Curtis Institute of Music

Thank you for your interest in the Curtis Institute of Music.

Admission is a two-step process: applying and auditioning. Please review the necessary materials, prescreening requirements, and audition repertoire at Curtis.edu. Applications must be submitted by December 15, 2022.

All audition dates, procedures, and protocols will be posted on the Curtis audition page as they become available.

Auditions will consist of pre-recorded submissions, interviews, and in-person rounds during February and March 2023. If in-person rounds are not possible, the admissions team will coordinate safe and equitable live virtual auditions. A final decision on the audition format will be made closer to the application deadline in early December.

It is understood and agreed that submitting an application does not obligate the Curtis Institute of Music to provide an audition.

The Curtis Institute of Music educates and trains exceptionally gifted young musicians to engage a local and global community through the highest level of artistry.

The Curtis Institute of Music pairs tradition and innovation, educating exceptionally gifted young musicians as artist-citizens who engage a local and global community through music-making of the highest caliber.

Each year 175 students come to Curtis, “one of the world’s finest music academies” (BBC Culture), drawn by a tuition-free, performance-inspired learning culture. In this intimate environment, they are nurtured by a celebrated faculty and inspired by the school’s distinctive “learn by doing” approach, offering more than 200 concerts each year in Philadelphia, as well as performances around the world through Curtis on Tour.

The extraordinary young musicians of Curtis graduate to join 4,000 alumni who have long made music history. Each season leading orchestras, opera houses, and chamber music series around the world feature Curtis alumni. They are in the front rank of soloists, composers, and conductors, and hold principal chairs in every major American orchestra. Curtis graduates are musical leaders, making a profound impact on music onstage and in their communities.

Core Values

Success in meeting Curtis's principal objectives requires unwavering commitment to the school's core values:

• Excellence
• "Learn by doing" philosophy, achievable through its unique, small size
• Tuition-free policy
• Musical leadership, advocacy, and engagement
• Institutional adaptability, flexibility, and diversity