Who We Are
The Blair School of Music is solely for undergraduates, offering students a focused setting to train among world-class faculty, perform frequently, and grow as artists, critical thinkers, and collaborators.
Blair students can explore their wide-ranging interests and ideas at Vanderbilt. We believe Blair students' artistry is enriched by the intersection between the arts and other academic disciplines; students will graduate with Vanderbilt's strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences supporting Blair's intense training in music. Blair majors can be combined with a double major in any field offered through the College of Arts and Sciences or the Peabody College of Education and Human Development. Learn more about areas of study and double opportunities here.
Community Engagement
- W.O. Smith Music School (https://www.wosmith.org/)
- The Nashville Symphony and Nashville Symphony’s Accelerando Program
- The National Museum of African American Music (https://www.nmaam.org/)
- Metro Nashville Public Schools
- YEAH! Youth Arts Organization (https://www.yeahrocks.org/about)
- Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, Rudy’s Jazz Room, and more.
- Therapeutic Music in the ICU – a cross-campus collaborative effort (LINK) featuring multiple areas of Vanderbilt University & Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Read more in this article from 2019 about how this pilot program began.
- Nightingales in the Wings – a student-led musical service organization with a mission is to provide healing, dignifying, and empowering experiences through the power of music to patients and medical staff in the Nashville area. (2023 story featuring Blair Alum, Jack Allen)
Life After Blair
The music industry is highly concentrated in the Nashville area, offering countless opportunities for students to be exposed to performance and recording experiences, in addition to a wide variety of other aspects of music business. Professional networking is important for any career path, but particularly vital and nuanced for careers in the arts. Our location provides an excellent setting for building a professional network in the arts. The combination of Blair, Vanderbilt and Nashville’s professional opportunities support Blair students in building the toolset they need to reach their career goals. We believe musicians are successful when they have a strong foundation in musical background and skill, versatility and exposure to multiple genres, and regular opportunities to use their skills in professional musical settings. Below are some examples of Blair graduates and their career paths:
- Lauren Urquhart, BMus ‘18 - Soprano and Soloist at Volksoper Vien Opera House
- Nora Pertz, BMus’15 - Collaborative Pianist based in Berlin, Germany (LINK to Vanderbilt Magazine article)
- Chrysa Kovach, BMus ’13 - Community Engagement Program Administrator at the USC Thornton School of Music (LINK to Vanderbilt Magazine article)
- Alicia Enstrom, BMus ‘09 - Violinist (Paul McCartney, John Legend, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Ed Sheeran, etc.), Composer (The Walking Dead, Madden NFL, etc.), Producer
- Gene Back, BMus ‘06 - Film & TV Composer (BTS: THE RETURN, The Stringer, Cabrini, Shortcomings)
- Jack Rutledge, BMus ‘03, MBA ‘09 - Director of Product Management, Sonos, Inc.
- Jordan Amann, BMus ‘14 - Chief of Staff, San Francisco Opera
- Stuart Chapman Hill, BMus ‘08 - Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education, Michigan State University School of Music
- Dana Kelley, BMus ‘12 - Viola Faculty, Mannes School of Music, The New School; Assistant Principal Viola at National Symphony Orchestra
- Scott Lee, BMus ‘11 - Assistant Professor of Composition, University of Florida School of Music
- David Rogers, BMus ‘17 - Pianist, Arranger, Composer
- Rama Kumaran, BMus ’19 - Flutist and Educator (LINK to recent Blair video feature)
- Bridget Conley, BMus ’21 - Principal Tuba, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
- Michael Rinne, BMus ’10 - Bassist (Jack White, Alicia Keys, Willie Nelson, Rodney Crowell, Andrew Combs, etc.), Producer
- Georgia Stitt, BMus ’94 - Composer/Lyricist, Producer, and Founder of Maestra, Inc.
- Madeline Myers, BMus ’12 - Composer and Lyricist (Double Helix, Flatbush Avenue, Devil’s Apprentice), 2025 winner of the Kleban Prize as a librettist
- Noah Mond, BMus ’23 - Bass and 2026 Resident Artist at Glimmerglass Festival
- Rebecca Pyle Davis, BMus ’96 - Founder, Rebecca Davis Public Relations (Giancarlo Guerrero, Calidore String Quartet, Cantus Vocal Ensemble, etc.)
