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Voice · 164 verified programs with a classical voice pathway

Classical Voice: degrees, diplomas and programs

Classical voice study combines technique, languages and repertoire for opera, art song, oratorio and choral work, often with strong performance training.

Also called: Voice (classical), Opera singing, Gesang, Chant, Canto.

What the listings below mean

A program is listed for classical voice only where its official page names the instrument in the title, as a major, or as a formal principal-study pathway. These are formal degree, diploma or certificate pathways; the page says which. An instrument taught in private lessons, or a teacher on the faculty, does not create a listing.

90 Bachelor’s · 62 Master’s · 5 Practice doctorate · 5 Diploma · 2 Certificate · 26 formal principal-study pathway, 111 named major, 27 named in the program title

164 programs

How results are ordered: alphabetically by institution, or by most recently checked when you choose that sort. There is no price ranking, because tuition in different currencies, fee categories and bases (per year, per credit, whole program) is not comparable. A program appears under a subject only through a verified link (dedicated degree, major, concentration or documented pathway). A value we could not verify is shown as “not published”, never as “no”. Items marked Sponsored are paid placements; they never change verification or order. Online programs are not counted as physically located in a state or city, and an institution’s location does not tell you whether it enrols students from your country.

Published classical voice audition repertoire

Copied from each program’s own admissions page. Requirements are specific to the program and intake: follow the link and check the current year.

  • Abilene Christian University: Music | Vocal Performance (BM)
    • Voice Majors: Perform in at least two of the following categories: A solo from the UIL list; An art song from the Baroque, Classic or Romantic era in a foreign language; A contemporary art song in English; An aria from an operetta, oratorio, or opera, in either the original language or a translation
  • University of Iowa: Bachelor of Music (BM)
    • Prescreening | No prescreening required. | Preparation requirements | Two songs of contrasting styles, one of which must be in English. Both selections must be memorized and appropriate repertoire for young singers wishing to train their voices in the classical style. | Time requirement | Audition materials should be thoroughly prepared and approximately 5 minutes in length. | Accompaniment | An accompanist will be provided at the audition. | Technical requirements | The audition will include sight-singing and tonal memory. | Repertoire | No required repertoire, please reach out to Music-Voice@uiowa.edu for repertoire suggestions.
  • Lawrence University: Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.)
    • Please sing, from memory, two solos of contrasting styles, at least one of which should demonstrate classical vocal production. One song must be sung in English; the other must be sung in a foreign language other than English. | An introductory video is required for recorded auditions | In submitting recordings for auditions, be mindful that studio faculty are assessing your voice. Avoid editing, mixing and too much reverb. | Vocal Arts | Vocal Arts Faculty
  • DePaul University: Bachelor of Music
    • We encourage all applicants to audition in person if possible. Audition registration will be available after prescreen results are sent. Register for a live audition by January 15. | Prescreen Repertoire - Due Dec. 1 | A prescreen is required for all applicants who list voice as their primary instrument. Please review our Prescreen Information page carefully before submission. | Your prescreening video must include two songs, one in English and one in a foreign language. Each song/aria should be uploaded as a single file (two video files should be uploaded in total). | Applicants should use songs to demonstrate different vocal techniques such as vowels that are sustained and supported over longer note values, vocal agility in passages with quick-moving notes, consistency of tone though low, middle, and high portions of the singers range, etc. Specific requirements and suggested repertoire is located at the bottom of this page. | Sample composers are provided below, but students are welcome to choose outside of that list. Selections should be accompanied when appropriate. | Audition Repertoire | An accompanist will be provided at your live audition. If you intend to bring your own a
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Bachelor of Music
    • Voice: Audition Requirements If your prescreening audition is accepted, you may perform any repertoire which meets the prescreening repertoire requirements. The repertoire may be the same as what you submitted for prescreening.
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Master of Music
    • Voice: Audition Requirements If your prescreening audition is accepted, you may perform any repertoire which meets the prescreening repertoire requirements. The repertoire may be the same as what you submitted for prescreening.
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Graduate Diploma
    • Voice: Audition Requirements If your prescreening audition is accepted, you may perform any repertoire which meets the prescreening repertoire requirements. The repertoire may be the same as what you submitted for prescreening.
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Artist Diploma
    • Voice: Audition Requirements If your prescreening audition is accepted, you may perform any repertoire which meets the prescreening repertoire requirements. The repertoire may be the same as what you submitted for prescreening.
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Artist Certificate
    • Voice: Audition Requirements If your prescreening audition is accepted, you may perform any repertoire which meets the prescreening repertoire requirements. The repertoire may be the same as what you submitted for prescreening.
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Doctor of Musical Arts
    • Voice: Audition Requirements If your prescreening audition is accepted, you may perform any repertoire which meets the prescreening repertoire requirements. The repertoire may be the same as what you submitted for prescreening.
  • DePaul University: Master of Music
    • ​​​We encourage all applicants to audition in person if possible. Audition registration will be available after prescreen results are sent. Register for a live audition by January 15. | Prescreen Repertoire - Due Dec. 1 | A prescreen is required for all applicants who list voice as their primary instrument. Please review our Prescreen Information page carefully before submission. | Your pre-screening video must include two songs, classical in nature, one in English and one in a foreign language. | Applicants should use songs to demonstrate different vocal techniques such as vowels that are sustained and supported over longer note values, vocal agility in passages with quick-moving notes, consistency of tone though low, middle, and high portions of the singers range, etc. | Selections should be accompanied when appropriate. | Audition Repertoire | One selection each in Italian, German, French, and English and include at least one opera or oratorio aria and one twentieth-century selection (four selections total). | Suggested Composers | In addition to the vast repertoire of baroque, classical, romantic, and 20th/21st century music written by Bach, Handel, Mozart, and their contempora
  • Northwestern University: Bachelor of Music
    • Audition dates: | Early Decision: November 9 & 16 | Regular Decision: February 5-6, 8, 12-13 | For Prescreening and Final Audition: | Applicants needn’t perform the same repertoire for both rounds of auditions, provided all repertoire meets the requirements below. | Memorization is required. | Four selections, one in each: | Italian | French or German | English | Language of your choice | Songs may be from the art song repertoire or a combination of art songs and arias from opera/oratorio. No more than two selections may be arias. Music selected should represent a variety of styles. Musical theater repertoire is not acceptable for the prescreening or live audition rounds. | Final Audition Musicianship Assessment | Immediately following their voice audition, all applicants invited to the final audition round will complete an individual musicianship assessment administered by the Office of Choral Organizations. No prior preparation is needed, and no study materials or further details are available. | The musicianship assessment will consist of the following: | Singing a melody at sight in a major or minor key | Performing rhythmic sight reading in duple and triple meters | Answering questions to assess basic musicianship (names of pitches on the treble and bass clef staves, key signatures,

