Graduate Performance Diploma

Use this check-list to keep track of all the required items. Click on each item (or scroll down) for details. Please consider printing this page so you can keep track of your progress.

Please note: Any GPD student who has completed a previous degree at Peabody will have scholarship or assistantship funds available for one year of study only. All other applicants will be eligible for two years of scholarship or assistantship support. The GPD program is not eligible for participation in Federal financial aid programs.

Application Rounds

Required Application Materials

Once you have started your application, you can save your progress and return to your application at any time.

When you have completed your application, you will be able to review and submit it before paying the application fee of $120. Your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed or scheduled for an audition/interview unless we have receive the application fee. If you feel that you qualify for an application fee waiver, please email peabodyadmissions@jhu.edu with your request.

After submission you will not be able to make changes to the application itself, but you will be able to edit your portfolio through your application status portal.

After you have submitted your application

Recommendation Letters

You will be asked to submit email addresses for three people who can speak to your performance ability. These people will automatically be emailed with instructions on how to electronically submit their recommendation. While you must submit these email addresses by the application submission deadline, your recommenders will have until the following deadlines to submit their recommendations:

  • Spring Admission: December 1st
  • Regular Decision: February 1st
  • Late Admission: April 29th

If you want to change your recommender or their email address after submitting your application, please contact the admissions office at peabodyadmissions@jhu.edu.

Teacher Preference – Performance areas

You are strongly encouraged to list studio teacher preferences on your application if applicable. These preferences have no bearing on the consideration for your admission to Peabody and are not shared with the faculty prior to your audition.

Studios can fill up quickly, especially in the larger departments, so we recommend listing 2 to 3 different faculty choices for areas of study that have multiple studio faculty. If you have any questions about teacher assignments, please contact the admissions office at peabodyadmissions@jhu.edu.

Biographies are listed alphabetically here, or you can find their information on the department’s specific page under Area of Study. More information can be found on our FAQ page.

English Proficiency

  • International applicants for all programs must submit a verified TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score by the deadlines below.
    • We do not accept the Duolingo English Test. We are now accepting the TOEFL iBT Home Edition (policy update as of 10/4/2022) if Covid-19 policies in your home country have prevented you from taking the TOEFL at a test center.
  • International students currently studying at an institution where English is the primary language, or in the US, should submit a TOEFL/IELTS score if their period of enrollment in that school is less than two years.
    • Students enrolled for two years or longer at a school in which English is the primary language should submit a transcript from this school and do not need to submit an English proficiency test score.
  • Test scores will be self-reported on the application but verified test scores must be submitted to Peabody through their respective testing agencies by the deadlines below. Peabody’s TOEFL School Code is 5532.
  • Test score submission deadlines:
    • Spring Admission: due at time of application submission or by December 1st
    • Regular Decision: December 1st if you have also submitted an assistantship application, February 1st for all other applicants
    • Late Admission: April 29th
    • If we do not have an official score by these dates, your application will be considered incomplete and we will be unable to make an admission decision.
  • Minimum score requirements: TOEFL – 79, IELTS – 6.5 overall band score.
    • We do not accept the TOEFL “My Best Scores”.

Transcripts

Please scan and upload your transcripts from all schools you have attended to our application.

  • These transcripts may be an official or unofficial copy.
  • Please include classes that are in progress for which you have not yet received grades.
  • We will not accept hard copy transcripts during the application process. Transcripts must be uploaded to your application.
  • If you are accepted and choose to enroll at Peabody, we will ask you to request that your school send a hard copy of your final transcript before orientation.
  • International applicants are required to upload an official English translation of all transcripts.

Repertoire List

Upload a representative list of the repertoire you have studied in your major instrument or area. Composition applicants should list your own works with instrumentation. Please indicate any repertoire performed in public with an asterisk (*). Piano or Voice applicants must upload a complete repertoire list.

Resume

Upload a copy of your resume.

Financial Aid

All applicants who complete an audition/interview are automatically considered for Peabody’s merit-based scholarships. Applicants to diploma programs (including GPD) are not eligible for federal financial aid.

Required Exams

Exams are required for the following Graduate Assistantship (GA) applicants, to be completed prior to your audition/interview. You will receive notice and instructions via email if you have required exams to complete. GA applicants will only be scheduled for a GA interview if they meet the minimum test score requirements to qualify for said interview.

  • Graduate Assistant and DMA Theory Test (GADMA)
    • Music Theory Graduate Assistantship (GA) applicants
  • Ear Training Placement Exam
    • Conducting applicants
    • Music Theory GA applicants
    • Ear Training GA applicants
    • Keyboard Studies GA applicants

Auditions/Interviews

Spring Admission auditions/interviews will be scheduled ad-hoc directly with the faculty.

Regular Admission Audition Week: About a month before your in-person audition or virtual interview, you will receive an invitation stating the date and time of your scheduled audition/interview. Audition requirements can be found here.

  • The audition/interview typically lasts about 7-20 minutes, depending on your area. Artist Diploma auditions may be longer.
  • Accompanists are provided for voice auditions held at Peabody ONLY. Accompanists are not required for other majors, but you may bring one if you wish.

Asia Regional auditions are available to instrumental applicants only.

Late Admission auditions/interviews will be held May 9-20th. If your area requires an interview in lieu of an audition, you will be contacted by the faculty to schedule your interview. Performance area auditions will be scheduled shortly after the application deadline.

Recorded Auditions must be submitted by the following deadlines:

  • Spring Admission: at the time of your application submission
  • Regular Decision: February 1st
  • Late Admission: May 13th

When will you learn the results?

Information from your audition and application will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee after all auditions/interviews are complete. Decisions for incomplete applications will not be made until we receive the missing information.

  • Spring Admission decisions will be released on a rolling deadline: as applications are received, until the final submission deadline of December 1st
  • Regular Admission decisions will be released on April 1st
  • Late Admission decisions will be released on June 14th