Audition & Portfolio Review

To submit a pre-audition video, please complete an Inquiry Form first. Once submitted, you’ll receive a link to upload your video on SlideRoom.

Students applying to the Boston Ballet School Professional Division at Walnut Hill must complete a Pre-Audition video before being considered for a Live Audition. Selected students will be invited to participate in a Live Audition after their video has been reviewed. Please note: video auditions are accepted on a case-by-case basis.

Pre-Audition videos must be submitted at least 20 days in advance of the Live Audition you wish to attend.

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Pre-Audition Video Submission Instructions

1. Go to the SlideRoom home page and select Boston Ballet School Professional Division at Walnut Hill Pre-Audition Submission 2026–2027.
2. Click Apply Now and create a SlideRoom account.
3. Complete the application form and upload your Pre-Audition video.

Pre-Audition Video Recording Requirements

• Videos should not exceed 15 minutes and must be filmed no farther than 20 feet away.
• Include the following components:
  • Complete barre (one side only)
  • Center floor work: adagio (both sides), pirouette combinations (both sides), pirouettes from 5th and 4th en dehors/en dedans
  • Petit allegro: entrechat, brisé, sissonne
  • Grand allegro: tour jeté (entrelacé), grand jeté
  • Pointe work (based on experience/years en pointe): échappé, relevé in arabesque, pirouettes en pointe, diagonal turning combination (soutenu, chaîné, piqué, tombé piqué en dehors)
  • Men: entrechat six and double tours (both sides)

Dress Code

• Women: black leotard and tights in the closest natural skin tone or in which they feel most comfortable; soft and pointe shoes required.
• Men: black tights and white t-shirt.
• Adjust colors as needed for visibility (e.g., lighter leotard against dark walls).

Important: Your Pre-Audition video may also be considered for acceptance into Boston Ballet School’s Summer Dance Program (SDP) 2026.

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Live Audition Information

Students selected from Pre-Audition videos will be invited to one of the following Live Auditions:

• Saturday, November 15, 2025 – On campus at Walnut Hill, Natick, MA
• Saturday, January 24, 2026 – On campus at Walnut Hill, Natick, MA
• Saturday, April 25, 2026 – On campus at Walnut Hill, Natick, MA

Further details on Boston Ballet’s SDP audition tour and international dates will be shared soon.

Please direct any questions to admissions@walnuthillarts.org or Isabel Amador.

Students must complete Steps 1–4 of their online application in order to submit their Portfolio to Slideroom.

Students applying for the music program have two options for auditioning:

Option 1: In-Person Audition
We offer four opportunities for In-Person Music Audition dates. Your audition should follow the listed guidelines for the music concentration to which you are applying (Jazz, Vocal, etc.).

In-Person Audition Dates:

• Friday, November 14, 2025 – On campus at Walnut Hill, Natick, MA
• Saturday, January 17, 2026 – On campus at Walnut Hill, Natick, MA
• Friday, February 6, 2026 (Jazz & Contemporary Musical Arts Only) – On campus at Walnut Hill, Natick, MA
• Saturday, April 11, 2026 (Classical Voice ONLY) – On campus at Walnut Hill, Natick, MA
• Saturday, May 2, 2026 (Instrumentalists ONLY) – On campus at Walnut Hill, Natick, MA

Option 2: Virtual Audition
If you are unable to travel to campus, please submit a video audition via Slideroom at the link below. When submitting a recording please do not alter the sound of your recording or add reverb. We prefer to hear your natural sound as if you were auditioning in person.

Videos and in-person auditions are given equal consideration during the application process. We do strongly encourage in-person auditions as they include one-on-one meetings with the Director of Music and an Admission Representative. It's also a great time to see our campus. The Office of Admission can help you arrange a tour of campus during your visit.

Requirements

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Composition

Two or three original compositions in neat manuscript form. At least one of these should be written by hand. In addition, we require a demonstrated level of proficiency on your major instrument.

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Instrumental (Classical)

Two or three contrasting movements or short works. The works should include selections from at least two different musical periods (ex: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th Century, Contemporary).

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Jazz & Contemporary Musical Arts

Two contrasting pieces, with at least one of the two pieces composed by a jazz musician such as Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, Herbie Hancock, etc.

