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Graduate Resident String Quartet
Artist Diploma
Application & Audition Requirements
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About this Program
Overview
Applications for the Graduate Resident String Quartet Artist Diploma program are open every other year. Applications open on September 1, 2025 for matriculation in Fall 2026.
This program brings a qualified string quartet to be in residence at Juilliard and work with the Juilliard String Quartet. The members of the Juilliard Graduate Resident String Quartet, named Lisa Arnhold Fellows, are admitted to the school's Artist Diploma program, receive stipends and free tuition, perform an annual New York recital in Alice Tully Hall, coach regularly with the Juilliard String Quartet, and participate in the annual Juilliard String Quartet Seminar. As teaching assistants to the Juilliard String Quartet, the resident quartet coaches other student ensembles and assists in the freshman-year String Quartet Survey class. The quartet has exclusive use of a rehearsal studio and full access to all other Juilliard facilities. While this is a two-year residency, quartets must be invited to return for the second year.
While at Juilliard, the resident quartet is encouraged and expected to pursue its own performing schedule. The quartets that have participated in this program, established in 1986, are the Aeolus, Afiara, Argus, Attacca, Avalon, Biava, Calder, Cassatt, Chiara, Colorado, Corigliano, Essex, Ivalas, Lark, Magellan (now renamed the Whitman String Quartet), Maia, Mirò, Shanghai, St. Lawrence, Verona, and Ulysses Quartets.
Eligibility
In order to be admitted as an Artist Diploma student, you must have:
- Prior artistic training
- English language fluency
You are ineligible to apply to this program if you have already earned an Artist Diploma in the same major from another institution.
If you apply to this degree program and are denied admission, you can apply again. After three unfavorable results, you are no longer eligible to apply. A favorable result is defined as receiving admission to Juilliard or being placed on the waitlist. An unfavorable result is defined as a denial of admission after the prescreening, after the audition, or not showing up for your scheduled audition (“no-show”). Withdrawals do not count towards the three opportunities you have to apply to Juilliard.
Academic Requirements
The Juilliard School requires no specific courses, GPAs, standardized test scores, or class rankings for entry to this program. However, we will carefully evaluate your academic record to make sure you have the scholastic competence necessary to succeed in AD-level coursework.
There are additional requirements for:
Criteria for Acceptance
- Exceptional talent as a performer, and the potential to meet Juilliard's technical standards
- A high level and quality of training and musicianship
- A capacity for sustained, disciplined practice
- The personal maturity and generosity of spirit essential for ensemble work
- Broad and thoughtful interest in the world of music, including its historical traditions and contemporary trends
- A clear dedication to artistic excellence and a desire to exercise artistic leadership
Application Timeline
Application Timeline
| Application Requirement | Received-by Deadline |
|---|---|
| Online Application with Quartet Resume | December 1 |
| Application Fee ($USD) or Fee Waiver | December 1 |
| Prescreening Materials | December 1 |
| Recommender Information | December 1 |
| Recommendation Received | December 15 |
| Request for ADA Audition Accommodations | December 15 |
| Transcripts | December 15 |
| Prescreening Notification/Live Audition Invitations | Mid-January |
The following items are required of EACH member of the quartet ONLY if your group is invited to a live audition.
| Live Audition Requirement | Received-by Deadline |
|---|---|
| Proof of English Language Proficiency | January 15 |
| Financial Aid Application | March 1 |
| Live NYC Audition | See "Audition Dates" |
Audition Results
You will receive notification of your admission status (admit, wait list, or deny) through your application status page no later than April 1. Should you be admitted and enroll, your final official transcripts must be received by July 1.
Application Fee & Waivers
Application Fee
The $50 application fee is nonrefundable and must be paid through your application status page upon submission of your application. Your application is not considered complete until the fee has been received.
Fee Waivers
Fee waiver requests are available for applicants to graduate programs who demonstrate significant financial need by uploading one of the following to the application:
-
If you are independent, a copy of your most recent tax form filed OR
-
A letter on school stationery from your current university’s or college's Financial Aid Office stating that you have financial need of a fee waiver
If you are unable to provide one of the above documents, you may provide the following:
-
A personal letter describing your financial situation
All documentation must be in English. Original documents with translations are acceptable.
How to Upload
Fee waiver documentation (translated into English if not originally in that language) must be uploaded directly within the online application and submitted by the appropriate deadline. Documents must be in either .doc or .pdf format. (Convert your file to another format if you have scanned your document as a jpg.)