About classical voice study

Classical voice is studied through weekly lessons with a voice teacher, supplemented by coaching with a pianist who helps with musical preparation, diction and style. Because the body is the instrument, training pays close attention to breath, posture, resonance, vocal health and the gradual development of a voice over years, and many teachers are cautious about pushing repertoire that the voice has not yet matured to sing. Voice types such as soprano, mezzo-soprano, countertenor, tenor, baritone and bass inform the repertoire a student prepares.

Repertoire spans opera, art song and lieder, oratorio and sacred works, and choral and ensemble singing. Programs usually require study of languages such as Italian, German and French, and often English, along with diction. Many include opera workshops, scenes programs or full productions, and acting, stage movement and role preparation. Art song and recital preparation, with a collaborative pianist, are a central strand.

Typical degree contexts include the Bachelor of Music in voice performance, the Master of Music, and practice doctorates such as the Doctor of Musical Arts. Opera is often offered as a separate program or track, and vocal pedagogy, early music and sacred music singing are available at some schools. Singers also train within music education and musical theatre programs, which have different emphases from classical voice.

What study typically involves

  • Vocal technique, breath management and vocal health
  • Repertoire in art song, lieder, opera arias and oratorio
  • Diction and singing in Italian, German, French and English
  • Coaching with collaborative pianists
  • Opera workshops, scenes and staged productions
  • Acting, stage movement and role preparation
  • Ear training, sight-singing and music theory
  • Choral and ensemble singing, and pedagogy in some programs

Award titles. Classical voice is commonly studied for a Bachelor of Music or BMus and a Master of Music or MMus. Some conservatories award an Artist Diploma, a graduate diploma or a postgraduate diploma to advanced singers; these are diploma-level awards and not master's degrees. Some opera studios offer non-degree training programs. The Doctor of Musical Arts is a practice doctorate centred on performance. Names vary by country, and this directory makes no equivalence claims.

A program is listed under classical voice in this directory only when its official page names the instrument in the title, as a major, or as a formal principal-study option. Voice lessons offered as an elective, or a faculty singer, do not count. Not every school offers classical voice as a degree specialization, and opera may be a separate track.

Auditions and admissions guidance

General orientation only. Each program publishes its own repertoire, format and deadlines; this directory cannot guarantee acceptance.

Voice auditions are usually live, often with a collaborative pianist provided by the school or brought by the applicant, and some programs ask for a recorded prescreening first. Applicants typically prepare several contrasting pieces in different languages and styles, such as art songs and arias, and the panel may ask to hear a selection or request a particular piece. They listen for vocal quality, musicality, language and potential.

Sight-singing, ear tests and theory examinations are common, and graduate programs may ask for evidence of diction in foreign languages. Interviews and a short acting or movement component can be part of opera program auditions. Because voices mature at different ages, panels often weigh potential alongside current level.

Each program publishes its own repertoire categories, language requirements, format and deadlines, and they change by year. Read the current-year audition page for each school and confirm accompanist arrangements. Nothing here guarantees admission.

See also preparing for auditions and prescreening vs final auditions.

Costs and funding

Some programs offer scholarships linked to the audition, and graduate singers may be considered for assistantships such as singing in a choir, teaching non-majors, or serving as a section leader. Opera programs sometimes provide stipends for production roles or chorus.

Funding varies by school, country and year, and many students receive partial support or none. Ask each department what is available.

Costs beyond tuition. Classical singers may pay for scores and language materials, coaching fees outside the curriculum, accompanist fees for auditions and recitals, and audition travel. Opera training can involve costs for costumes, make-up and photographs. Competition and summer-program fees are other possibilities.