Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)

Doctor of Musical Arts in brass, conducting, organ, percussion, piano, strings, voice and woodwinds.

Department

School of Music

Awarding body

Not stated on the pages we checked

Official award

Doctor of Musical ArtsDMA

Award family

DMAA Doctor of Musical Arts: a performance and practice doctorate, kept separate from the research PhD.

Qualification level

Performance / practice doctorate

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

University of Iowa

Taught in

English

English

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

Audition

Audition depends on route or instrument

Audition details

• Format: Live or recorded
• Audition application deadline: Graduate audition days as listed on the audition page (February 2027)

Required repertoire, as published

• Trumpet: Application and audition registration | Please see Graduate Admissions Process for School of Music application and audition registration information. | Prescreening | No prescreening required, but it is strongly recommended that you contact Professor Gause for a sample lesson before your audition. | Preparation requirements | Two solos, selected from different historical periods of music, and of difficulty and quality appropriate for performance at the doctoral level | Etudes and orchestral excerpts | Learn more about required repertoire . | Time requirement | The audition will be in a lesson format with a full duration of 60 minutes and should consist of 15-20 minutes of prepared material. | Accompaniment | No accompaniment is required. | Technical requirements | Sightreading | Required repertoire | One etude selected from Brandt - Vacciano Orchestral Studies (MCA Music), and one etude selected from Charlier Etudes Transcendantes (Leduc) | Performance of three to five "standard" orchestral excerpts selected from any volume of excerpts by Bartold, Voisin, or Rossbach (International),
• Bassoon: Prescreening | No prescreening is required. | Preparation requirements | Candidates should prepare four contrasting selections that demonstrate a high level of technical ability, musical artistry, and stylistic range. Choose repertoire that not only shows your strengths but also reflects the music you feel most connected to. The audition will be conducted in a lesson-style format and will last approximately 30 minutes. All graduate applicants seeking consideration for assistantships, fellowships, and music scholarships are required to audition on one of the designated audition days. If this is not possible, alternate arrangements must be made directly with Professor Benjamin Coelho. | Time requirement | Audition materials should be thoroughly prepared and approximately 30 to 40 minutes in length. | Accompaniment | No accompaniment is required. | Technical requirements | One etude demonstrating the applicant's level of technical and musical ability | A complete work of artistic and technical difficulty from the advanced solo repertoire | Repertoire | There is no required repertoire. A
• Cello: Please see the Graduate Admissions Process for the School of Music application and audition registration information. | Audition requirements should include four contrasting works, such as: | Advanced etude or study such as Popper or Piatti | Orchestral excerpts | Two contrasting works of a standard concerto | Sonata or solo cello work, preferably 20th century | Three contrasting movements of a Bach suite | A live Zoom Graduate Audition can be requested through correspondence with the instructor. | For more information, please contact Jamie Clark .
• Clarinet: Prescreening | No prescreening required. | Preparation requirements | The exposition of the Mozart's clarinet Concerto in A Major k.622 (with or without piano accompaniment) | 2 contrasting movements or unaccompanied pieces from the standard repertoire for the clarinet (with or without piano accompaniment) | Time requirement | Audition materials should be thoroughly prepared and no longer than the 30-minute audition time. | Accompaniment | No accompaniment is required, but if you choose to audition with accompaniment, you will need to bring your own accompanist with you to the audition. | Technical requirements | 4 Major Scales (with two or more sharps or flats), of your choosing. | 2 natural minors, 2 harmonic minors, and 2 melodic minors (with two or more sharps or flats), of your choosing. | Repertoire | No required repertoire, please reach out to Professor Montilla for repertoire suggestions
• Double Bass: Please see the Graduate Admissions Process for the School of Music application and audition registration information. | Audition Requirments: | Movement from a major sonata or a concerto | Movement from any Bach Cello Suite | Orchestral excerpts of your choice | Compositions are welcome in PDF format but not required. | Live auditions are encouraged, but if needed, a live Zoom Graduate Audition can be requested through correspondence with the instructor.
• Flute: Prescreening | No prescreening required. | Preparation requirements | Master of Music in Flute Performance: | Mozart Concerto in G Major OR Concerto in D Major First Movement (Exposition only) | A French work of your choice | A 20th or 21st Century work of your choice | 3-4 Standard Orchestral Excerpts | Doctor of Musical Arts in Flute Performance: | Mozart Concerto in G Major OR Concerto in D Major First Movement (Exposition only) | Two contrasting movements from any Sonata of J.S Bach | A French work of your choice | A 20th or 21st Century work of your choice | 3-4 Standard Orchestral Excerpts | Time requirement | The audition will be in a lesson format with a full duration of 30 minutes. | Accompaniment | No accompaniment is required. | Technical requirements | No technical requirements. | Repertoire | Please see preparation requirements. Students are encouraged to select repertoire from a range of musical eras and styles, including those from historically underrepresented individuals or groups, that best demonstrates their abilities and interests.
• French Horn: Prescreening | No prescreening is required. | Sample lessons strongly recommended – please contact Professor Berríos to schedule a session before your audition! | Preparation requirements | Please refer to the repertoire section. | Time requirement | None | Accompaniment | No accompaniment is required. | Technical requirements | Sight-reading | Repertoire | Master of Music in Horn Performance: | First movement from one of the following: | Mozart, Horn Concerto No. 2 in E-flat Major, K. 417 | Mozart, Horn Concerto No. 4 in E-flat Major, K. 495 | R. Strauss, Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, Op. 11 | One contrasting piece from the standard repertoire. | This could be a movement from a multi-movement piece, a one-movement work for horn and piano/orchestra, an unaccompanied piece, or a substantial étude. | You are encouraged to include repertoire from female composers and composers of an underrepresented background. Resources for finding materials include: Composer Database , Lin Foulk Baird. | Five orchestral excerpts from the standard repertoire, including: | Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5
