On-campus auditions for students applying early decision will be held on Sunday, December 4, 2022. Recorded auditions/remote interviews are available for select programs.

As a reminder, Early Decision is open to undergraduate applicants only. Please ensure that you are familiar with the Early Decision Information and Obligations. 

To make the experience as smooth as possible, we have prepared this information to help you navigate the more routine aspects of your visit, including transportation and lodging.

Checking in

When you first arrive on campus, come directly to 17 E. Mt. Vernon Place. Walk straight ahead and down the stairs into the Arcade for check-in. From the Parking lot, go to the far corner of the second floor and follow signs saying “Main Entrance,“ “Concert Hall,” “Check-In” or “Arcade.” It’s all the same place. The check-in process is important, even for current Peabody students. If you do not check in, we may mistake you for a “no-show” and re-assign your audition time to someone else.

Audition Day Events

We are happy to provide an opportunity for you to tour the Peabody Campus and ask questions of our students and admissions staff. If you are unable to join us for the scheduled events, please let us know ahead of time and we will try to accommodate another option.

  • 12:30pm – Campus Tour
    • Meet in the Arcade, near the check-in table
  • 1:15pm (immediately following the tour) – Q&A
    • Located in the Marbury Room, 2nd floor of the Arthur Friedheim Library

The Audition

Be on site 45-minutes early to warm up. Practice rooms will be available to our visitors on audition day. We have asked you to prepare much more music than can be performed in the time allotted for your audition, so expect the faculty to ask for excerpts from your audition repertoire. Each faculty member will evaluate your acceptability to the school, as well as to their teaching studios. Finally, each faculty member will give you a 1-to-10 rating. Taken together, this will be the primary data used for admission decisions, teacher assignments, and the awarding of Peabody scholarships.

Canceling Your Audition

“No-shows” create havoc with the audition schedule. If you must cancel, please notify us at the earliest moment. You will help us with our planning, and you will also help others who may be on a waiting list for an audition time.

Changing Your Audition Time

Scheduling constraints and the vastly different set-up requirements for each major make arranging auditions a real mess. However, if you have a totally miserable conflict with another activity, call us and we will see if anything can be done.

Interviews

The entrance process for non-performance degree programs includes a scheduled interview. The faculty will explore your interest in the subject areas, looking for students likely to have a positive experience if accepted to Peabody. Here are some details:

Recording Arts and Sciences

Success in this program requires an aptitude for math and science, as well as musical interests in keeping with the “classical” and/or jazz styles taught at Peabody. The faculty will be looking at your background in hopes of determining your “fit” for the program.

Music for New Media

Applicants for this program can expect an interview based on their submitted portfolio materials. Faculty will review the applicant’s compositional process and creative goals as well as their knowledge of music notation and theory.

Music Education

The faculty will be looking for your interpersonal skills and will assess your potential as a teacher. You must be approved by the music education faculty to be accepted into the music education program. The best candidates may be offered supplemental music education scholarships.

Composition

Faculty members will interview prospective students based on their submitted portfolio items. Undergraduates can expect to be questioned on their knowledge of reading and writing music.

Computer Music

Prospective students in Computer Music will be scheduled for a full day of activities. During this time, applicants can expect to be interviewed based on their portfolio submissions as well as their knowledge of theory and history. Students will get a chance to meet current students and faculty members.

Nuts and Bolts

Where to Stay

Peabody has negotiated special rates at the following hotels. All are within walking distance of the Conservatory. When making reservations, tell them you are auditioning at Peabody. Please click on the hotel name to reserve a room.

Peabody Negotiated Rate Hotels:

Home 2 Suites by Hilton

8 East Pleasant Street Baltimore, MD 21202
410-576-1200

Hotel Indigo Baltimore

24 W. Franklin Street Baltimore, MD 21201
855-914-1370

Peabody Approved Hotels

Hotel Monaco

2 North Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21201
888-752-2636

Hotel Revival Baltimore

101 W. Monument St. Baltimore, MD 21201
410-727-7101

NOTE: Due to a heavy volume of negative feedback, we strongly advise against making any reservation at the Midtown Inn on St. Paul Street.

Getting to Peabody by Car

From the West

Take I-70 East to I-695 South. Exit at I-95 North and follow the directions given below for the South.

From the South

Take Interstate 95 north to I-395. Turn right on Conway Street off of I-395 and follow it until it ends at the Harbor. Turn left and stay on the left so that you follow Calvert Street as it heads north from the Harbor (you will be turning left onto Calvert). After approximately ten blocks north on Calvert Street, turn left on Monument Street (the Washington monument should appear directly ahead of you). Take your first left onto St. Paul Street and turn right into the Peabody Garage. If there is no room in the Peabody lot (which gets pretty crowded) you may be asked to park in an alternate location.

From the North

Take interstate 95 South to the Baltimore Beltway, I-695. Go west. The Beltway will merge with Interstate 83. After a few miles, take I-83 South into the city. Exit at St. Paul Street. Approximately ten blocks south on St. Paul Street you will cross Mt. Vernon Place (there will be a park and a tall monument to your right). At the end of the next block, turn right into our parking garage. If there is no room in the Peabody lot (which gets pretty crowded) you may be asked to park in an alternate location.

Getting To Peabody by Train

Peabody is located only a few blocks from the Amtrak station in Baltimore. It is an easy walk in good weather if you are not carrying much. However,  we recommend a taxi if you have your instrument with you and want to keep your ears warm.

Getting to Peabody From the Airport

When you arrive at Baltimore/Washington International Airport, check with the ground transportation desk in the baggage area by belts number six and seven (near Pier C). There is a “Supreme Shuttle” service that costs about $25.00 one way and around $18.00 for each additional person. It will drop you off at any major hotel in the downtown area. Total travel time is about an hour. You must arrange a pick up by the Supreme Shuttle to get back to the airport. The phone number is 800-590-0000. You can also make on-line reservations at: supremeairportshuttle.com. Of course, you can also take a taxi cab which will drop you off at the door. The cost is roughly double that of the Supreme Shuttle. Another option is the Light Rail, which recently opened service from the airport to Baltimore Penn Station. The fare is $1.70 each way. It leaves the airport every 17 minutes and the total travel time is 45 minutes. Call 410-539- 5000 for the latest, or check the web at mtamaryland.com. Cabs are readily available from the train station to Mt. Vernon Place (near all the hotels listed) for around $10.00.