Bachelor of Music

Professional undergraduate degree built on a liberal-arts foundation, with majors in instruments, voice, composition, music history and orchestral conducting.

Department

Shepherd School of Music

Awarding body

Not stated on the pages we checked

Official award

Bachelor of MusicBMus

Award family

BM / BMusA Bachelor of Music or BMus, exactly as titled by the awarding institution.

Qualification level

Bachelor’s degree

Qualification standing

Academic qualificationA degree, or a certificate or diploma awarded by a degree-awarding institution within a national qualifications framework.

Orientation

Orientation not published

Previous degree required

Not published

No program-level accreditation or validation record has been verified yet. That does not mean none exists; check the national authority and the institution.

Delivery

On campusTaught at the listed campus.

Study mode

Not published

Duration

Not published

Intakes

Not published

Campus

Rice University main campus

Taught in

Not stated on the pages we checked

English

English teaching not verifiedAn English-language website does not mean a program is taught in English.

Audition

Audition required

Audition details

• Format: Recorded prescreening and live audition
• Prescreening: Online preliminary submission by video (prescreening) before live audition
• Prescreening deadline: December 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM (EST)
• Audition application deadline: Auditions held January 25, February 1, or 8, 2027 (cello page; dates stated per instrument page)
• Accompaniment: No accompanist is needed or desired for the audition (cello page)

