Application Requirements

Applications for the 2024-25 academic season will open on October 9, 2023.

All orchestral instrument fellowships (including Piano) except Percussion and Timpani:

• You may apply online at https://app.getacceptd.com/nws. The deadline will be January 10, 2024 and there will be an application fee of $65.00. 
• Applications consist of the online application, an attached pre-screening video (featuring a solo and excerpts), and an application fee. All applicants will be asked to submit a pre-screening video as part of our new application process.  Repertoire requirements can be found HERE.
• After the NWS audition panel reviews your application, some of you will be placed directly on to NWS’ substitute musician list for 2024-25 and others of you will be invited to schedule a live or live virtual audition.  For this small group of musicians invited to a live/live virtual audition, NWS is offering you the choice of auditioning either in a handful of cities across the USA or by opting to play a live virtual audition using Audition Room. All live/live virtual audition dates will occur in February and March, 2024.  Specific dates can be found HERE.
• These live/live virtual auditions will include an interview as well as performance.  More information will be sent to those who are invited.  These invitations and other preliminary results will be given by email no later than February 1, 2024.
• Additional audition results will be sent by e-mail no later than April 1, 2024.
• Only musicians currently enrolled in or graduated from a degree program will be considered for live or live virtual auditions. You can audition for the New World Symphony at any time during your studies, but you cannot be considered for a NWS fellowship until you have completed your present course of study. A baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree or the equivalent is required of all NWS Fellows. Doctoral students must have completed their residency requirements to be considered for a fellowship.  All new Fellows must have transcripts of their most recent degree sent to NWS. You are not required to have your bachelor’s degree in music in order to apply.
• Repertoire requirements for prescreening, live/live virtual auditions can be found HERE. NWS will not provide copies of audition excerpts or solos. 
• Accompanists are not permitted at your audition.

Percussionists and Timpanist

Currently, New World Symphony has no opening for timpani or percussion Fellows but you may add your name to our contact list by emailing admissions@nws.edu and you will be notified the next time percussion auditions are announced. 

Conducting Fellowship

• The New World Symphony offers a one-year conducting fellowship to highly qualified conductors who have finished at least a bachelor’s degree and are not currently enrolled in a degree program. The conducting fellow works with Michael Tilson Thomas and many visiting guest conductors and leads the NWS in several of the season’s concerts and reading sessions. The deadline for applications for a fellowship beginning in September 2024 is November 30, 2023. You may apply online at https://app.getacceptd.com/nws. The application will consist of: 
• Three essay questions and a current resume.
• A video showing you conducting music in rehearsal and/or performance preferably from a variety of musical periods and, if possible, a variety of ensemble sizes.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• A non-refundable application fee of $65.00.

Audio/Video Fellowship

Currently, New World Symphony has no opening for an Audio/Video Fellow but you may add your name to our contact list by emailing admissions@nws.edu and you will be notified the next time the fellowship becomes available.

Library Fellowship

Currently, New World Symphony has no opening for a Library Fellow but you may add your name to our contact list by emailing admissions@nws.edu and you will be notified the next time the fellowship becomes available.

Foreign Nationals living within the USA

In addition to your application, resume, essays and application fee, please provide photocopies of the following documents:

• Passport page(s) containing date of birth, country or city of birth, country of citizenship, and foreign address.
• ONE of the following documents (as applicable):
• I-20 from the school or institution you are attending
• Permanent Residency Card (“Green Card”)
• Employment Authorization Card

Due to the difficulty in obtaining visiting artist visas on short notice, foreign nationals living outside the U.S. will not be invited to substitute with NWS. Foreign nationals living within the U.S. who substitute with NWS will be required to show proof of eligibility to receive stipend.

Taxes

Fellows who are non-resident aliens temporarily present in the US may be subject to mandatory withholding on the value of their stipend, travel grant and housing. For fellows here on an F-1, J-1, M-1, Q-1, or Q-2 visa, the withholding rate is 14%; however, a tax treaty with the fellow’s home country may eliminate the mandatory withholding requirement depending on the length of time the fellow has been in the US. Absent a treaty exemption the withholding rate is 30% for non-resident aliens in any other immigration status. Each year fellows who are non-resident aliens are required to certify their status by completing Forms 8233 and W8-BEN and the information will be used by NWS to determine applicability of treaty benefits and withholding requirements. At the end of each calendar year NWS will issue a Form 1042-S to any non-resident alien subject to withholding and recipients may be able to obtain a refund from the IRS subject to their individual tax filing.

Non-discrimination policy

The New World Symphony admits Fellows of any race, religion, color, gender, gender expression, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital status, family responsibility, affectional or sexual orientation to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to Fellows at NWS. It does not discriminate in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies and other NWS-administered programs.

Culture

The New World Symphony is committed to maintaining an educational, working, and living environment founded on civility and mutual respect.  We have a philosophy of continuous improvement and are committed to strengthening this environment for the benefit of our Fellows, employees, and entire community.

NWS if firmly committed to the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and professionalism, as well as to the strictest compliance with these standards.  Our leadership strives to create a safe educational and work environment based on a culture of respect and where harassment is not tolerated.