Music Performance
auditions & portfolios

The Bachelor of Commercial Music is a fully open entry qualification. Open entry means all you need to do is get University Entrance and apply online.

All optional music specialisations are also open entry and do not require auditions, including the Music Performance and Composition minor (formerly Music Practice).

NOTE: The Massey Admission application system is currently in the process of being updated for 2027. When applying, please be aware that the application may ask for an intended "major". The Bachelor of Commercial Music no longer has majors, so this field is only for indicating your area of interest. You do not need to delay your application, and this will not affect your admission process.

Enrolment approval into the individual course offering 133175 Musicianship and Stagecraft (Music Practice) requires a successful live audition or a submitted performance portfolio. This is not part of the overall qualification admission process. The audition or portfolio does not need to happen before you apply for university admission, and the audition or portfolio result will not affect your entry into the Bachelor of Commercial Music.

Deadline for portfolio submissions and auditions: 07 February

Portfolio Option: Submit a three-part project file outlined below which demonstrates musical capability, innovation and experience.

Audition Option: Attend a live online audition with a music faculty member to perform the three parts of the project outlined below which demonstrates musical capability, innovation and experience. Auditions can be booked using the calendar below.

You only need to submit a portfolio OR do an audition—you do not need to do both. Choose the one that works best for you!

Students must submit all three parts of the portfolio outlined below.

Submit your portfolio as a ZIP which includes your name and the following files by emailing musicauditions@massey.ac.nz. If the files are very large, please upload to a  file-sharing site like DropBox or GDrive and send us the link (ensure it is set to "public"), or let us know and we can provide a special upload link for you to use.

Required files:

• Performance Reel (2-3 minutes, video)
• Sound Work (1 minute, video or audio) + Explanation (1-minute video)
• Kōrero (1-2 minutes, video or audio)

Part 1: Performance Reel

Create a 2-3 minute video where you are performing an original work(s). This could be solo or as part of a band, and could feature more than one work. Your performance(s) must be clearly audible and visible. Laptop musicians must use a MIDI controller and perform an element of their composition; live mixing is only acceptable if the tracks are original. 

Part 2: Sound Work

Write and perform / improvise a 1-minute sound work around the theme of Matariki. As part of your process, prepare a graphic score and ‘notate’ your themed sound work, then briefly explain its relationship to the theme and how you interpret it musically. The sound work may be submitted as video or audio, but the explanation must be a video of up to 1-minute which clearly features the graphic score. More information via this link.

Part 3: Kōrero

• Answer the following questions in a 1-2 minute video or audio recording.
• Describe your experience(s) in musical collaboration (performing in groups, co-writing, etc).
• Who, or what are your musical influences?
• What other instruments can you play? (if any).
• What would you like to achieve throughout a Music Performance pathway?

Do you have questions? Check out this FAQ page we put together! You’ll find the answers to many of your questions here: https://tinyurl.com/MasseyMusicFAQ