Auditions

Auditions for our world-class music programs are held in November each year

You need to undertake an audition or interview for each area of specialisation or instrument you are applying for. Submit your registration for auditions online directly to Elder Conservatorium.

Follow this step-by-step process to register for your audition and apply for your program.

The main round of auditions are held in November each year.

Upcoming rounds are:

Monday 24 November to Friday 28 November 2025
Wednesday 3 February to Friday 5 February 2026
Monday 6 July to Friday 10 July 2026

Please complete a separate audition registration for each different instrument/area audition you wish to do.

There are no audition fees for the following programs:

Bachelor of Music (Classical Performance, Jazz Performance, Creative Practice, Music Education)
Bachelor of Music (Honours)
Master of Music (Performance Studies; Performance and Pedagogy).

Please note: for the Bachelor of Music Theatre degree, a registration fee of $66 will be required when you submit your audition registration form.

This non-refundable audition registration fee must be paid to be guaranteed an audition timeslot.

If you are an international student, begin your application by applying for your program.

Please apply with sufficient time before the start date of your intended program to allow audition and processing time, and to apply for and receive your visa.

Audition registration

Audition registration form

Domestic applicants lodge their application through the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC).

International applicants can apply directly to Adelaide University.

International applicants who are in Australia and wish to do a face-to-face audition will need to complete the audition registration form.

Continuing students can apply to change programs through an internal transfer.

Elder Conservatorium does not provide accompanists, except for the Bachelor of Music Theatre auditions. All other auditions that require an accompanist should contact Accompanists' Guild of SA. 

Contact accompanists as early as possible as auditions cannot be rescheduled to accommodate accompanist availability.

On the day of your audition, please ensure you arrive 15 minutes prior to your audition or interview. You will receive notification of your audition outcome following your audition.

Please ensure you follow the audition requirements for your specialisation.

Audition requirements by program

Bachelor of Music majoring in Classical Performance
Bachelor of Music majoring in Creative Practice
Bachelor of Music majoring in Jazz Performance
Bachelor of Music majoring in Music Education
Bachelor of Music Theatre

Honours audition requirements are the same, with the additional option of a major in Musicology or Conducting in fourth year.

To be eligible for an Honours program, you generally need to have completed a relevant bachelor’s degree with a strong academic record, often a minimum GPA or WAM, and have a major in the discipline you wish to pursue for Honours.

If you are a current Elder Conservatorium of Music student you will not need to audition for entry into the Honours program, your major recital result (or equivalent for non-performance majors) will be used in lieu of an audition.

Applicants wishing to apply or transfer into this program and receive credit for their prior learning please contact Ms Amanda Grigg, the Honours Coordinator to start a conversation about Honours.

Bachelor of Music (Honours) majoring in Musicology
Submit an example of a research essay of approximately 3000-5000 words on a music-related topic

You need to demonstrate skills of a standard equivalent to successful completion of the third year of an undergraduate degree.

Bachelor of Music (Honours) majoring in Conducting

Present a 15-minute program which includes two contrasting pieces, may be with an orchestra or ensemble, or, should that not be possible, with two pianos playing an orchestral reduction. Please also submit a current CV.

Master of Music (Performance Studies)
Master of Music (Performance and Pedagogy)

The musicianship test is held at the end of each year and is mandatory for all commencing undergraduate students.

The test is conducted online. We will send successful applicants an email with log on and other details/instructions as soon as the test is ready to go.

The test aims to assess the applicant's general level of musicianship, which involves the ability to identify and recognise musical concepts within aural, written and theoretical contexts. The test comprises:

aural questions covering rhythm, tonality, melody and harmony
score interpretation questions about a given short piano extract
theoretical questions such as keys, major and minor scales, intervals and chords.

In addition to undertaking the test, you may be asked to provide details of your theoretical background and copies of any recent certificates.

The test is similar in content to the SACE Music Studies exam. Past SACE Music Studies exam papers are available from SACE.

Bachelor of Music Theatre run their own separate streaming test during O'Week so applicants do not need to complete the Online Musicianship Test.

All domestic and international applicants currently living in Adelaide must attend an audition/interview at Adelaide University.

Please note: only applicants from overseas and/or with exceptional circumstances may submit a recorded audition/folio of works for the Bachelor of Music Theatre degree.

If there is more than one session for an instrument/area, applicants will be scheduled in the first available session. Applicants cannot request a later session if an earlier one is available.

Applicants will be scheduled and notified of their times via email as applications are received.

If there are genuine and extenuating circumstances preventing you from being available then request a change in writing at auditions@adelaide.edu.au.

The Music Theory Bridging Course is for students starting tertiary studies in music who have not studied Stage 2 Musicianship or AMEB Grade 5 Theory or Musicianship.

The course aims to fast-track essential music theory topics in a functional and musical way. It offers you the opportunity to improve your fluency in musical literacy through singing, aural work, score-reading, analysis and composition to consolidate various theoretical topics covered, such as:

major and minor keys, scales, circle of 5ths and key relationships
intervals, triads and chords, 7th chords, chord symbols
chord functions in major and minor keys
triad/chord inversions
harmonic progression including cadences, chord voicing and voice leading principles
non-harmonic notes, musical analysis.

We provide a course booklet when you begin the program.

This course is open to commencing Elder Conservatorium students only. Registrations are currently closed and will reopen at the end of the year.