Required repertoire, as published

• Bassoon: Undergraduate Preliminary Submission due December 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM (EST) Video is preferred, but audio is acceptable. Please use the link at the bottom of this page to upload your prescreening materials in multiple files. There is a $10 fee to use this service. Bassoon applicants are also reminded to be aware of the high school requirements for admission to Rice University. Required undergraduate prescreening repertoire: One Milde Étude Op. 24 One melodic étude of the applicant's choice Three to five minute solo of the applicant's choice Required undergraduate live audition repertoire: Three to five minute solo of the applicant's choice One Milde Étude Op. 24 A slow, melodic étude of the applicant's choice Orchestral excerpts: Overture to Mozart's Marriage of Figaro , and Tchaikovsky Symphony No . 4 , movement 2 No accompanist is needed or desired for the audition. Auditions will be held on February 5 or February 7, 2027. If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your audition, we will need this form filled out.
• Cello: Online Preliminary Submission due December 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM (EST) Please use the link at the bottom of this page to upload your prescreening materials in multiple files. There is a $10 fee to use this service. Cello applicants are also reminded to be aware of the high school requirements for admission to Rice University. Required preliminary repertoire is by video submission Étude by Popper or Grützmacher or Caprice by Piatti, Franchomme, or Paganini One movement (or about five minutes) of a major concerto Prelude from an unaccompanied Cello Suite by Bach Required audition repertoire Étude by Popper or Grützmacher or Caprice by Piatti, Franchomme, or Paganini An important movement of a major concerto demonstrating your virtuosity and artistry Prelude and one other movement from an unaccompanied Cello Suite by Bach The concerto and Bach suite should be played from memory, if possible. No accompanist is needed or desired for the audition. Auditions will be held January 25, February 1, or 8, 2027. If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your audition, we will need this form filled out.
• Clarinet: Undergraduate Preliminary Submission due December 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM (EST) Please use the link at the bottom of this page to upload your prescreening materials. There is a $10 fee to use this service. Clarinet applicants are also reminded to be aware of the high school requirements for admission to Rice University . Required undergraduate prescreening repertoire is by video submission: Solo Repertoire Mozart Clarinet Concerto, First movement, Exposition only (beginning of solo until bar 133) (with piano accompaniment) Etudes Choose one of the following caprices: 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, or 17 from Paganini, Dix-Sept Caprices adapted for the clarinet and published by Éditions Musicales Alphonse Leduc. Orchestral Excerpts Choose 2 of the following composers and play all of their listed excerpts: Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream Scherzo (measures 1 - 48) Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 First movement (measures 474-492) Second movement (measures 68-78) Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol Movement 1 (letter A - B, letter C for 21 measures) Brahms: Symphony No. 3 First movement (measures 23-47) Second movement (beginning for 22 measures) Required undergraduate live audition repertoire: Solo Repertoire The entire Mozart Clarinet Concerto, K. 622 A 20th-century piece of the applicant's choice Etudes Choose one of the following caprices: 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, or 17 from Paganini, Dix-Sept Caprices adapted for the clarinet and published by Éditions Musicales Alphonse Leduc. Choose two contrasting études from: C. Rose: 32 Études Orchestral Excerpts Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream Scherzo (measures 1-48) Beethoven Symphony No. 6 First movement (measures 474-492) Second movement (measures 68-78) Scales All major and minor scales, both slurred and articulated, in three octaves. (Scales in C#, D, and Eb should be prepared in two octaves.) Sightreading Applicants will also be expected to demonstrate sight-reading ability with material chosen by the instructor. No accompanist is needed or desired for the audition. Auditions will be held on January 16, 2027 . If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your audition, we will need this form filled out.
• Composition: Online Submission of your portfolio is due December 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM (EST) Composers must submit a minimum of three compositions that are representative of their work. Please also submit an audio or video recording of each work, if available, to the Preliminary Submission link at the bottom of this page. There is a $10 fee to use this service. A live performance, even if it is imperfect, is preferred, but a MIDI recording is acceptable. To establish the applicant's musical ability and background, applicants must also demonstrate proficiency on a musical instrument by submitting an audio or video recording with a performance by the applicant of two contrasting works. Two separate recordings or videos of the two contrasting works are acceptable. You will be notified by the Music Admissions Office in mid-December if your portfolio has passed the prescreening round. Applicants who pass the prescreening round will be contacted via email by a faculty member to discuss a potential campus visit or a meeting on Zoom in late January or early February. If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your interview, we will need this form filled out.