Fee waiver requests are processed on an ongoing basis. You will receive an email with the results of your request as soon as it is processed. Note that we have a heavy volume of requests to process at the deadline, so you may not receive your results until after the deadline has passed. This does not disqualify your application. Do not pay the application fee if your waiver request is still pending.
Your application status page will show an application fee payment due until your request is approved. If you are notified that your request for an application fee waiver is denied, you will be required to pay the application fee. Your application is not considered complete until the fee has been received. If your fee waiver request is processed after the deadline, and is denied, you will still have a grace period in which to pay the fee.
Your Application Materials
Your Online Application
Your application must be submitted online by the appropriate deadline. To begin, create your Juilliard Admissions Account, gather all of the required application materials, and follow the instructions to complete your application.
Your Resume
The quartet's artistic resume must be uploaded to the primary quartet member's online application. The resume should be 1-2 pages and must include:
- Your quartet name
- A list of the ensemble's members
- Any educational or artistic experiences of the quartet
- A list of quartet repertoire studied and performed
There is no specific layout required for the resume; however it must be uploaded in either a .pdf or .doc file format. Please do not submit program bios. The resume is used as a reference for faculty and the Admissions Committee.
Your Essay(s)
Your Quartet Essay
Juilliard’s Admissions Committee uses your essay to learn more about you as an ensemble and gain a sense of who you are beyond your application, transcripts, and audition.
Essay Requirements
- 1–2 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font
- written in English (not translated from another language)
- one essay collaboratively written by the group
- submitted within the online application of the primary quartet member
Topic
- Address how the AD program will help you develop as a quartet, and what specific Juilliard resources you will take advantage of during your studies (e.g., library, location in NYC, music theory classes, etc.).
Your Transcripts
Transcripts are an important component of the decision process. They help us determine if you have sufficient scholastic competence to succeed in coursework at the level for which you are applying. Please send your transcript by the requested deadline found in the application timeline above.
The Juilliard School accepts both official and unofficial transcripts during the application process. Students who are admitted and plan to enroll in the fall will be required to submit a final official transcript of their studies.
We understand that the current academic year has not ended, and that, if you are currently enrolled, you have not yet completed your program. Please submit your incomplete transcript as is by the deadline; an official final transcript will be required later, if you are admitted and choose to enroll.
You may view the status of transcripts at any time by logging into your application account. Please note that it may take the Office of Admissions up to 7 business days to process your transcript after it has been received
Unofficial versus Official Transcripts
- An unofficial transcript is one that you upload to your application or status page.
- In addition to what is listed below in Transcript Requirements, unofficial transcripts must include your name and the name of your institution.
- Unofficial transcripts must be uploaded to your application or status page as a PDF.
- An official transcript is one that is sent from your school directly to Juilliard. You should follow the process outlined by the Office of the Registrar at your school. If your school does not have an Office of the Registrar, please work with the school department or administrator that oversees course registration, grades, and the conferral of degrees.
- Many schools use secure electronic sending services such as National Student Clearinghouse, Parchment, eSCRIP-SAFE, or other systems. Electronic sending services must use this email address: [email protected].
- Alternatively, your school can send us your official transcript via regular or express mail. Mailed transcripts must be sent in a sealed envelope directly from the issuing institution(s) to the Juilliard Office of Admissions.
Office of Admissions
The Juilliard School
60 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York, NY 10023
Transcript Requirements
- Your transcript(s) must show all prior and current post-secondary coursework.
- For students studying outside of the United States, your coursework must be equivalent or similar to a U.S. undergraduate curriculum. Typically, this includes at least 24 credits of liberal arts courses.
- You will be notified if an official evaluation of your transcript is required in order to verify your academic level. Companies such as The Evaluation Company (use this link for a discounted evaluation: SpanTran Pathway - The Juilliard School), WES, or ECE can provide this service for a fee.
- If you are pursuing post-graduate studies, you must send us both your undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
- If you have already completed your program of study, your transcript must also include the degree/diploma conferred and your graduation/completion date.
- If your transcript is not in English, we require the transcript in its original language as well as a certified translation.
Your Recommendations
In your primary quartet member's application your group will be required to identify one individual who will provide your recommendation. The recommendation should:
- be from a teacher, coach, or artistic mentor who has worked with the group
- address your talent and accomplishments as an ensemble
- discuss the following characteristics that indicate potential for success in the field: perseverance, dedication, collegiality, and leadership
The recommendation is not due until later in the application timeline. Your recommender will receive an email with a link to securely upload their letter to our application system. We will only accept recommendations received through our application system.
