an audition at Special Music School: Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba.
Saxophone, Voice, Harp, Drums/Percussion, Composition, and Recorder are NOT permitted.
Video #1
Perform ONE prepared solo selection without accompaniment.
- Select a piece you feel confident performing that shows your skill level and musicality.
- Before playing, briefly introduce yourself, and provide the following information:
- Your name
- Your Student ID number (OSIS number)
- Title of the piece you will be playing
- Why did you choose this piece? How does this piece speak to you as a musician? (30 seconds or less)
Video #2
Perform ONE scale of your choice at a tempo (speed) you find comfortable.
- This is another opportunity for reviewers to learn more about how:
- low and how high you can play.
- comfortably and quickly you can move from note to note.
- clean and precise your playing is.
- well you are able to play in tune.
- well you know what notes make up your selected scale.
- playing the correct notes is most important.
- Before playing, briefly introduce yourself, and provide the following information:
- Your name
- Your Student ID number (OSIS number)
For help preparing a scale or rudiments, please see this folder.
Ballet Tech Auditions
Eligibility: Open to NYC residents
All applicants to Ballet Tech must complete and submit an audition video.
Applicants must learn and perform a pre-recorded series of dance steps. The video will be used to assess the following criteria: physicality, coordination, flexibility, creative expression, and familiarity with ballet technique.
- The student should first familiarize themselves with the pre-recorded video.
- Set the camera up in a well-lit area where the student can be seen from head to toe.
- Record the video. The student can watch the pre-recorded video and follow along while they are recording their own video. At the start of the video, be sure that the student states their name, their current elementary school, and their student ID number (OSIS number).
Ballet Tech may ask applicants to come in for an in-person call-back audition.
BOROUGHWIDE AND DISTRICT PROGRAMS
District 21 Program Admissions and Auditions
Eligibility: Open to students and residents of District 21
Students who are eligible to apply to District 21 middle schools may apply to one or two talent areas at Mark Twain, and/or one or two talent areas at other District 21 middle schools.
- Students can apply to one or two types of D21 talent programs across all schools including Mark Twain. For example, a student can apply to the Science and Vocal programs at Mark Twain, and also at Bay Academy.
- Students may not have more than two types of D21 talent programs on their application. For instance, a student cannot apply to Science and Vocal programs at Mark Twain, and Athletics and Vocal programs at Bay Academy.
- All D21 talent areas are using the Mark Twain audition process. Therefore, if an applicant is applying to a talent area at any D21 school, they should submit a virtual audition using the Additional Materials option in MySchools. For example, if an applicant is applying to the String Instruments program at Seth Low, the applicant should submit a virtual audition to Mark Twain / District 21 Talent Test String Instruments.)
- Learn more in the "Mark Twain IS 239" section above.
Theatre Arts Production Company School
Eligibility: Open to students and residents of the Bronx
THEATRE ARTS PRODUCTION COMPANY
Students auditioning for Middle School must submit ONE of the following and upload the file to MySchools:
- DANCE: Record a 30-45 second solo (any style).
- THEATRE: Record a monologue (1 minute).
- VOCAL MUSIC: Learn a song and record yourself performing it.
- VISUAL ARTS: Upload a photograph of a self-portrait (use graphite drawing pencil and paper) OR one photograph of a still life (with at least 2 items).
- INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC: Record a video playing an instrument without accompaniment (playing by yourself) OR perform one scale of your choice tempo.
Remember to include your Name and OSIS# at the beginning of your video and name of all files uploaded (videos and photographs).
For more information on Admissions, please visit TAPCo.
Bronx Dance Academy
M.S. 180 Dr. Daniel Hale Williams
MS 113 Ronald Edmonds Learning Center
MS 936 Arts Off 3rd
JHS 157 Halsey – Performing Arts Program