Strings

• Early Action (EA) is not available for majors requiring a portfolio or audition, which includes all undergraduate Thornton majors. Therefore, all first-year applicants to the Thornton School must select the “Regular Decision” option for the “Preferred admission plan” in the Common Application. Applicants will not be able to select a Thornton major under the “Early Action” admission plan in the Common Application.
• Undergraduate applicants to the Thornton School are only permitted to select one Thornton major through the Common Application and it must be selected as the first-choice major.
• Applicants who would like to be considered for admission to a second Thornton major must complete the Second Major Request process by December 1. Please note that it is important to plan ample time to complete this process. Click here for Second Major Request instructions.
• The final application deadline for undergraduate applicants to the Thornton School is December 1. The Common Application will list multiple deadlines but all Thornton applicants must complete both the USC Undergraduate Application process and the Thornton SlideRoom Portfolio by the December 1 deadline to be considered for admission. Applicants who fail to complete the application process by December 1 may be removed from consideration.

• Undergraduate applicants to the Thornton School are only permitted to select one Thornton major through the Common Application and it must be selected as the first-choice major.
• Applicants who would like to be considered for admission to a second Thornton major must complete the Second Major Request process by December 1. Please note that it is important to plan ample time to complete this process. Click here for Second Major Request instructions.
• The final application deadline for undergraduate applicants to the Thornton School is December 1. The Common Application will list multiple deadlines but all Thornton applicants must complete both the USC Undergraduate Application process and the Thornton SlideRoom Portfolio by the December 1 deadline to be considered for admission. Applicants who fail to complete the application process by December 1 may be removed from consideration.

All string applicants are required to submit unedited video recordings to the SlideRoom portal for prescreening purposes by the application deadline. Audio only recordings will not be accepted. The results of the prescreening (as determined by the appropriate faculty) will determine whether an applicant will be invited to perform a live audition.

Violin, Viola, and Cello applicants must submit video recordings for prescreening that contain at least 15 minutes of music, which includes:

1. A movement of a solo Bach suite, partita, or sonata, no repeats
2. One movement from a concerto
3. One virtuosic piece or caprice of the applicants choosing

Double bass applicants must submit video recordings for prescreen that contain the following:

1. One movement of a double bass concerto or comparable works from the double bass solo repertoire
2. Two orchestral excerpts from the orchestral repertoire
3. One movement of a solo Bach Suite in any key

Harp applicants must submit video recordings for prescreen that contain the following:

1. Two contrasting solo works
2. Three orchestral excerpts

Applicants must perform all music from memory, except sonata/duo works or contemporary works composed after 1970. All 15 minutes of music must have been recorded within the last year. Comments regarding the prescreening material will not be released to the applicant.

Applicants who do not provide the required prescreening materials by the stated deadline will not be considered for a live audition.

All applicants to undergraduate Thornton programs are required to submit a single-take, unedited, and preferably unscripted 1-2 minute video that offers a brief personal introduction and answers the following question: How do you envision using your USC Thornton education to become a force for positive change in the evolution of the music profession and music as an art form?

The classical music profession is changing, and we’re changing with it. USC Thornton’s undergraduate classical music curriculum (called “The ReDesign”) maintains a rigorous foundation of the finest conservatory training, while also offering flexibility for students to chart their own artistic pathway. We aim to create musical leaders who can not only take advantage of traditional opportunities, but also discover new ones – and even create their own. All four years are aimed at the two things most important to musicians: taking their musicianship to the highest levels and preparing for a thriving professional life.

At the heart of the ReDesign is the Young Artist Project. This individualized, mentored project is pursued during the junior and senior years of the program, and requires students to develop and fully realize a unique project related to their work as a classical musician. This could involve developing a hybrid performance, conducting original research, exploring new technologies, or applying creative expression to a pressing social issue.

To help us get to know our applicants and their unique identity as young musicians, all applicants to undergraduate programs in the Thornton School are required to submit (via SlideRoom) a single-take, unedited, and preferably unscripted video of no more than two minutes. In this video applicants must answer the following question: If you were pitching your Young Artist Project idea today, what is the most daring project you would propose and why?”

The résumé should list musical, professional, and academic experience and is generally 1-2 pages in length.