• Organ: Graduate audition requirements involve a performance of representative organ literature of contrasting styles of approximately 30-45 minutes in length. | Audio/Video recording in lieu of a personal audition may be submitted only with the approval of the organ faculty. | Email Dr. Hand if you have any questions.
• Percussion: Prescreening | Auditioning for the Graduate Program in Percussion at The University of Iowa requires a pre-screening by all candidates. Prospective graduate students should be in touch with Dr. Dan Moore prior to submitting links to pre-screening videos. | At a minimum, the pre-screen should include three (3) examples of mallet performances in contrasting styles (including both 2- and 4-mallet works), concert snare drum, and multi-percussion. Orchestral excerpts are not required but may be submitted. Other desirable components include examples of chamber music, jazz, steel pan or other world music performances, as well as examples of conducting/coaching of ensembles, original compositions, or arrangements (particularly for steel band or percussion ensemble). | Preparation requirements | Following the pre-screen, prospective graduate students may be advised to come to campus for a live performance audition and interview. Prospective Teaching Assistants must interview in person. | Live auditions should include performances from pre-screen videos as well as at least one work not include
• Trombone: Prescreening | No prescreening is required. | Preparation requirements | Two solos, selected from different historical periods of music, and of difficulty and quality appropriate for performance at the graduate level. | Etudes | Orchestral excerpts | Time requirement | Auditions should consist of 20 minutes of music within the 30 minute audition slot time allowance. | Accompaniment | Accompaniment is suggested but not required. | If you choose to audition with accompaniment, you will need to bring your own accompanist with you to the audition. | Technical requirements | No technical requirements. | Required repertoire | MA & DMA: | Two contrasting solos | A professional etude (Bitsch, Bozza, or Boutry) of the candidate’s choice | 4-5 standard orchestral excerpts.
• Viola: Application and audition registration | Please see Graduate Admissions Process for School of Music application and audition registration information. | Prescreening | No prescreening required. | Preparation requirements | The Prelude and one other movement from a Bach Cello Suite; or two contrasting movements from a Bach Violin Sonata or Partita | The first movement of a major concerto - see the "Suggested Repertoire" tab below. | One movement of a viola sonata (scored for viola and piano or viola solo) - see the "Suggested Repertoire" tab below. | One contrasting piece of your choice - this may be an additional movement from your concerto or sonata, or a different piece altogether. | Memorization is not required | Time requirement | Audition materials should be thoroughly prepared and approximately 20 minutes in length. | Accompaniment | No accompaniment is required. | Technical requirements | No technical requirements. | Suggested or required repertoire | Students may choose any concerto or sonata that represents their playing well. Some excellent choices include, but are not limit
• Violin: Please see the Graduate Admissions Process for the School of Music application and audition registration information. | MA Audition Requirments: | Two keys of major and minor scales and arpeggios in three octaves | Two contrasting movements from a Bach Sonata or Partita for Solo Violin | The first movement of a major concerto (not Baroque), including cadenza if applicable | One movement from a sonata or solo piece in a contrasting style to the Bach and the Concerto | DMA Audition Requirments: | Two contrasting movements form a Bach Sonata or Partita for Solo Violin | An entire major concerto with cadenzas, if applicable | An additional work of the candidate's choice in a style other than the Bach or the concerto | A live Zoom graduate audition can be requested (instead of a recording) through correspondence with the instructor(s). | Note: If your audition repertoire is different than the requirements and is in need of modification in any way, please feel free to reach out to the violin professors.
• Classical Voice: Prescreening | Pre-screening video links are due by December 1. After you have been admitted to the Graduate College and applied to the School of Music, you will be provided with a link to upload your pre-screening materials. | Master of Arts: | Present two contrasting selections. One must be an aria (opera or oratorio). One video from the waist up. One video full body. | Doctor of Musical Arts: | Present four contrasting selections. One must be an aria (opera or oratorio). Demonstrate proficiency in singing three languages plus English. Two videos from the waist up. Two videos full body. | Statement of career goals and the applicant's research/scholarship/performance interests. | Preparation requirements | Refer to the required repertoire as stated below for M.A. and D.M.A. audition requirements. All pieces must be sung from memory with piano accompaniment. Announce each selection (title, composer) prior to your performance. | Prepare and bring a Curriculum Vitae/Musical Resume and Repertoire List. | There will be additional virtual informal interviews for those who are considered f
• Saxophone: Application and audition registration | Please see Graduate Admissions Process for School of Music application and audition registration information. | Learn more about the saxophone studio: https://saxophone.studio.uiowa.edu/ | Prescreening | Create a PDF with the links of the pre-screening materials and then upload it directly to the online application using the “Other Application Support Document” and title it “Pre-Screening Document.” | School of Music application and recording must be received no later than December 20, 2026. | An email invitation to audition, or otherwise, will be sent after your recording has been reviewed. | Requirements for the pre-screening recording: | Time limit: no less than 10 minutes, no longer than 20 minutes | Repertoire: 2 contrasting movements from the same or two different pieces. | Unaccompanied works are allowed. Accompanied works must be performed with piano accompaniment (or pre-recorded track). | Preparation requirements | No preparation requirements other than the prescreening. | Time requirement | No less than 10 minutes, no longer than 20

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

• All graduate applications must be submitted (graduate application deadline for fall semester) · Fall 2027 (2026)

Department

School of Music

The institution does not publish tuition for this program on the pages we checked. Ask for current fees, what they include and whether lessons, accompanists, practice rooms, instrument hire, software, recording, recitals, travel and residency costs are extra.

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.