Carnegie Hall

Application Guidelines

Young and emerging professional vocalists and collaborative pianists are invited to apply for SongStudio at Carnegie Hall in January 2022. Up to 10 pairs of vocalists and pianists will be invited for a weeklong workshop that will address not only the musical and technical demands of the song literature, but also give participants additional tools that draw on other disciplines and methods of engaging audiences to present this intimate art form in new and creative ways.

Timeline

• August 16, 2021: Application opens
• October 1, 2021: Application deadline
• October 8, 2021: Recommendation deadline
• October 25, 2021: Candidates notified of the status of their application
• January 17–22, 2022: Program duration

Application Requirements

Please note that you may apply as an individual vocalist or collaborative pianist, or as a duo (vocalist and pianist) that wishes to attend SongStudio together. If you are invited on the basis of an individual application, you will participate throughout the week with a partner selected by SongStudio’s artistic leadership. Please be aware that we may also choose to invite artists who apply as a duo on an individual basis.

If you are applying as a duo, all audition recordings should feature both artists performing together.

Vocalists and Duos

In addition to a completed application form, all vocalists and duos are required to submit current headshot(s), one-page resume(s), two references, and audition videos. The audition videos (audio-only files are not accepted) should include unedited performances of three art songs, including one in English, one in German, and one in another language of your choice. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to submit a fourth song from outside of the traditional lied, chanson, and art-song repertoire. This could include a selection from the Great American Songbook, musical theater / cabaret, popular music, folk song, or world music.

To help the audition panel better understand your artistic perspective, all applicants are required to submit a full song repertoire list of works they have performed. The list should include works that you have studied/prepared and would, if requested in advance, be able to sing as part of your participation in SongStudio. Duos may include separate lists that reflect their individual repertoire, not just works they have performed/prepared together.

All materials must be submitted electronically through Acceptd, a service that provides a digital audition platform to many performing arts schools and programs. As part of the application, you will be asked to enter email addresses for your recommenders. They will receive a link to an online recommendation form after you submit your completed application. Please note that this email will be sent directly from Acceptd (not Carnegie Hall). Your references will have until October 8, 2021, to complete and submit their confidential recommendations.

Collaborative Pianists

In addition to a completed application form, all collaborative pianists are required to submit a current headshot, a one-page resume, two references, and audition videos. The audition videos (audio-only files are not accepted) should include unedited performances of three songs in contrasting styles and languages. Selections must include repertoire from at least two of the following categories: German,  French, American, 20th–21st century, and songs outside of the traditional art song repertoire. All songs must be performed with a vocalist. Additionally, collaborative pianists are required to submit a solo piano work (or a single movement from a larger work) under 10 minutes long.

To help the audition panel better understand your artistic perspective, all applicants are required to submit a full song repertoire list or works they have performed. The list should include works that you have studied/prepared and would, if requested in advance, be able to perform as part of your participation in SongStudio. (As necessary, based on the vocalist with whom they are paired, collaborative pianists will be expected to learn select repertoire for SongStudio to be discussed in advance of the workshop.)

All materials must be submitted electronically through Acceptd, a service that provides a digital audition platform to many performing arts schools and programs. As part of the application, you will be asked to enter email addresses for your recommenders. They will receive a link to an online recommendation form after you submit your completed application. Please note that this email will be sent directly from Acceptd (not Carnegie Hall). Your references will have until October 8, 2021, to complete and submit their confidential recommendations.

Application Fee

A $20 application fee is required at the time you submit your application.

Practical Information

Invited participants are expected to arrive in New York City the day before the workshop begins and depart the day after it concludes. Shared hotel accommodations are provided. Travel expenses up to $600 (North America) will be reimbursed to each participant from outside the New York City area.

Eligibility

SongStudio is open to art-song vocalists, recitalists, and collaborative pianists ages 18–35 who are currently residing in the United States of America. We expect that international applicants will be able to apply again starting in the 2022–2023 season.

When it reopens in October 2021, Carnegie Hall is committed to having a fully vaccinated building, including within our concert venues, Resnick Education Wing, offices, and all other spaces on our premises. This policy will enable our programs to operate at full capacity while looking after everyone’s health and safety. Therefore, all applicants selected for the SongStudio will need to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 using a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) in order to enter the building. We will send detailed guidelines once artists are accepted into the program. In the meantime, we are happy to answer any questions that you may have about these new protocols.

Accessibility

Carnegie Hall and SongStudio are committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities. SongStudio welcomes qualified applicants with disabilities, whether or not they need reasonable accommodations. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs reasonable accommodations to complete this application, or if you have questions regarding reasonable accommodations, please contact workshops@carnegiehall.org.