Admissions

Application Requirements


Applications for the 2023-24 academic season will open in October, 2022.

All orchestral instrument fellowships (including Piano) except Percussion and Timpani:

  • You may apply online at https://app.getacceptd.com/nws. The deadline will be January 10, 2023 and there will be an application fee of $65.00.  This year there is one deadline with one corresponding application fee.
  • Applications consist of the online application, an attached pre-screening video (featuring a solo and excerpts), and an application fee. All applicants will be asked to submit a pre-screening video as part of our new application process.  Repertoire requirements can be found here.
  • After the NWS audition panel reviews your application, some of you will be placed directly on to NWS’ substitute musician list for 2023-24 and others of you will be invited to schedule a live or live virtual audition.  For this small group of musicians invited to a live/live virtual audition, NWS is offering you the choice of auditioning either in a handful of cities across the USA or by opting to play a live virtual audition using Audition Room. All live/live virtual audition dates will occur in February and March, 2023.  Specific dates can be found HERE.
  • These live/live virtual auditions will include an interview as well as performance.  More information will be sent to those who are invited.  These invitations and other preliminary results will be given by email no later than February 1, 2023.
  • Additional audition results will be given by e-mail no later than April 1, 2023.
  • Only musicians currently enrolled in or graduated from a degree program will be considered for live or live virtual auditions. You can audition for the New World Symphony at any time during your studies, but you cannot be considered for a NWS fellowship until you have completed your present course of study. A baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree or the equivalent is required of all NWS Fellows. Doctoral students must have completed their residency requirements to be considered for a fellowship.  All new Fellows must have transcripts of their most recent degree sent to NWS. You are not required to have your bachelor’s degree in music in order to apply.
  • Repertoire requirements for prescreening, live/live virtual auditions can be found here. NWS will not provide copies of audition excerpts or solos. 
  • Accompanists are not permitted at your audition.

Percussionists and Timpanist

New World Symphony announces timpani auditions.

 Applications for the 2023-24 Timpani fellowship will open in early March, 2023.

  • You may apply online at https://app.getacceptd.com/nws. The deadline will be April 13, 2023 and there will be an application fee of $35.00. 
  • All applicants will receive an email on April 16, 2023 at 11:00 AM Eastern time with information relating to a required pre-screening video.  Applicants will then have 8 hours to record and submit this video.
  • This email will include the specific repertoire to be recorded.  All of the selections will be chosen from our list found here https://www.nws.edu/admissions/application-process/audition-repertoire/ 
  • NWS will not provide copies of audition excerpts or solos. 
  • After the NWS audition panel reviews your video, select musicians will be invited to come to Miami for a final audition on May 22, 2023.  These invitations and all other results will be emailed on April 24, 2023.   Musicians will be asked to play from the complete repertoire list during the final round(s) in Miami.
  • These live auditions will include an interview as well as performance.  More information will be sent to those who are invited. 
  • Only musicians currently enrolled in or graduated from a degree program will be considered for live or live virtual auditions. You can audition for the New World Symphony at any time during your studies, but you cannot be considered for a NWS fellowship until you have completed your present course of study. A baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree or the equivalent is required of all NWS Fellows. Doctoral students must have completed their residency requirements to be considered for a fellowship.  All new Fellows must have transcripts of their most recent degree sent to NWS. You are not required to have your bachelor’s degree in music in order to apply.
  • Invitations to join the NWS program as a Fellow are extended on a season-by-season basis for up to three seasons, at the sole discretion of NWS and with the understanding that a Fellow’s participation in the program is subject to ongoing review by designated members of the Musician Advancement department.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRE-SCREENING VIDEO:

Video recordings must meet the following criteria:

  • Recordings must be played in one continuous, unedited segment. The order of the recorded excerpts is left to your discretion.
  • Video must be from a single video camera, with the same shot for the entire video.
  • Any indication that there has been editing or that recording equipment was paused/stopped between excerpts will result in the disqualification of the applicant.
  • In order to create a more even playing field, do not use any kind of enhanced reverberation, sound limiters, or audio filters when recording your video.

Some advice for getting the best video possible:

  • We strongly recommend you view your recording all the way through before submitting it.
  • Record in a quiet space with no background noise present. If you're at home, make sure you're away from noisy appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners.
  • Ensure your microphone is 10-20 feet away from you with the microphone facing you.

For questions about the NWS' application process or pre-screening video, please email admissions@nws.edu

PERCUSSION

Currently, New World Symphony has no opening for percussion Fellows but you may add your name to our contact list by emailing admissions@nws.edu and you will be notified the next time percussion auditions are announced. 

