The Artist Diploma in Performance is a highly competitive graduate program and is the terminal performance credential offered at the Lamont School of Music. Designed for highly gifted musicians who are dedicated to pursuing careers as performers, this selective program features a strong emphasis on individual artistry with minimal academic requirements by offering an immersive environment focused entirely on advanced performance training.
In this program, you’ll receive intensive one-on-one instruction with our remarkable faculty and benefit from a wide array of performance opportunities. The program provides you with the resources and support needed to refine technique, develop interpretive depth, and cultivate a distinctive artistic voice.
Artist Diploma students serve as role models within the Lamont community, often assuming leadership roles within large and small ensembles. Their presence enhances the musical environment and sets a high standard of excellence and professionalism for their peers.
Designed for musicians who already possess significant training and performance experience, the Artist Diploma in Performance offers the ideal bridge to a professional performing career.
About the Program
Audition Requirements
Preliminary Round
By December 15, 2025, applicants must fill out the graduate application and provide the following:
- A pre-screening video of 25 minutes of performance, unedited. The repertoire is up to you, but should accurately represent the full scope of your abilities
- Transcripts from every college or university you have attended
- Two (2) letters recommendation
- Résumé
- A personal statement that answers the following questions:
- What are your goals for this two-year program? What are you hoping to develop and what are you hoping to learn?
- Could you describe your professional experience performing for the public?
- In what ways could you provide leadership at Lamont?
- Over the next few decades, audiences for music are going to become increasingly diverse. How might this affect your career, your repertoire, and the kinds of musical projects you get involved in?
Final Round
If accepted to the final round, candidates will be invited to campus to give a live mini-recital, open to the public, the afternoon of Sunday, February 15, 2026 in Hamilton Recital Hall. The repertoire should represent the full scope of your abilities and the program should be 25 minutes in length. As part of your performance, you must briefly introduce one item on your program to the audience (accommodations can be requested for this requirement). Lamont will provide an accompanist as well as rehearsal time in Hamilton Recital Hall.
Lamont will provide travel reimbursement up to $1,000 for applicants selected for the final round.
Degree Requirements
The artist diploma in performance from Lamont is a two-year program consisting of 27 credit hours. In addition to fulfilling credit requirements, students in the program must perform in three juried recitals and participate in the Lamont Honors Competitions (concerto and chamber music) at least once during enrollment in the program.
