To apply to Special Music School High School you must follow the guidelines outlined by the NYCDOE (HERE). Please complete your high school application through MySchools and then indicate your interest in auditioning for SMS. If you do not currently have a MySchools account, you can create yours HERE. If you have questions regarding your Myschools account, please contact your school guidance counselor.
Auditions for the 2023-24 school year are virtual. Callbacks may be scheduled in person if necessary. Please submit your audition through the Myschools audition tool. Please contact us at hsadmissions@specialmusicschool.org if you have any questions.
Special Music School High School’s music program is rooted in the classical tradition, its performance and its composition. Students wishing to audition may sign up to audition in the three Concentrations that organize the students:
- Vocal Concentration – for singers
- Composition Concentration – for those interested in composing
- Instrumental Concentration – for those that play an instrument. Special Music School teaches students in the instrumental program on the following instruments: piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophones trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium/baritone, tuba and percussion.
Audition Requirements
We ask all students to prepare one or two pieces that best reflect their current playing ability.
Students should submit instrumental and vocal auditions via the DOE Audition Tool for the 2022-23 admissions. Students will have access to the Audition Tool on the DOE website after they apply. Application form.
For those students interested in the Music Composition Concentration, please submit a PDF or your written musical score (either handwritten or printed from music notation software) as well as a midi or live recording of your piece, if possible. Please email the score and, only if it is available, your recording, to Andrew Copper, Special Music School High School Dean of Music:
andrew@specialmusicschool.org