• Double Bass: Online Preliminary Submission due December 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM (EST) Please use the link at the bottom of this page to upload your prescreening materials in multiple files. There is a $10 fee to use this service. The prescreening repertoire is by video submission and should be recorded with your full body and instrument in the frame. Double bass applicants are also reminded to be aware of the high school requirements for admission to Rice University. Required repertoire for the preliminary submission and live audition Two contrasting movements of a standard double bass concerto or comparable works from the standard double bass solo repertoire Three orchestral excerpts from the standard orchestral repertoire* Two movements of a solo Suite by Bach in any key** *In the case of the Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 (3rd movement - Scherzo and Trio ) would count as one excerpt. **Bach movements labeled as Minuet I and II or Bourree I and II should be prepared as one movement. No accompanist is needed or desired for the audition. Live auditions will be held on February 5 or 8, 2027. If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your audition, we will need this form filled out.
• Flute: UNDERGRADUATE PRELIMINARY SUBMISSION due December 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM (EST) Please use the link at the bottom of this page to upload your prescreening materials in multiple files. There is a $10 fee to use this service. Flute applicants are also reminded to be aware of the high school requirements for admission to Rice University. Required undergraduate prescreening repertoire is by video submission: Exposition of the first and second movements of the Mozart Concerto in G Major or D Major A work for solo flute to be chosen from the following: Bostonian Scenes, 1. Promenade Along with Charles River , Valerie Coleman Zinfandel (flute version), Reena Esmail Chant for solo flute, Timothy Hagen Yuhwa (The Goddess of the Willow Trees) for solo flute, Adolphus Hailstork Homeland (Flute Alone) by Allison Loggins-Hull Two contrasting movements from a standard solo work or one standard work with contrasting sections Mendelssohn: Scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream , 2 measures before P to the end Two additional orchestral excerpts to be chosen from: Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 3 , mm. 328 - 360 Bizet: Entr'acte from Carmen Brahms: Symphony No. 4 last movement, mm. 93 - 105 A pianist is not required for the prescreening submission. Required undergraduate live audition repertoire: Two contrasting movements of a Baroque work Exposition of the first and second movements of the Mozart Concerto in G Major or D Major, please include cadenzas for each movement One contrasting work or movement of your choice* Four standard orchestral excerpts of your choice A pianist is not required for the audition. Auditions will be held on January 29, 30, or 31, 2027. If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your audition, we will need this form filled out. *Optional Resources: Institute for Composer Diversity Music by Black Composers International Music Score Library Project
• Harp: Auditions will be taking place on February 8, 2027. Please use the link at the bottom of this page to upload your audition profile information. If you have not heard from us by January 4, 2027, please email us. Harp applicants are also reminded to be aware of the high school requirements for admission to Rice University. If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your audition, we will need this form filled out. Required live audition repertoire One étude Two substantial works of contrasting style and/or time period, preferably performed from memory One orchestral excerpt of the applicant's choice
• French Horn: Undergraduate Preliminary Submission due December 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM (EST) Please use the link at the bottom of this page to upload your prescreening materials. There is a $10 fee to use this service. Horn applicants are also reminded to be aware of the high school requirements for admission to Rice University. The prescreening repertoire should be recorded so that all orchestral excerpts are played in succession in any order you wish without stopping the recording or editing. Solos may be pre-recorded. Required undergraduate prescreening repertoire is by video submission: Exposition of Mozart Concerto No. 4 Contrasting solo of the applicant's choice Orchestral Excerpts: Strauss Till Eulenspiegel (opening horn solo in first horn part) Ravel Pavane pour une infante défunte (opening horn solo in first horn part) Mahler Symphony No. 1 , movement 3 (m. 13 - 15 in second horn) Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 , movement 1 (#17 - 22 in first horn part) For copies of the above orchestral excerpts, please reach out to Spencer Simpson, Music Admissions Administrator, and include your name and intended degree program. Required undergraduate live audition repertoire: Two contrasting solos of your choice (examples: first movement of Mozart No. 2 or No. 4 contrasted with R. Strauss concerto) Excerpts which cover the following criteria: soft and low (examples: Mahler 1st low tutti or Variation 8 of Strauss' Don Quixote ) soft and high (examples: Ravel Piano Concerto in G Major or Pavane ) loud and low (examples: Shostakovich 5th low tutti or Variation 7 of Don Quixote ) loud and high (examples: Beethoven 7th or Wagner Siegfried Call ) full range (examples: openings of Ein Heldenleben or Till Eulenspiegel ) In addition, scales, sight-reading, bass clef and transposition will be tested. No accompanist is needed or desired for the audition. Auditions will be held January 29, February 5, or 6, 2027. If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your audition, we will need this form filled out.
• Musicology and Music History: In addition to the Rice University application, the following materials are required of Music History applicants by December 1, 2026 by 11:59 pm (EST) . There is a $10 fee to use this service. Please upload items #1-3 to the Undergraduate Preliminary Submission link below for faculty review. A writing sample (preferably a substantial paper on a musical topic, but an English or History paper is also suitable). A statement addressing why the applicant wants to study music history. An audio file of a movement from the standard repertoire performed with accompaniment. After the faculty review, applicants who make it to the next round will be invited to meet with the Musicology faculty either in person at Rice University or via Zoom in late January or early February. If your interview will take place on campus and you are under the age of 18 at the time of your interview, we will need this form filled out.
