Laurier’s Chamber Music Diploma is a two-term program designed for advanced musicians seeking intensive, collaborative training in small ensemble performance. Open to those who have completed an undergraduate degree or diploma in music, the program is well suited for pre-formed chamber groups featuring any combination of strings, woodwinds, brass, piano or percussion.
You will benefit from personalized coaching with Laurier’s expert faculty and a wide range of immersive performance opportunities. Many students use this program to refine their artistry while preparing audition materials for graduate studies, competitions or professional engagements, making it an ideal next step in a performer’s journey.
Your future professors work hard to make sure your academic experience is current, complete and designed to open doors in your career. Here are a few things you can count on:
Here are just a few of our students’ favourite ways to apply their learning in the real world throughout their degree:
When you apply on the OUAC application:
Admission to the Chamber Music Diploma is based on the combined results of:
Before your audition, please email a list of the music you have studied in the past, including both solo and chamber music, to musicauditions@wlu.ca. Along with this, include a short proposal of what you hope to study during the Chamber Music Diploma program. This helps our faculty get a sense of your musical background and goals.
Apply through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC). Laurier Bachelor of Music students should not apply through OUAC — they should contact musicauditions@wlu.ca directly.
Once we receive your application from OUAC, you’ll receive an email with login information for our Online Audition Portal (available starting December 15).
In the Online Audition Portal, you’ll need to provide the following:
After submitting the required information and fee, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your audition date within seven days.
In-person auditions are available on our Waterloo campus for students who schedule their audition between January and April. Auditions scheduled after this period may be offered by video, as in-person options may not be feasible due to faculty availability.
If you live more than 400 km from Laurier, you may also choose to audition by video. If you select this option in the Online Audition Portal, our Auditions Coordinator will send you detailed instructions on how to prepare and submit your video audition.
We recommend arriving 30 minutes early to your audition, to ensure you have time to sign-in and adequately warm-up before your audition.
Your audition at Laurier’s Faculty of Music is your chance to shine and express your musical talent and passion. You'll perform selected pieces in front of our faculty panel, followed by a brief interview where we'll discuss your musical journey, goals, and why Laurier is your choice. We’re eager to see your technical skill, but also your unique musical voice and potential. You may also be asked to demonstrate sight-reading or other musicianship skills. Our goal is to provide a supportive and encouraging environment so you can perform at your best. The audition and interview will take approximately 20 minutes each.
Throughout the day, you'll be accompanied by Audition Assistants—current Laurier music students—who will guide you through the day, answer any questions, and take you on a tour of the music building.
Please remember to bring one copy of your music (photocopies are acceptable) for the audition panel. If you are using a Laurier professional piano accompanist at your audition (no extra fee), please bring a copy of music for your accompanist as well.
If your audition is successful, you’ll receive an email from the Faculty of Music recommending you for admission. Please note, this recommendation does not guarantee acceptance. To receive an official offer of admission, you must meet all academic requirements of the university in addition to the Faculty of Music’s recommendation. Laurier’s Recruitment and Admissions Office will then issue your official offer.
Regardless of the outcome, the Faculty of Music will notify all students of their audition results via email.
A diploma from Laurier’s Faculty of Music carries with it a highly respected reputation. Our graduates can be found in major orchestras and chamber groups in Canada, the United States and around the world.
Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.
Join us on campus and experience university life firsthand.
You can complete your program primarily through in-person courses where you will attend classes in a physical classroom on scheduled days and times, which you will see and choose from when you register for courses.
Connect face-to-face with your professors, learn alongside your classmates and be part of the campus community from day one.
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Questions? Email choosemusic@wlu.ca, call 548.889.8888 or see all Music faculty and staff.
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