Play (or sing) the written melody once at the beginning, then improvise on the form of the tune for between 1 and 3 minutes. If you play a chord instrument (like piano or guitar), demonstrate your ability to accompany someone else’s solo. The composed melody should only be played one time at the beginning. If you play bass, demonstrate a walking bass line in one piece, and a different rhythm in another piece (such as funk, bossa nova, ballad, ostinato, or Afro-Cuban, etc.). If you play drums, demonstrate a swing feel in one piece and a different rhythm in another piece.

Recording guidelines: You may submit a video of you playing or singing with a live small jazz ensemble or a “play along recording” consisting of bass, drums and chord instrument (guitar or piano). Please use the guidelines above. Please do not submit only unaccompanied recordings, as we need to evaluate the student's sense of rhythm in two contrasting pieces. One unaccompanied third piece can be submitted as an extra piece.

Please Note: If you have no previous small jazz ensemble experience, you may audition by playing two contrasting pieces in any style. At least one of the pieces should demonstrate your ability to play in a strict metric style (no rubato, no tempo shifts).

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Voice (Classical)

To schedule a live audition for the Classical Voice program on campus, please click below. If you are unable to schedule an audition in person, you may submit a video audition via Slideroom.

Please prepare two classical art songs from memory that contrast in language, tempo, character or style. One song should be in English, and the second song can be in Italian or another language such as French, German, your native language, etc. A pianist will be provided to accompany you during a live audition. For video submissions, you may perform your audition with a pianist or with a pre-recorded track.

Students submitting a video via Slideroom should include a brief personal statement video in addition to your two songs. In this video, please introduce yourself and tell us why you are interested in applying to our classical voice program at Walnut Hill. Please feel free to share anything else about your goals or aspirations you would like us to know.

Additional Audition Guidelines for Classical Voice:

• Please avoid operatic arias for this audition (Verdi, Puccini, Wagner, Donizetti, Rossini, Strauss)
• Please avoid pop, rock, singer/songwriter or contemporary commercial music for this audition as our voice program does not include these genres.
• We welcome and encourage you to include classical repertoire from underrepresented composers and poets (works by women, Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latine or People of Color, or other underrepresented groups).
• If you are currently enrolled in voice lessons, your vocal instructor can help you select appropriate repertoire within the above guidelines.
• Please contact Head of Voice, Teresa Winner Blume, with any questions at tblume@walnuthillarts.org.

Repertoire Selection Tips:
Examples of composers of classical art songs might include:

• English: Aaron Copland, John Duke, Amy Beach, Florence Price, William Grant Still
• Italian: Tosti, Donaudy, or any song from the anthology  “24 Italian Songs and Arias”
• German: Franz Schubert, Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms
• French: Gabriel Fauré, Cecile Chaminade, Pauline Viardot

SlideRoom Video Audition Recording Guidelines:

• Recording with a smartphone is acceptable. Make sure we can see your facial expressions and hear your voice clearly.
• Landscape orientation is best. You should be in the center of the frame, from just above the top of your head to just below your hands when they are at rest.
• Do not make any edits or enhancements to the video or to the audio such as reverb or autotune. If there are such edits to your videos we will ask you to record again and re-submit before fully considering your audition.
• Make sure that the audio is clear without any background noise (such as a loud persistent fan).
• Please introduce yourself, the title of your piece and the composer’s name at the beginning of each video. Please label each video file with appropriate song title, or “personal introduction”
• When recording, please perform 2-3 takes at the most. Choose your most beautiful, consistent and overall expressive performance. A tiny "mistake" is not a reason to record again, if overall that performance is your best.

Students must complete Steps 1–4 of their online application in order to submit their Portfolio to Slideroom.

Requirements:

Theater applicants should memorize one 60–90 second monologue from a published play (preferred) or any published theatrical piece (book excerpt, poem, etc). Applicants should also memorize one, 1 to 2 minute excerpt of a song from a musical (preferred) or any published song. The song must be performed with musical accompaniment. 

For In-Person Auditions:

A live accompanist will be provided for you at your audition. Please bring sheet music in the key you are performing in. 

In-Person Audition Dates:

• Friday, November 7, 2025 – On campus at Walnut Hill, Natick, MA
• Friday, January 16, 2026 – On campus at Walnut Hill, Natick, MA
• Friday, April 24, 2026 – On campus at Walnut Hill, Natick, MA

For Virtual Auditions:

For applicants unable to attend an in-person audition, we do offer an alternative audition method. Please record performances of your two memorized selections in separate takes, as detailed in the live audition guidelines, and submit them through SlideRoom. Once submitted, you will be invited to a Zoom interview with our Theater Faculty, where they will have the opportunity to work with you on your selections and ask you questions. Whenever possible, we encourage you to audition and interview on our Natick campus.

