Queens College | Aaron Copland School of Music

The Aaron Copland School of Music - Queens College (CUNY), located in Queens, New York, is arguably  the highest quality music conservatory for the lowest cost in the United States. Our school is ranked among the best in the country for debt-free graduation. Study with world-class faculty for a fraction of the price! 

Though we are part of the world’s largest urban university, we offer an intimate college experience with low student to teacher ratios in all of our classes. All of our students take classes with familiar faces throughout the entirety of the program. At the Aaron Copland School of Music, you will foster musical connections that will last a lifetime because of our supportive community of students, faculty, and alumni, who all agree that the feeling of camaraderie makes the Aaron Copland School of Music such a special place.  

Our program is hidden safely in the heart of Queens, the most diverse borough on Earth. The best of both worlds, our eighty-acre campus offers the classic college feel while being just a stone’s throw from the excitement of New York City. Our campus provides a quiet neighborhood in which to study while only being a subway ride to midtown Manhattan. Our modern facility is equipped with ample rehearsal space, a Steinway piano in every classroom and rehearsal studio, recording studios, one of the most comprehensive music libraries in the NY area, and four performance spaces — including the visually and acoustically stunning LeFrak Concert Hall. 

IMPORTANT: In order to be accepted to the Aaron Copland School of Music, you must also apply to Queens College using one of the links below.  You should NOT wait for the result of that application to schedule your audition. 
 
(Undergraduate Programs General Queens College Application)

(Graduate/Certificate Programs General Queens College Application)

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Informational Links

Our Degrees

Audition Requirements (Undergraduate Performance)

Audition Requirements (Undergraduate Music Education/General Music)

Audition Requirements (Graduate Performance)

Audition Requirements (Graduate Jazz) 

Program Requirement (Jazz)

Sample Undergraduate Theory Exam

Sample Graduate Theory Exam

Tuition and Fees

Excelsior Scholarship - Free Tuition for NY State Residents 

Macaulay Honors College - Free Tuition for High Academic Achievers (Apply Early)

On-Campus Housing

Foreign Language Requirements 

Audition Dates

SPRING 2025 ENTRY

Tues. November 19,2024 - Prescreen Submission Deadline (Jazz MM Program Only)

Fri. November 22, 2024 - Jazz Auditions (Invite Only by Passing the Prescreen)

Sun. December 1, 2025 - Video Submission Deadline (All Classical Programs)

Wed. December 4 - Theory Placement Exam on Zoom (All Undergraduate and MM Classical Performance Applicants)


FALL 2025 ENTRY

Sun, February 23, 2025 - Piano (All Program), Winds (All Programs), Voice (All Programs), Strings (MM, Adv Cert/Dipl, BMus Perf, 5 year Program)

Sun, March 2, 2025 - Brass (All Programs), Guitar (All Programs), Percussion (All Programs), Strings (BMus Mus Ed, BA General Music)

Sun, March 2, 2025 - Out of State Video Submission Deadline (All Programs)

Mon, March 10 2025 - Placement Exam on Zoom (Out of State Undergraduate and MM Classical Performance Applicants)

Tues. March 25, 2025 - Prescreen Submission Deadline (Jazz MM Program Only)

Fri. March 28, 2025 - Jazz Auditions (Invite Only by Passing the Prescreen)


Placement Examinations (for all undergraduates and MM Classical Applicants) 

Spring Entry: December 4, 2024

Fall Entry: February 23, March 2, March 10, 2025


BY INSTRUMENT 

Voice

Spring Entry: Video Submission by December 1, 2024

Fall Entry: In Person Auditions Feburary 23. 2025

Piano Performance: BMus (including 5 yr program), MM, Adv Cert/Dipl

Spring Entry: Video Submission by December 1, 2024 

Fall Entry: In Person Auditions Feburary 23. 2025

Piano Music Ed and BA General Music

Spring Entry: Video Submission by December 1, 2024

Fall Entry: In Person Auditions Feburary 23. 2025

Strings Performance: BMus (including 5 yr program), MM, Adv Cert/Dipl

Spring Entry: Video Submission by December 1, 2024

Fall Entry: In Person Auditions Feburary 23. 2025

Strings Music Ed and BA General Music 

Spring Entry: Video Submission by December 1, 2024

Fall Entry: In Person Auditions March 2, 2025

Brass 

Spring Entry: Video Submission by December 1, 2024

Fall Entry: In Person Auditions March 2, 2025

Woodwinds

Spring Entry: Video Submission by December 1, 2024

Fall Entry: In Person Auditions Feburary 23. 2025

Guitar 

Spring Entry: Video Submission by December 1, 2024

Fall Entry:

Percussion 

Spring Entry: Video Submission by December 1, 2024

Fall Entry: In Person Auditions March 2, 2025

Jazz Master of Music (Prescreen required):

Spring Entry: 

Tues. November 19,2024 - Prescreen Submission Deadline (Jazz MM Program Only)

Fri. November 22, 2024 - Jazz Auditions (Invite Only by Passing the Prescreen)

Fall Entry:

Tues. March 25, 2025 - Prescreen Submission Deadline (Jazz MM Program Only)

Fri. March 28, 2025 - Jazz Auditions (Invite Only by Passing the Prescreen)

• Undergraduate and Graduate Classical Programs- Email TLee1@qc.cuny.edu
• Master of Music Jazz Program- Email Teresa.Sanchez@qc.cuny.edu

For technical questions, please check out our Acceptd Applicant Support Help Desk!