This list should include works studied and performed. Etudes, scale studies, arias, art songs, chamber music, solo pieces, and original compositions are all examples of what could be included in this list.

• First-year applicants are not required to upload transcripts in SlideRoom but must submit official transcripts to USC Admission, as required.
• Transfer applicants are required to upload a copy of all college transcripts in SlideRoom in addition to the official transcripts that must be submitted to USC Admission.
  • Note: USC Admission also requires official high school transcripts (with date of graduation) and official college transcripts of any and all college coursework completed through the fall term for all transfer applicants.

In addition to the recommendation letters required by USC Admission submitted via the Common Application, undergraduate applicants may submit optional letters of recommendation via the SlideRoom Portfolio “References” section. Important notes for optional letters of recommendation:

• Any optional letters of recommendation you want reviewed by the Thornton faculty must be submitted via the Thornton SlideRoom “References” section by December 1. We cannot guarantee the review of any material received after December 1.
• Required letters of recommendation submitted to USC Admission through the appropriate Common Application avenues will automatically be included with the Thornton SlideRoom application for review by Thornton Faculty for first-year/freshman applicants.
• USC Admission will not receive any optional letter of recommendation submitted through the Thornton SlideRoom “References” section.
• Any recommendation sent via mail or email will not be reviewed by the Thornton faculty.

Applicants to the Thornton School will be required to complete and upload the following form in SlideRoom:

• Consent and Release Form (if applicant is under 18 years of age by December 1, 2024)

For helpful Slideroom media upload troubleshooting tips, please click here.

Applicants must prepare repertoire for the live audition as described below. All music should be performed from memory, except sonata/duo works or contemporary works composed after 1960. The live auditions will be held in 15 minute increments, though the faculty panel may decide that the student need not perform for the full 15 minutes. The presiding faculty will determine the actual music performed at the audition, choosing from the list of repertoire prepared by the applicant according to the requirements as described below. Applicants with insufficient required repertoire may be disqualified at the discretion of the faculty panel.

Piano accompaniment is strongly preferred, but not required. For applicants performing their live audition in-person on the USC campus, a suggested list of pianists available for hire (at the applicant’s own expense) is available through the Strings office at the Thornton School: (213) 740-7702. Applicants must provide a copy of piano scores to the pianist for the audition.

It should be carefully noted that some members of the strings faculty may request private interviews and/or lessons in addition to the audition requirements detailed on this page in order for the applicant to be given the fullest consideration for placement in their studios. Typically, these additional meetings are scheduled around, but not during, the regular live audition dates. All specific arrangements for these meetings are considered and finalized by the faculty members themselves. Thornton faculty contact information can be found here.

Violin

1. Two contrasting movements from a solo Bach sonata or partita, no repeats
2. One movement with applicable cadenza from a concerto (excluding the slow movement)
3. One virtuosic piece or Paganini Caprice
4. An open/choice work or movement (the Strings department is dedicated to expanding exposure to works by Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) composers. To see a sample list of some pieces, please click here.)

Viola

1. Two contrasting movements from a solo Bach suite, partita, or sonata, no repeats
2. A sonata movement or other duo work for viola and piano
3. One movement with applicable cadenza from a concerto (excluding the slow movement)
4. An open/choice work or movement (the Strings department is dedicated to expanding exposure to works by Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) composers. To see a sample list of some pieces, please click here.)

Cello

1. Two contrasting movements of a solo Bach suite, no repeats
2. First movement of a concerto (with applicable cadenza) or another complete work (such as Rococo Variations [Tchaikovsky] or Schelomo [Bloch])
3. One virtuosic piece
4. An open/choice work or movement (the Strings department is dedicated to expanding exposure to works by Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) composers. To see a sample list of some pieces, please click here.)

Double Bass

1. Two contrasting movements of a double bass concerto or comparable works from the double bass solo repertoire
2. Three orchestral excerpts from the orchestral repertoire
3. Two movements of a solo Bach Suite in any key, no repeats
4. An open/choice work or movement (the Strings department is dedicated to expanding exposure to works by Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) composers. To see a sample list of some pieces, please click here.)

Harp

1. Two contrasting solo works
2. Three orchestral excerpts