Piano

To receive full consideration for admission and graduate assistantships, the application deadline is December 1. The School of Music cannot guarantee an audition, interview, admission, or graduate assistantship if application is received after the deadline.

Assistantships

There is no separate application for assistantship. Unless the applicant indicates otherwise, we assume that all applicants are interested in being considered for assistantships. Please note that assistantships are usually awarded for the Fall and Spring semesters together. We very seldom have assistantships available for anyone entering in a Spring semester. We do not award assistantships for Summer sessions.

Application Procedure

Submit the online application (see Graduate Admissions page) and all materials described below.

The members of the piano faculty will review all application materials. Candidates will be invited to audition based on the quality of the preliminary recordings, the candidates’ professional materials, if applicable, teaching credentials, and the completion of the application. Individuals invited to audition will be contacted by email to schedule a live, on-campus final audition. More details on the audition can be found at the bottom of this page.

Pre-screening application materials required for this degree

These items must be submitted to the online graduate application system.

Repertoire list of significant solo and chamber piano repertoire. This list should include works that you have rehearsed and/or studied (even if you did not perform them in public recitals).
- Submitted to the online application under Supporting Documents
Copies of program content for all solo recitals planned or performed, as well as solo piano performances
- Submitted to the online application under Supporting Documents
A video recording of a memorized solo performance of at least 30 minutes. The video must include works of at least three composers, each of a contrasting style or era. Applicants are encouraged to highlight personal interests by including works of underrepresented composers, groups, cultures, and styles.
- Submitted to the online application. Audio or video files or links to online recordings may be submitted under Digital Portfolio > Upload Media.
Applicants to the MM Piano Performance and Pedagogy are encouraged to include an online link of their teaching if it is available. One or several teaching segments of private lesson or group class may be included.
- Submitted to the online application. Video files or links to online video recordings may be submitted under Digital Portfolio > Upload Media.

Application materials required for all graduate degrees

These items must be submitted to the online graduate application system.

Resume
- Submitted to the online application under the Resume tab.
Statement of Purpose
- Submitted to the online application under the Statement of Purpose tab
- Please compose a brief personal statement (approximately 2–3 pages of double-spaced, 12-point font text with 1-inch margins) regarding your desire to pursue a graduate degree in music. Include responses to the following prompts:
  1. How would you describe your professional path to this point?
  2. Why do you want to pursue this degree at OU?
  3. How do you want to grow musically, artistically, pedagogically, and/or intellectually during your graduate studies?
  4. What skills, expertise, and experiences do you bring to graduate study at OU?
  5. Describe your post-degree plans (i.e., How will you apply your newly acquired academic knowledge and expertise?).
Three letters of reference
- Submitted to the online application under Recommendations tab
- Your three reference letters should include:
  - At least one letter from: your studio professor, ensemble conductor, chamber coach, etc., or a person who has considerable knowledge about your abilities as a performer or composer.
  - At least one letter from: a person who can speak to your abilities as a scholar of music.

Requirements for Final Audition

The members of the piano faculty will review all application materials described above. Individuals invited to audition will be contacted by email to schedule a live, on-campus final audition.

If invited to audition, prepare 30 minutes of music to perform from memory. The program must include works of at least three composers, each of a contrasting style or era. Applicants are encouraged to highlight personal interests by including works of underrepresented composers, groups, cultures, and styles. The in-person audition may include repertoire submitted in the prescreening video. Applicants will be asked to sight read during the audition.

Date	Type
January 31, 2026	Masters or doctoral applicants only
February 7, 2026	All degree programs
February 14, 2026	Masters or doctoral only (last day for doctoral applicants)
February 21, 2026	Masters or undergraduate applicants only (last day for masters applicants)
February 28, 2026	Undergraduate applicants only