Domestic applicants
Selection of applicants for the Conservatorium's programs is based on various requirements which may include satisfactory results in an audition, written or oral interview, presentation of folio or Conservatorium-administered tests of musical knowledge and ability as well as OP. You should carefully check the specific requirements for the program for which you wish to apply and you must apply in the year before beginning studies at the Conservatorium.
Application for audition forms are also available from the Conservatorium and must be submitted by 1 August each year. A non-refundable registration fee of $30 per applicant applies and should be submitted with the application for audition form. Applications submitted after the due date will incur an additional $20 late fee. For more information, contact Student Administration at the Queensland Conservatorium.
A Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) application must also be submitted by the end of September 2009.
Queensland and interstate Year 12 students
If you are a current Queensland or interstate year 12 student you can apply by lodging an application via QTAC's Twelve-To-Tertiary online application service. For more information, contact the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre.
New South Wales Year 12 students
As a current New South Wales year 12 student, you will receive a UAC Guide through your school. This guide includes Griffith programs offered at the Gold Coast campus. For more information, contact the Universities Admissions Centre.
Other Australian applicants
All other applicants who are Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents, including candidates for the Queensland External Senior Examination, can apply by lodging an application via QTAC's Apply-By-Web application online application service. For more information, contact the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre.
Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
Applicants 21 years of age and older who do not have any formal qualifications or whose results are insufficient for entry may nominate for the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). For more information, contact the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre.
International applicants
All International applicants completing an Australian Year 12 study course should apply on a full-fee basis through QTAC. All other International applicants applying from within or outside Australia should follow the procedures below:
International applicants must:
- complete an application for admission as an International student form - available from Griffith International
- submit certified copies of academic records (transcripts), qualifications and any record of experience (include course outlines of relevant courses if applying for credit)
- submit a certificate copy of English language proficiency test results (not more than two years old)
- pay the application fee ($AUD50.00) to Griffith International.
- attend an audition or submit a CD, DVD or VHS recording (instrumental and vocal applicants) or submit a folio of work (composition or music technology applicants)
International applicants may submit a good quality audition recording. Recording formats need to be CD (data formats/MP3 are not acceptable), DVD and VHS (PAL standard format, region code 0). It must be dated and certified as being an unedited performance by the applicant and signed by the person in charge of the recording session. It may also be possible for live auditions to be arranged during the year. Please contact Griffith International for more information. The audition requirements vary according to the type of program for which you wish to apply.
There is no deadline for International applicants making an application with a recorded audition. However, it is advisable to apply by 31 October for Semester 1 entry in the following year.
English language requirements
Notification of admission
The Conservatorium makes its offers through QTAC in either the December early round or the January major round. International applicants are advised of their result by Griffith International after the application has been assessed. Students are required to be at the Conservatorium for Orientation which is normally held in February each year.
Deferment
You cannot defer your place at the Conservatorium. If you are unable to accept an offer, you must re-apply for entry in the usual way the following year.
Auditions
Queensland Conservatorium applicants must complete an audition application:
The closing date for applications is 1 August each year. After all audition forms have been processed, candidates will be informed of their audition date and time in writing.
Bachelor of Music Technology applicants will not be required to attend an audition or interview.
Some areas permit applicants who are genuinely unable to travel to Brisbane (for example, International applicants) to submit a good-quality audition video or audio recording. The recording must be dated and certified as being an unedited performance by the applicant and signed by the person in charge of the recording session. Please contact the Conservatorium to check which areas permit recordings. The Conservatorium may hold auditions in northern regional centres in 2009. If this is the case, details will be available on the application for audition form. It may also be possible for individual auditions to be arranged at other times during the year for applicants travelling to Brisbane on other business. However, this cannot be guaranteed. Please contact the Conservatorium well in advance.
The audition session for undergraduate entry in 2010 will be held from 28 September to 2 October 2009 in Brisbane, Queensland. Applicants must be available for audition on all days during this period.
For more information, applicants should contact Student Administration at the Queensland Conservatorium.