You may view the status of recommendations at any time by logging into your application account.
Scholarship & Financial Aid Forms
Through the generosity of Juilliard’s donors, there is no tuition charge for this program. If you are a US citizen or permanent resident, you may apply for federal student loans to assist with additional required fees and living expenses by completing the FAFSA.
Visit the Office of Financial Aid for more information.
Prescreening
Prescreening Type
Format
You are required to upload your files in a Video format. Acceptable file types include:
- .3g2, .3gp, .avi, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .mxf, .webm, .wmv
PLEASE NOTE: Some .mov files use a codec which is not supported by the application. We recommend that .mov files be converted to another accepted format to avoid uploading difficulties.
We support media files as large as 5GB, but please be advised that larger files will take longer to upload from your Internet connection and may stall if you are on a wireless connection or one that cannot sustain a connection for the necessary period of time.
Prescreening Requirements
Your major is required to submit prescreening recordings within the online application by the appropriate deadline.
Procedures
- Upload and arrange your recordings so that the file that represents your best work is first.
- Individual movements or excerpts should be uploaded as separate digital files.
- Clearly label each of the uploaded files with the name of the composer and work/movement.
- Complete your uploads well in advance of the appropriate deadline, as upload times vary depending on file size and internet signal strength.
- Insufficient or incomplete audition repertoire may affect consideration for admission.
- Where specific works are required, substitutions are not allowed.
- Please note that audition requirements which state a complete piece or work are indicating all movements must be prepared.
- Unless otherwise specified in the prescreening requirements listed below, all works written with accompaniment must be accompanied for your recording.
Quality
- Please note that submitted prescreening recordings do not need to be filmed in a particular setting. Videos filmed in a practice room, a living room, a concert hall, a recording studio, or any other setting may be submitted.
- Recordings must be genuinely performed by you. Composition applicants: live recordings of your works may include others.
- Recordings must not be edited, nor should any effects such as “reverb” be added.
- Play back and check your entire recording for any distortion or excessive “buzz”.
- If accompaniment is required, ensure that it does not drown out your playing.
- Review your recordings before uploading to ensure that they are of good quality and represent your best work to date.
You will be notified as to whether or not you have passed the prescreening round by the date on the application timeline. Please note that prescreening materials become the property of The Juilliard School and will not be returned. We encourage you to keep copies for your records.
Additional Instructions
Prescreening Repertoire
NEW: requirements for applicants applying for entry to the 2024 academic year.
- Recordings should include three complete works, one from each of the following periods:
- Classical
- Romantic
- Contemporary
Additional Requirements
English Language Proficiency
Definition
You are required to show proof of English language proficiency by the application deadline if your native language is not English, regardless of citizenship. The Juilliard School defines native language as the language first spoken as a child and the primary language spoken at home.
Exemption
An exemption automatically excuses an applicant from the requirement to provide a test score as proof of English language proficiency. The exemption is based on the applicant meeting specific criteria when completing the application. Applicants who are exempt from the requirement to provide an ELP test score are also exempt from the interview requirement.
You are exempt from this requirement if BOTH of the following are true:*
- You have attended an English language high school/secondary school for four years AND
- You have or will complete a four-year undergraduate degree at an English language institution
*Note that this is a TOTAL of EIGHT years of instruction at English language institutions, including BOTH high school AND undergraduate degree studies.
An exemption to provide a test score as proof of English language proficiency is granted automatically if you meet the aforementioned criteria. Applicants who are exempt from providing a test score also are exempt from the ELP interview requirement.
Waiver
A waiver excuses an applicant from the requirement to provide a test score as proof of English language proficiency. Waivers are granted by Juilliard upon request of the applicant, and following a review by the School’s Director of ESL of the materials submitted by the applicant in support of their request for the waiver.
A waiver of the ELP requirement may be granted at the school’s discretion if the following criteria are met:
- The applicant has earned (or will have earned by the time of matriculation) a FOUR-year undergraduate degree from a school where the language of instruction is English AND
- The applicant submits two academic papers written in English, for review by our Director of ESL. The papers must have been written in the applicant’s most recently completed academic term. Each paper must be a minimum of 1200 words in length AND
- The applicant submits an unofficial transcript for review.
To request consideration for a waiver, follow the instructions on the application form.
An interview is still required of applicants whose test score requirement is waived.
Helpful tool: To see if you may qualify for an exemption or a waiver of the requirement to submit a test score as proof of English language proficiency, our online form can help you. Although this form does not grant exemptions or waivers, it can help you plan ahead should the result indicate that you need to schedule an ELP test.