- William Brittelle, BMus ’99 - Grammy-winning producer (Roomful of Teeth), Grammy-nominated composer (Brittelle: Psychedelics), co-founder and co-artistic director of New Amsterdam Records
- Claire Thaler, BMus ‘22, Violinist - Toronto Symphony Orchestra (LINK to recent Blair website story)
Read more about Alumni News and other Blair happenings here.
How to Apply
2026-27 Application & Audition Information
Students applying for Fall 2027 entry will follow the application timeline below. Each application plan has corresponding audition dates. Please ensure your availability aligns with your selections; no alternate dates will be offered for students invited to audition. Applicants may be notified about prescreening results on a rolling basis. PLEASE NOTE: ALL APPLICATION INFORMATION FOR FALL 2027 APPLICANTS WILL BE FULLY UPDATED AUGUST 1, 2026.
Auditions are held on campus at the Blair School of Music. Your Blair Application will automatically default to this format.
Funding assistance for audition travel costs is available for applicants with financial need. Because assistance funds are limited, not all requests can be accommodated. Once prescreening results have been issued, students seeking assistance with travel costs may submit a request to the Blair Admissions Team and we will be in touch with next steps.
ALL Students applying to the Blair School of Music must submit Vanderbilt and Blair Application materials by their chosen application plan deadline (see above).
1. An application to Vanderbilt University, (Coalition Application , the Common Application or the QuestBridge Application) Your Vanderbilt Application must be submitted in order to access the Blair School of Music application through the MyAppVU Portal. For details about Vanderbilt application requirements, visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions quick guide.
2. A Blair School of Music application. This application cannot be accessed until your Vanderbilt Application has been submitted (step 1). Please plan accordingly by reviewing and preparing the Blair required materials below. Students must submit all required Blair School of Music application materials before the applicant can be considered for an audition.
Required Materials to Apply
- One artistic recommendation (one is required; a second artistic recommendation is optional.) An artistic recommendation should be a letter of support from anyone who can evaluate your musical ability and/or background (for example: a private instructor, an ensemble instructor at your school, etc.).
- Music resume (This may include any private instruction, small and large ensemble experience, notable performances, festivals, awards, etc. as applicable. No specific format required).
- A comprehensive repertoire list of all works studied on your instrument during your high school years (This may include solo, chamber, large ensemble repertoire, etc. as applicable).
- Prescreening video (see below for requirements)
Prescreening Video Submission and Audition Process
Within the Blair School of Music application, ALL Blair applicants will be required to create and upload prescreening video materials. All videos must include the appropriate audition repertoire. (See below for specific department requirements.)
- All video submissions must contain a continuous, unedited performance of each selection. Cuts in between movements/selections are acceptable; separate videos for each selection are acceptable.
- All vocal prescreening videos must be recorded with piano accompaniment. Applicants may record their video with prerecorded accompaniment, or utilize an online accompaniment option (such as the Accompanist app, Virtuallyvocal.com, YouTube, etc.)
- For all other instrumental prescreening videos, piano accompaniment is optional.
- It is important for videos to provide a clear visual and audio of your performance. Please be sure that you, as the performer, can be seen clearly and that you record in a quiet space so that your performance can be heard clearly, too.
- Examples of good recording spaces for your prescreening video may include: a music rehearsal space at a school, a space at home, a place of worship, a community center with a quiet space, etc.
- Examples of recording devices for your prescreening video include: a smartphone or tablet, video camera that you own, a video camera available through your school, etc.
*Professional recordings are not required or expected. If you record your prescreening video in a professional setting, amplification or sound effects of any kind are prohibited.
- If you have additional questions about how to create your prescreening video, please contact Blair Admissions.
After review by the appropriate Blair faculty, selected applicants who pass prescreening will be notified about next steps for auditions. Students should not make any travel arrangements until further details have been provided by Blair Admissions.
Transfer Applicants
The transfer priority deadline is February 15, 2027. Applicants who pass prescreening will be contacted about next steps for continuing the Blair audition process. Please refer to your application checklist.
- Transfer audition dates: April 15-May 1, 2027
- Transfer students who apply by the January 1, 2027 deadline will have the option of selecting a January or February audition weekend.