Conducting Fellowship

  • The New World Symphony offers a one-year conducting fellowship to highly qualified conductors who have finished at least a bachelor’s degree and are not currently enrolled in a degree program. The conducting fellow works with Michael Tilson Thomas and many visiting guest conductors and leads the NWS in several of the season’s concerts and reading sessions. The deadline for applications for a fellowship beginning in September 2023 is November 30, 2022. You may apply online at https://app.getacceptd.com/nws. The application will consist of: 

    • Three essay questions and a current resume.
    • A video showing you conducting music in rehearsal and/or performance preferably from a variety of musical periods and, if possible, a variety of ensemble sizes.
    • Three letters of recommendation.
    • A non-refundable application fee of $65.00.

Audio/Video Fellowship

Currently, New World Symphony has no opening for an Audio/Video Fellow but you may add your name to our contact list by emailing admissions@nws.edu and you will be notified the next time the fellowship becomes available.

Library Fellowship

The New World Symphony is seeking to fill a vacancy for its library fellowship.  New World Symphony fellowships are awarded on a season-to-season basis for up to three years. Ideally, the selected applicant will start this September for the 2023-24 Season.  

This fellowship is designed for the individual who has decided on a career of performance librarian for an orchestra/ensemble/college conservatory but needs to acquire the daily exposure and hands on experience necessary to win such a job.

The library Fellow will work closely with the orchestra musicians, Music Library Director, NWS staff members, and performing artists as well as the Artistic Director and Artistic Director Laureate. This fellowship teaches all aspects of running a busy orchestra library including all the administrative responsibilities of such a position.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in music and prior orchestra library experience is required. 
  • Must be able to read music in a variety of clefs and have knowledge of transposition of instruments.
  • Comprehensive knowledge and experience with music engraving/editing software is preferred.
  • Applicants should have the qualities of an even-temperament, able to work well and productively under pressure, understand the flexible work hours that may be necessary, and be able to take direction with a positive attitude.

The fellowship provides local housing and a weekly stipend of $600. The 2023-24 season is 35 weeks.

Please email or call Tom Hadley, New World Symphony's Dean of Admissions, Alumni and Fellow Services, for an application and more details. 

Tom.Hadley@nws.edu  /  305.428.6713

APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 12, 2023

Foreign Nationals living within the USA

In addition to your application, resume, essays and application fee, please provide photocopies of the following documents:

  • Passport page(s) containing date of birth, country or city of birth, country of citizenship, and foreign address.
  • ONE of the following documents (as applicable):
    • I-20 from the school or institution you are attending
    • Permanent Residency Card (“Green Card”)
    • Employment Authorization Card

Due to the difficulty in obtaining visiting artist visas on short notice, foreign nationals living outside the U.S. will not be invited to substitute with NWS. Foreign nationals living within the U.S. who substitute with NWS will be required to show proof of eligibility to receive stipend.

Taxes

Fellows who are non-resident aliens temporarily present in the US may be subject to mandatory withholding on the value of their stipend, travel grant and housing. For fellows here on an F-1, J-1, M-1, Q-1, or Q-2 visa, the withholding rate is 14%; however, a tax treaty with the fellow’s home country may eliminate the mandatory withholding requirement depending on the length of time the fellow has been in the US. Absent a treaty exemption the withholding rate is 30% for non-resident aliens in any other immigration status. Each year fellows who are non-resident aliens are required to certify their status by completing Forms 8233 and W8-BEN and the information will be used by NWS to determine applicability of treaty benefits and withholding requirements. At the end of each calendar year NWS will issue a Form 1042-S to any non-resident alien subject to withholding and recipients may be able to obtain a refund from the IRS subject to their individual tax filing.

Non-discrimination policy

The New World Symphony admits Fellows of any race, religion, color, gender, gender expression, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital status, family responsibility, affectional or sexual orientation to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to Fellows at NWS. It does not discriminate in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies and other NWS-administered programs.

Culture

The New World Symphony is committed to maintaining an educational, working, and living environment founded on civility and mutual respect.  We have a philosophy of continuous improvement and are committed to strengthening this environment for the benefit of our Fellows, employees, and entire community.

NWS if firmly committed to the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and professionalism, as well as to the strictest compliance with these standards.  Our leadership strives to create a safe educational and work environment based on a culture of respect and where harassment is not tolerated.



Carnival Corporation & PLC Knight Foundation The Kovner Foundation City of Miami Beach Miami-Dade County Yamaha Artist Services Truist