Proving English Language Proficiency
The ability to speak, read, and understand English fluently is an important factor in admissions decisions. You must submit one of the following test types to prove your mastery of the English language. If your score falls below the minimum scores listed here, you should carefully consider whether to continue the application and audition process. We reserve the right to deny an audition based on scores that fall considerably below our minimum.
| Test Type | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| Cambridge English | B2 |
| TOEFL | 73 |
| IELTS Academic Test | 6 |
The official test results must be sent directly from the testing company and received in the Office of Admissions by the appropriate deadline.
Interview Requirement
- Artist Diploma (AD) applicants with a test score of 94 TOEFL and below (or the equivalent score for other tests) are required to interview with Juilliard’s Director of ESL in order to demonstrate fluency in the English language.
- AD applicants who are exempt from the test score requirement also are exempt from the interview requirement.
- AD applicants whose test scores are waived are still required to interview with the School’s Director of ESL.
- The Office of Admissions will contact applicants to schedule required interviews.
Formerly Enrolled Juilliard Students
Definition
You are considered a former Juilliard college student if you have not been in attendance during the previous academic year. You must submit all required application materials, in addition to the requirements below.
Transcript Requirements
- You are required to provide transcripts from all institutions attended after Juilliard
- Transcripts are already on file from your time at Juilliard and do not need to be submitted
Proof of English Language Proficiency
You do not need to submit proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, ITP Plus).
Decisions
We reserve the right to review your Juilliard enrollment record to assist with admissions decisions.
Currently Enrolled Juilliard Students
Online Application
You must apply if you meet one of the following criteria:
- You are seeking to change majors
- You are applying to a new program of study (changing your degree level)
Application Fee
As a currently enrolled student in the College Division, you are not required to submit an application fee as long as you submit your application by the appropriate deadline.
Transcripts
As a current student, you do not need to provide your transcripts, as they are already on file.
Proof of English Language Proficiency
You do not need to submit proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, ITP Plus).
Decisions
We reserve the right to review your Juilliard enrollment record to assist with admissions decisions.
Applicants with Disabilities
The Juilliard School seeks to facilitate the full participation of applicants with disabilities in the audition process. The school makes reasonable accommodations or adjustments for qualified individuals with known disabilities in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
Juilliard will not make pre-admissions inquiries as to whether or not a student has a disability; however, applicants with documented disabilities who require reasonable accommodations in order to participate in the audition process must notify the Office of Academic Support and Disability Services (OASDS) in writing by the appropriate deadline.
You will be required to submit documentation of your disability to OASDS; this information will be kept strictly confidential. You must complete the following forms in order for the school to accommodate your specific needs:
- Applicant Release of Disability Related Information Form
- Audition Accommodation Request Form
For more information and to access the forms please visit the Office of Academic Support and Disability Services page.
Auditioning for Juilliard
Audition Scheduling
After successfully passing the prescreening portion of the audition process, you will receive an invitation to attend a live audition.
Important things to know about your audition:
- You will receive an email confirming your audition date and time at least one month before your audition
- Auditions take place only at The Juilliard School in New York City. Audition day details, including practice room availability, will be sent prior to your audition
- Video auditions are not accepted
Audition Repertoire
- Three complete works, one from each of the following periods:
- Classical
- Romantic
- Contemporary
Decisions & Enrolling
Decisions
There are three possible outcomes to the audition process:
Admit
- The faculty recommends you to the Admissions Committee based on your potential and artistry as demonstrated in the audition.
- The Admissions Committee evaluates your academic record and supplemental materials in order to determine your capacity to succeed at Juilliard.
- The Admissions Committee makes the final determination of whom to admit based on their own evaluation, faculty recommendations, and the number of available openings in your major.
- The Office of Admissions releases your decision letter.
Waitlist
- The faculty recommends you to the Admissions Committee based on your potential and artistry as demonstrated in the audition.
- The Admissions Committee evaluates your academic record and supplemental materials in order to determine your capacity to succeed at Juilliard.
- You are placed on the waitlist because, although you are found admissible to the school, we have a limited number of openings.
- Should a place become available, the Admissions Committee evaluates the waitlist, making offers of admission as necessary.
Deny
During the application process, there are three points at which you can be denied admission:
- As a result of prescreening
- At various points in the application and audition process
- Following review by the Admissions Committee
A denial at any of these stages results in notification that you are no longer under consideration for admission.
These decisions will be posted to your application status page as noted on the timeline.