During virtual auditions, students must provide their own accompaniment. If using a recorded accompaniment, please use an external speaker that is placed behind you. Before your audition over Zoom, please review the Zoom Audition Tips document.

Students must complete Steps 1–4 of their online application in order to submit their Portfolio to Slideroom.

Portfolio Submission Requirements

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Amount of Works & Information

Portfolios should contain a minimum of four works. Please include the following information for each piece of your portfolio:

1. Title of work
2. Scale of work
3. Materials/media used
4. Brief description of work and inspiration behind it

Slideroom Portfolio Submission Note: There are five document slots available to you on your Slideroom account. Please don't let that limit how many works you submit. If you would like to submit more than five, add several pieces to one document (ex: Google Slideshow Presentation) and upload that.

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Drawing From Observation

One of your pieces must be an original drawing from observation. Not from a photo. Arrange clothes or shoes from your wardrobe in a clear space in front of you. Using graphite or charcoal, sketch what you see.

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For In-Person Portfolio Reviews

Portfolios must be submitted via Slideroom at least one week before you schedule your Portfolio review. To complete your Portfolio requirement, you must complete an In-Person or Virtual Portfolio Review with Ken Tighe, our Visual Art Department Head. During the Portfolio Review, Ken will talk with you more about your inspirations, your art-making process, and give you the opportunity to ask more questions about our Visual Art Department. We offer three In-Person dates for Portfolio Reviews (listed below) that correspond with our three application deadlines. By coming In-Person this is a great opportunity to see the Visual Art facilities and get a sense of our campus’ environment.

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In-Person Portfolio Review Dates

• Friday, November 14, 2025 – On campus at Walnut Hill, Natick, MA
• Friday, January 16, 2026 – On campus at Walnut Hill, Natick, MA
• Friday, April 10, 2026 – On campus at Walnut Hill, Natick, MA

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Sketchbook

Sketchbooks offer important insights into the creative process of an applicant. Applicants are encouraged to bring their most recent sketchbook at the time of a portfolio review.

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For Virtual Portfolio Reviews

Portfolios must be submitted via Slideroom at least one week before you schedule your Portfolio review. To complete your Portfolio requirement, you must complete an In-Person or Virtual Portfolio Review with Ken Tighe, our Visual Art Department Head. During the Portfolio Review, Ken will talk with you more about your inspirations, your art-making process, and give you the opportunity to ask more questions about our Visual Art Department. Once you have submitted your Portfolio, your Admissions Representative, Stella Tavilla, will reach out to you with availability to complete your Virtual Portfolio Review via Zoom. 

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Sketchbook

Sketchbooks offer important insights into the creative process of an applicant. Applicants are encouraged to bring their most recent sketchbook at the time of a portfolio review.

Students must complete Steps 1–4 of their online application in order to submit their Portfolio to Slideroom.

Portfolio Submission Requirements

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Option A: Writing Submission

A writing portfolio consisting of original work that best represents who you are as a writer. It should contain 2–4 pieces of writing total from one or more of the following genres: poetry, fiction (short stories or brief excerpts from novels), playwriting/screenwriting, or creative nonfiction (personal essay or reflective essay—not an academic essay). If you feel that your best work is a work-in-progress, you can submit it in draft form.

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Option B: Photography Submission

A photography portfolio consisting of original work that best represents who you are as a photographer. It should contain 5+ pieces of photography. Please accompany the submission with a statement that clearly describes why you chose to include those photos and what drew your attention to your subject matter.

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Option C: Video Submission

A short film or video (no longer than 10 minutes in length) in any style including live action, experimental, documentary, or animation. Please accompany the submission with a statement that clearly describes your personal contribution to the film (for example, you might have written the screenplay and directed the film, or perhaps instead filmed and edited a film that a friend directed).

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Option D: Storyboard Submission

A series of 10 to 15 still images arranged in an order that you feel tells a story. The images can be drawings, photographs that you took yourself, found images (from magazines, the internet, etc.). Please submit a short accompanying paragraph that illuminates or explains the story that you are trying to tell and credit any images that are not your own.

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Option E

Up to 4 pieces of work that are a mix of Options A, B, C and/or D.

Slideroom Portfolio Submission Note: There are five document slots available to you on your Slideroom account. Please don't let that limit how many works you submit. If you would like to submit more than five, add several pieces to one document (ex: Google Slideshow Presentation) and upload that.