Music Performance (MM)

Apply NowFrequently Asked QuestionsRequest InformationUpcoming Events

Music Performance (MM)

The Master of Music degree develops high-achieving performing musicians at the post-baccalaureate level. The Master of Music educates students who aspire to become opera singers, concert artists or orchestral musicians, collaborative pianists, composers or arrangers, freelance musicians, or conductors. These students may be planning to coach or teach privately, either as the sole focus of their professional lives or, more likely, as part of a more comprehensive career. The Master of Music prepares other students for advanced study of music performance and pedagogy at the doctoral level. Whatever the reason for enrolling in the John J. Cali School of Music Master of Music program, students will refine and extend their musicianship in preparation for the next steps as musical artists.

Concentrations available are: vocal, keyboard, collaborative keyboard, instrumental, jazz, woodwind doubling and conducting. The auditioning student must demonstrate outstanding instrumental or vocal ability and motivation toward high standards of performance.

The Cali School of Music offers the following options for graduate studies – please feel free to navigate to the programs that interest you!

Please refer to our programs of study page for a comprehensive list of all of the graduate programs offered within the university.

The Office of Graduate Admissions requires the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree in Music in order to be eligible to apply for a graduate program. Applicants with non-U.S. degrees must submit an official course-by-course evaluation along with U.S. degree equivalency information of their coursework from any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

In order to make applying for graduate school as seamless as possible for you, we have
created an application checklist. This checklist can be a reference point for you during the
application process to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the steps
needed to apply, as well as all corresponding supplemental materials for your specific
program of interest.

Application Deadline: Rolling admission.
Submit Online Application: Please create your online account and submit your application by following the general application instructions and pay (or waive) the non-refundable $60 application fee. Once this step has been completed, the online portal will allow you to upload your supplemental materials.

The following is a list of the supplemental materials that will accompany your application for the Music Performance (MM) program:

Transcript: One from each college attended.
Statement of Purpose: Please write an integrated essay providing a response to each of the following questions.
- What are your goals for graduate study and your future career?
- In what ways do your academic background and your professional experiences provide evidence of your potential for success in the program you selected and in your eventual career? Please give specific examples of relevant coursework and/or experience.
- Is there any further information we should consider in assessing your candidacy?
Letters of Recommendation: Two.
Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the US degree equivalency information.

Auditions for Graduate Music Applicants

Applicants to this program are required to register for & complete an audition and/or interview as part of the Cali School’s review process. To register for an audition you must first submit an application to the Graduate School. Once submitted, a link to the audition registration page will be available to you on the checklist in your application portal. Information regarding the audition/interview requirements, available dates, methods, fees, & deadlines can all be found on The Cali School’s Audition Information Page. Please be sure to review the audition information thoroughly to ensure you are fully prepared at the time of your audition.

For more information about the Music Performance (MM) curriculum, please visit curriculum pages below:

If you have any general questions regarding the application process and requirements, please email or call us:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Email: graduate@montclair.edu
Telephone: 973-655-5147
Fax: 973-655-7869

If you have specific inquiries regarding your program of interest, please contact:

*During the summer months, there will be a rotating department chair available to answer your inquiry. Find the updated summer chair for this program.*

Program Coordinator: David Witten
Office:Chapin Hall
Email: wittend@montclair.edu
Telephone: 973‑655-4379