Audition requirements
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Popular Music
- Bachelor of Music Technology
- Bachelor of Music Studies and Bachelor of Music Studies/Graduate Diploma of Education - Secondary
- Certificate in Music Studies
Bachelor of Music
Classical Instruments
Applicants will be required to complete the following:
- A performance audition based on three contrasting pieces of their choice. Not all pieces will necessarily be heard and not all pieces will be heard in their entirety. Some instrumental areas may require a quick-study piece or a sight-reading example. Some instrumental areas may prescribe one or more set pieces.
- An interview in which applicants will be asked about their directions and goals, musical experience, musical knowledge, general education and other relevant matters. Applicants may present a resume of achievements and experience at the interview if they wish. The playing audition and interview will together last about 15-20 minutes.
- An Entrance Music Theory Test of about 45 minutes duration covering:
- aural musicianship such as recognition of intervals, chords, simple harmonic progressions and rhythmic and melodic tests and
- music reading and writing skills and general musical knowledge.
Classical Voice
Applicants will be required to complete the following:
- A performance audition based on two contrasting pieces of their choice (it is important that these are within vocal capabilities but showing potential). Pieces will not necessarily be heard in their entirety.
- An interview in which applicants will be asked about their directions and goals, musical experience, musical knowledge, general education and other relevant matters. Applicants may present a resume of achievements and experience at the interview if they wish. The playing audition and interview will together last about 15-20 minutes.
- An Entrance Music Theory Test of about 45 minutes duration covering:
- aural musicianship such as recognition of intervals, chords, simple harmonic progressions and rhythmic and melodic tests and
- music reading and writing skills and general musical knowledge.
Jazz Instruments
Applicants will be required to complete the following:
- A performance audition based on three contrasting pieces. At least one of these should demonstrate an ability to improvise over a common jazz form such as blues or a 32-bar standard tune. Not all pieces will necessarily be heard in their entirety. Use of pre-recorded or live accompaniment is acceptable. Audition repertoire can be contrasting in terms of tempo and mood; style (swing, bossa nova, samba, ballad, funky); form (blues, 32-bars, other lengths); and tonality (major, minor, blues). Suggested Jazz repertoire includes:
- Blues: Now's the Time, C-Jam Blues, Centrepiece, Sonny, Moon for Two
- Bossa nova: Black Orpheus, Blue Bossa, Gentle Rain, Recordame, Perdido, any composition by Antonio Carlos Jobim
- Standards: Autumn Leaves, Summertime, Beautiful Love, God Bless the Child, Stormy Weather, Misty, Take the 'A' Train, any standard by Porter, Gershwin, Berlin, Schwartz, Rodgers, Ellington, Arlen, Cahn
- Jazz Drummers may include a snare drum study as one of the pieces.
- Saxophonists may include a technical etude (Nihau's, Snider) as one of the pieces.
- Pianists may include a transcription (Brubeck, Evans, Powell) as one of the pieces.
- An interview in which applicants will be asked about their directions and goals, musical experience, musical knowledge, general education and other relevant matters. Applicants may present a resume of achievements and experience at the interview if they wish. The playing audition and interview will together last about 15-20 minutes.
- An Entrance Music Theory Test of about 45 minutes duration covering:
- aural musicianship, such as recognition of intervals, chords, simple harmonic progressions and rhythmic and melodic tests and
- music reading and writing skills and general musical knowledge.
Jazz Voice
Applicants will be required to complete the following:
- A performance audition based on three contrasting pieces. Candidates need to show through their repertoire selection an interest in improvising in a jazz style. Audition repertoire can be contrasting in terms of tempo and mood; style (swing, bossa nova, samba, ballad, funky, popular, music theatre); form (blues, 32-bars, other lengths); and tonality (major, minor, blues). At least one of the repertoire selections should be a blues or jazz standard in the style of such artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Diana Krall, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett or Kurt Elling. A jazz standard is virtually any song by Gershwin, Porter, Berlin, Rodgers, Arlen, Schwartz, and Ellington. Use of pre-recorded or live accompaniment is acceptable.
- An interview in which applicants will be asked about their directions and goals, musical experience, musical knowledge, general education and other relevant matters. Applicants may present a resume of achievements and experience at the interview if they wish. The playing audition and interview will together last about 15–20 minutes.
