Students must receive an invitation to audition, after submission and Admissions approval of the application for audition.
Apply to Audition
Audition Day
June 4, 2024 (Dance and Theatre Only)
On-Site Auditions
This is the big day! Approved applicants will receive an invitation to audition. We’re excited to offer the opportunity to audition for a potential spot at Mississippi School of the Arts. It’s Mississippi’s only residential high school in the state, focused on fine 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 process with MSA representatives.
- Audition applicants will complete an on-site audition for their chosen arts discipline(s). See Portfolio and Performance Requirements for more information.
Portfolio and Performance Requirements
Review the following audition portfolio and performance requirements for the Class of 2026. Applicants are allowed to audition for up to three arts disciplines as indicated on the application. If you have questions about audition, please don’t hesitate to contact our admissions team.
Dance Performance Audition
Dance applicants do not have to submit an audition portfolio. All performances will be held on-site in the audition space.
- Applicants will come with a prepared 60-second solo in any dance genre.
- Applicants should prepare to introduce themselves and their solo.
- Prior to the audition day, applicants must submit a link or uploaded MP3 file of solo music (no lyrics allowed).
- No costumes allowed.
The following will take place with guidance on the day of audition:
- Two short classes involving a ballet barre and a modern center floor. A dance professional will demonstrate all dance combinations.
- Applicants must wear dance attire–neutral-colored leotard, convertible tights, ballet shoes, leggings for modern class, hair ballet bun, no jewelry, bring water bottle.
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 will take place with guidance on the day of audition:
- Applicants will participate in an essay assignment. A prompt and instructions will be provided. 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:
- Applicants will bring a portfolio on the day of audition. Original artworks should be no larger than 18in. X 24in. consisting of six works: Two still life drawings and one portrait. The three 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.
- All artworks should be from direct observation.
- A completed visual arts inventory sheet (provided by MSA on the day of auditions)
The following will take place with instructions on the day of audition:
- Applicants will participate in an on-site drawing assignment in the art studio. All supplies needed will be provided to the applicant by MSA.
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.
- Applicants will perform one musical selection – Sacred/Gospel, Classical, or Musical Theatre. A Bluetooth speaker will be provided for any accompaniment. If you choose to bring an accompanist, a piano will be provided. We do not provide an accompanist.
The following will take place with guidance on the day of audition:
- A series of unrehearsed vocalizes, ear training and sight-reading 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 will take place with guidance 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 not use 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:
- Applicants will submit a 2-4 minute film depicting a scene or story in a non-documentary style. Each student will make a short film based on the prompt provided. The film and essay must be made by the student applying.Film Prompt
Number of Characters: two; Number of Locations: two (1 interior, 1 exterior); Theme: Forgiveness; Story: Two friends make up after one break another’s heirloom.
- 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) How the applicant interpreted the prompt, and;
3) A description of what will be seen in the film.
The following will take place with guidance on the day of audition:
- Applicants will participate in a Director’s Notes 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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We’re here to help! If you have any questions or need assistance with the admissions process, don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!
Resources
Admissions Office
Mississippi School of the Arts
P.O. Box 229
Brookhaven, MS 39602-0229
Phone: (601) 823-1300
Fax: (601) 823-1555
Email: admissions@msabrookhaven.org