• Oboe: UNDERGRADUATE PRELIMINARY SUBMISSION due December 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM (EST) Please use the link at the bottom of this page to upload your prescreening materials in multiple files. Multiple files for the prescreening round may be submitted. There is a $10 fee to use this service. Oboe applicants are also reminded to be aware of the high school requirements for admission to Rice University. Required undergraduate prescreening repertoire is by video submission: Two contrasting études OR two contrasting works for solo oboe OR two contrasting movements from a solo work with accompaniment. Choose one of the three. Two contrasting orchestral excerpts Required undergraduate live audition repertoire: A movement from the standard solo oboe repertoire Two contrasting orchestral excerpts Two contrasting Ferling Studies No accompanist is needed or desired for the audition. Auditions will be held on February 1 or 8, 2027. If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your audition, we will need this form filled out.
• Organ: Audition Dates are January 24-25 OR February 11-12, 2027* Please use the link at the bottom of this page to create your audition profile information. Organ applicants are also reminded to be aware of the high school requirements for admission to Rice University. If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your audition, we will need this form filled out. Required audition repertoire A major work by J.S. Bach (excluding BWV 553-560) Two contrasting works composed since 1750 Tests in sightreading Applicants may request substitutions of one or more works from the BMus Piano Audition requirements. *Please plan on spending 2 days with us. A practice session on the organ is scheduled the first day and your audition is scheduled on the second day.
• Percussion: Undergraduate Preliminary Submission due December 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM (EST) Please use the link at the bottom of this page to upload your prescreening materials in multiple files. There is a $10 fee to use this service. Percussion applicants are also reminded to be aware of the high school requirements for admission to Rice University. Required undergraduate prescreening repertoire is by video submission: Snare Drum: Long Roll: Play a continuous buzz roll beginning at pp and crescendo to ff over a period of 30 seconds Delecluse: Étude No. 1 from " 12 Études for Snare Drum " (beg. - downbeat of m. 36) Marimba: Any 2 or 4 mallet movement from a Suite or Sonata by Bach for violin, cello, or lute (no repeats) Timpani: Long Roll: play a continuous roll on the 29" drum tuned to an "A" over a period of 30 seconds. Begin at pp and crescendo to ff Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 , Mvt. I (18 before S - End) Required undergraduate live audition repertoire: Two Marimba Solos: (One should be four-mallets and the other should be two-mallets) one contemporary solo one movement from any Suite or Sonata by Bach (e.g. violin, cello, lute) Two Snare Drum Solos: one rudimental snare drum solo (e.g. Pratt) one concert snare drum solo (e.g. Delecluse, Lepak, Cirone, Peters) One Timpani Solo: (e.g. Goodman, Hochrainer, Firth, Carroll) Orchestral Excerpts one snare drum one timpani one xylophone Auditions will take place on January 29, 30, 31, February 5, and 6, 2027. If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your audition, we will need this form filled out.
• Piano: Online Preliminary Submission due December 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM (EST) Please use the link at the bottom of this page to upload your prescreening materials in multiple files. There is a $10 fee to use this service. Piano applicants are also reminded to be aware of the high school requirements for admission to Rice University. Preliminary submission is by video and is identical to the audition requirements Good audio quality helps the faculty make an accurate assessment of your playing. The faculty would prefer a recording that does not have compressed dynamics. Try, if possible, to set your recording levels manually. Please set the automatic volume to the "off" position. Required repertoire for both preliminary submission and live audition A minimum of thirty minutes of memorized repertoire representing four of the following five style periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionist/Early 20th-century, or Post-1950. Applicants must include a complete Sonata for the Classical period. Scales and arpeggios will not be required. Audition dates will be posted soon. If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your audition, we will need this form filled out.
• Trombone: UNDERGRADUATE PRELIMINARY SUBMISSION due December 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM (EST) Please use the link at the bottom of this page to upload your prescreening materials in multiple files. All trombone applicants are also reminded to be aware of the high school requirements for admission to Rice University. Required undergraduate Tenor Trombone prescreening repertoire is by video submission: Two contrasting solo pieces Orchestral Excerpts: Mozart: Requiem - "Tuba mirum" Ravel: Boléro - trombone solo Berlioz: Hungarian March Required undergraduate Tenor Trombone repertoire for the live audition: Two contrasting solo pieces Orchestral Excerpts: Mozart: Requiem - "Tuba mirum" Ravel: Boléro - trombone solo Berlioz: Hungarian March Major Scales two octaves Sight reading (may include Tenor Clef) No accompanist is needed or desired for the audition. Required undergraduate Bass Trombone prescreening repertoire is by video submission: Two contrasting solo pieces Orchestral Excerpts: Haydn: The Creation - "Achieved is the Glorious Work" Schumann: Symphony No. 3 (Rhenisch) - Mvt. 4: "Feierlich" Berlioz: Hungarian March Required undergraduate Bass Trombone repertoire for the live audition: Two contrasting solo pieces Orchestral Excerpts: Haydn: The Creation - "Achieved is the Glorious Work" Schumann: Symphony No. 3 (Rhenisch) - Mvt. 4: "Feierlich" Berlioz: Hungarian March Major Scales two octaves Sight reading (may include Tenor Clef) No accompanist is needed or desired for the audition. Auditions will be held on January 15, 29, and 30, 2027. If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your audition, we will need this form filled out.
