Students must receive an invitation to audition, after submission and admissions approval of the application for audition.
Apply to Audition
On-Site Auditions
We’re excited you have the opportunity to audition for a potential spot at Mississippi School of the Arts. It’s our state’s only residential high school of the arts! MSA is also one of nine residential art schools of its kind in the United States!
By audition day, you’ll need to have your portfolio ready (if your arts discipline requires one) and check in, on time, at the Student Life Center on the MSA campus. An appointment schedule will be provided with your invitation letter or via e-mail.
The audition includes two events for the day:
- Audition applicants will participate in a short interview by MSA representatives.
- Audition applicants will complete on-site audition for their chosen arts discipline(s).
Portfolio and Performance Requirements
Review the following audition portfolio and performance requirements. Applicants are allowed to audition for up to three arts disciplines. If you have questions about audition, please contact the Admissions team at 601-823-1300. You may also email questions to admissions@msabrookhaven.org.
Dance Performance Audition
Dance applicants do not have to submit an audition portfolio. All performances will be held on-site in the audition space.
The following is what will take place on the day of audition:
- Short classes in ballet and modern dance (a 20th century contemporary art form of concert dance that has developed throughout the world for more than a century. Modern dance allows for greater freedom in the torso, expressiveness, and movement experimentation, utilizing bare feet, parallel foot positions, and floor work). A dance teacher will demonstrate all of the dance combinations.
- Applicants should come with a prepared 60-second solo. All music should be on CD. No costumes allowed.
Literary Portfolio and Audition
Literary applicants must submit a portfolio, prior to audition. The following are the required pieces of work to be submitted:
- Five original, written works: One (1) sonnet, one (1) flash fiction, two (2) free verse poems — (14 to 24 lines per poem); and one (1) short story.
- The short story should be typed in Times New Roman font, 12 point font size, double-spaced with the applicant’s first and last name in the upper right-hand corner of each page.
The following is what will take place on the day of audition:
- Applicants will participate in an essay-based writing assignment with a prompt and instructions given. Applicants will access a computer lab to complete the assignment.
Visual Portfolio and Audition
Visual applicants must submit a portfolio on the day of the audition. The following are the required pieces of work to be brought with you:
- The portfolio should be delivered on the day of audition. Original artworks should be no larger than 18in. X 24in. consisting of six works: Two (2) still life drawings and one (1) portrait. The three (3) remaining pieces should be representative of the student’s best work drawn from direct observation representing a range of media.
- Do not submit cartoons, anime, comic book figures or framed images as part of the portfolio.
- A completed visual arts inventory sheet (provided by MSA)
The following is what will take place on the day of audition:
- Applicants will participate in a drawing assignment with instructions provided. All materials will be provided by Mississippi School of the Arts.
Vocal Music Performance Audition
Vocal Music applicants do not have to submit an audition portfolio. All performances will be held on-site in the audition space.
The following is what will take place on the day of audition:
- Performance of one musical selection (2-minute maximum; a capella or provide own accompaniment) from Sacred/Gospel, Classical, Patriotic, or Musical Theatre. A piano or CD player will be available for your audition. Recorded accompaniment with no background vocals may be used.
- Perform a series of unrehearsed musical assignments provided on-site.
Theatre Performance Audition
Theatre applicants do not have to submit an audition portfolio. All performances will be held on-site in the audition space.
The following is what will take place on the day of audition:
- Performance of a memorized dramatic or comedic monologue from a published play (1-minute maximum); cold read; improvisation. Applicants will introduce the monologue by stating the name of the play, the name of the playwright, and the name of the character. The introduction will not count toward the 1-minute maximum allotted time.
- Applicants should use no costumes. Minimal props may be used for the monologue, but only if they do not distract from the quality of the performance.
Media Portfolio and Audition
Media applicants must submit a portfolio, prior to audition. The following are the required pieces of work to be submitted:
- The applicant will submit one (1) 60 second film depicting a scene or story in a non-documentary style. Subject matter is the student’s choice. The film must be made by the student applying. View Quick Guide: “How to Make a Short Film/Scene
- The film must be accompanied by a one-page typed essay (12 point font, Times New Roman) describing:
1) The process of making the film;
2) Why the topic was chosen, and;
3) A description of what will be seen in the film.
The following is what will take place on the day of audition:
- Applicants will participate in a Director’s Note assignment. A prompt and instructions will be provided. Applicants will access a computer lab to complete the assignment.
Post-Audition Status Letter
After auditions, you will be notified of your audition status by postal mail. If you receive accepted status, your acceptance letter will include a time-sensitive intent form that must be returned if you accept and want to enroll into Mississippi School of the Arts.
If you are accepted into more than one arts discipline, you have the option to choose one among the accepted art disciplines shown in your status letter. Although you are allowed to choose only one discipline, you may take courses in other disciplines if your class schedule allows. For instance, a Literary Arts major interested in screenwriting may take Media courses for film and cinema studies. Or a Theatre student may take a Dance course, etc.
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