- An Entrance Music Theory Test of about 45 minutes duration covering:
- aural musicianship such as recognition of intervals, chords, simple harmonic progressions and rhythmic and melodic tests and
- music reading and writing skills and general musical knowledge.
Composition (including Jazz)#
Applicants will be required to complete the following:
- Submit a folio comprising three or more of the applicant's compositions or equivalent evidence of musical creativity. Various media may be used and recordings included (if available). Each item should be of reasonable length, depending on the nature and context of the composition (e.g. 30 bars or more, or one or more minutes). Applicants must bring the folio with them on the day of their audition interview.
- Complete an interview in which they will be asked about their directions and goals, musical experience, musical knowledge, general education and other relevant matters. Applicants may present a resume of achievements and experience at the interview.
- An Entrance Music Theory Test of about 45 minutes duration covering:
- aural musicianship such as recognition of intervals, chords, simple harmonic progressions and rhythmic and melodic tests and
- music reading and writing skills and general musical knowledge.
[#] Applicants who are focused on writing popular songs should apply for the Bachelor of Popular Music (see below) rather than the Composition speciality in the Bachelor of Music program.
Bachelor of Popular Music
Applicants will be required to complete the following:
- Complete an interview in which they will be asked about their musical directions and goals, musical experience and knowledge, familiarity with audio hardware and/or software, general education, and other relevant matters. Applicants should provide a resume of achievements and experience at the interview.
- Present a recording folio on CD or cassette tape and/or a live instrumental or vocal performance. Applicants not performing live at their audition must include recordings of their own performances or compositions in their recorded folio.
The recorded folio and/or live performance can include covers but original compositions are preferred. For the live performance, applicants should prepare three contrasting pieces and include original material. Collaborative compositions are acceptable. Pieces will not necessarily be heard in their entirety. Applicants should bring the folio with them on the day of their audition interview. Components one and two will last about 20 minutes.
Bachelor of Music Technology
Applicants will not have an audition but will be required to complete the following:
- Provide a folio consisting of original sound recordings and/or compositions on CD or DVD and also provide a written resume of achievements and experience. The recordings should be clearly identified and attached securely within the overall folio submission.
The resume of achievements and experience should:
- be submitted in a format no larger than A4.
- be clearly identify all of the applicant's significant details including name, address, telephone number and email address.
- provide a detailed outline of relevant music and technology experience, knowledge and opportunities, career goals, general education, and other supporting information.
- present a complete listing of audio titles presented in the recording portfolio, together with composition, recording credits and supporting information as necessary to fully describe the work.
- Have a 'Sound Achievement' in Year 12 English and a 'Sound Achievement' in either Maths A, B or C. The Conservatorium places emphasis on its own internal testing. However, the OP or its equivalent may be included as part of multiple selection criteria.
Applicants must submit the recording folio and resume to Student Administration at the Conservatorium by the week of 28 September to 2 October 2009. If you wish to have the folio returned to you, it should be submitted with a stamped self-addressed envelope of adequate size.
Bachelor of Music Studies and Bachelor of Music Studies/Graduate Diploma of Education - Secondary
Applicants will be required to complete the following:
- Complete written answers to a set of interview questions in a sitting of about 30 minutes duration. Questions will relate to the applicant's suitability and preparation for the program. A short essay-type question on a general topic may also be included.
- Include (with their application) a copy of their most recent school results or evidence of Year 12 completion and OP result if relevant. Applicants who fail to include complete and up-to-date copies of this information will not be considered for this program.
- Complete a performance audition on their principle instrument or voice to demonstrate their musical ability. This should be based on three contrasting pieces (two for vocalists). Pieces will not necessarily be heard in their entirety.
- An Entrance Music Theory Test of about 45 minutes duration covering:
- aural musicianship such as recognition of intervals, chords, simple harmonic progressions and rhythmic and melodic tests and
- music reading and writing skills and general musical knowledge.
Certificate in Music Studies
Applicants for admission to this academic program will complete the same audition, interview and test requirements as for the Bachelor of Music.
Last modified: 01-Jun-2009
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