• Trumpet: UNDERGRADUATE PRELIMINARY SUBMISSION due December 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM (EST) Please use the link at the bottom of this page to upload your prescreening materials. There is a $10 fee to use this service. Multiple uploaded files of your prescreening requirements are acceptable. Trumpet applicants are also reminded to be aware of the high school requirements for admission to Rice University. Required undergraduate prescreening repertoire is by video submission: Enesco Legende (all but muted ending) Solo of your choice Charlier Étude No. 2 Du Style in Bb on B-flat trumpet, or on C trumpet in B-flat (complete) Required undergraduate live audition repertoire: Enesco Legende (all but muted ending) Solo of your choice Brandt Étude No. 1 on Bb trumpet Charlier Étude No. 2 Du Style in Bb on B-flat trumpet, or on C trumpet in B-flat (complete) Orchestral Excerpts: 1947 Stravinsky Petrouchka (ballerina and waltz) Beethoven Leonore No. 2 (off-stage solo) Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition (opening promenade) Mahler Symphony No. 5 (opening solo) All major and minor scales, sight-reading, and transposition No accompanist is needed or desired for the audition. Auditions will be held on February 5 and February 6, 2027. If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your audition, we will need this form filled out.
• Tuba: UNDERGRADUATE PRELIMINARY SUBMISSION due December 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM (EST) Please use the link at the bottom of this page to upload your prescreening materials. There is a $10 fee to use this service. Multiple uploaded files of your prescreening requirements are acceptable. Tuba applicants are also reminded to be aware of the high school requirements for admission to Rice University. Required prescreening repertoire is by video submission: A technical étude A vocalise A two-octave chromatic scale Two contrasting orchestral excerpts Required undergraduate live audition repertoire: Scales in the keys of C and B and their relative minors (3 forms) in two octaves. Scales are to be performed from memory. Two contrasting études - one étude should be technical (Kopprasch, Blazhevich) and the other lyrical (Bordogni, Concone) Three standard orchestral excerpts Sight reading Applicants should play the majority (or all) of their audition on Contrabass Tuba. Auditions will be announced soon. If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your audition, we will need this form filled out.
• Viola: Online Preliminary Submission due December 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM (EST) Please use the link at the bottom of this page to upload your prescreening materials in multiple files. There is a $10 fee to use this service. Viola applicants are also reminded to be aware of the high school requirements for admission to Rice University. Required preliminary repertoire is by video submission Two contrasting movements from a Bach solo cello suite or violin sonata or partita One movement from a Classical or major concerto Required audition repertoire Two contrasting movements from a Bach solo cello suite or violin sonata or partita One movement of a Classical or major concerto One movement of a contrasting work It is recommended that the Bach and concerto be memorized. No accompanist is needed or desired for the audition. Audition dates are January 31, February 1, 6, or 7, 2027. If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your audition, we will need this form filled out.
• Violin: Online Preliminary Submission due December 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM (EST) Please use the link at the bottom of this page to upload your prescreening materials in multiple files. There is a $10 fee to use this service. Violin applicants are also reminded to be aware of the high school requirements for admission to Rice University. Required preliminary repertoire is by video submission One movement of a Bach solo sonata or partita One movement of a concerto These works should be performed from memory. Required audition repertoire One étude or caprice Two contrasting movements of Bach or Chaconne Complete first movement of a major concerto with cadenza, where applicable These works should be performed from memory. No accompanist is needed or desired for the audition. Auditions will be held February 5, 7, 8, 12, and 15, 2027. If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your audition, we will need this form filled out.
• Classical Voice: UNDERGRADUATE PRELIMINARY SUBMISSION due December 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM (EST) Prescreening repertoire is by video submission and may be uploaded in multiple files. Please use the link at the bottom of this page to upload your prescreening materials. There is a $10 fee to use this service. Voice applicants are also reminded to be aware of the high school requirements for admission to Rice University. REQUIRED UNDERGRADUATE REPERTOIRE FOR THE PRESCREENING AND LIVE AUDITION: Three classical solos of contrasting style, at least one in English and one in Italian. Transfer applicants: Prepare one early Italian song, an aria from an opera or oratorio, and two songs of contrasting style and language. One of your selections must be in English. The Shepherd School of Music provides an accompanist for the live auditions. No outside accompanists are permitted. There is no accompanist rehearsal before the live auditions, and no need to send music in advance if invited to the live audition. Auditions will be held on January 29, 30, and 31, and February 12, 13, and 14, 2027. If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your audition, we will need this form filled out.

SourceSpecific to this program and intake. Check the current admissions cycle; nothing here guarantees admission, and you cannot assume you may audition for a particular teacher.

Portfolio

Portfolio requirement not published

Interview

Not published

Deadlines

• Undergraduate application deadline December 1; online preliminary submission due December 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM (EST) (Fall 2027 auditions) · Fall 2027

Official instructions

Application instructions

Not published on the program’s source pages: tuition, duration, full-time or part-time options, intakes, whether a previous degree is required, accreditation or validation record.