Sydney Conservatorium of Music

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Sydney Conservatorium of Music expands jazz auditions framework, scholarships and equity pathway

To support the next generation of jazz musicians, we're broadening our audition repertoire, increasing scholarship opportunities and launching a fee-free Equity Bridging Program.

14 July 2026

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Ready to take your jazz practice to the next level?

The Jazz department has announced new pathways to support aspiring musicians in developing their skills and pursuing university study.

You can now choose from a broader audition repertoire, apply for scholarships to support your studies, and, if selected, receive fee-free one-to-one mentoring through a year-long Equity Bridging Program.

Explore below the changes we have made to support you. 

New audition repertoire

To further represent the diverse voices that have shaped jazz history and practice, we have updated the audition repertoire for the Jazz Performance and Voice program of the Diploma of Music, Bachelor of Music (Performance) and Bachelor of Music (Music Education). 

The expanded repertoire includes more compositions by women and culturally diverse artists, giving prospective students a broader range of works to choose from when preparing their audition.

For the “standard” component of the audition, you can now select one piece from four themed repertoire lists: Songbook, Modal, Ballads or Latin*. These categories recognise the diverse musical backgrounds and influences that students bring to their study of jazz at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Download our audition guides for specific audition requirements: 

Jazz has long been a word with many different roots and manifestations. If you’re a curious, creative musician and thinker with a deep desire to grow, we want to hear from you.

Dr Steve Barry

Program Leader for Jazz

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Introducing the Equity Bridging Program

Following a successful pilot phase, we're expanding our Equity Bridging Program, an initiative under our Equity in Jazz program. 

Applicants who show strong potential at audition but do not yet meet the entry requirements may be invited to join a fee-free, year-long mentoring program. The program includes one-to-one instrumental lessons and personalised guidance from a member of the Jazz department to help participants prepare for a future audition.

The bridging program will prioritise audition applications with a focus on gender diversity, First Nations applicants, musicians of colour, students from regional and remote communities, and those who have experienced financial barriers to formal training.

This program is an exciting step forward for SCM jazz to challenge barriers to inclusion and equity, and invest in strategies to ensure greater diversity among our applicants and student cohorts.

Jess Green

Equity in Jazz Program Leader

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New scholarships support diverse participation

To help support equitable participation in jazz, The Anthony & Sharon Lee Foundation Jazz Scholarships are available to female and gender-diverse students on the basis of merit and financial need across pre-tertiary, undergraduate, and postgraduate programs.

The scholarships are awarded annually and include:

  • Two $10,000 scholarships for undergraduate jazz students;
  • One $25,000 scholarship for a postgraduate jazz student; and
  • $5,000 bursaries for school-aged musicians participating in the Rising Stars pre-tertiary jazz program.  
  • One full scholarship for a female or gender diverse school-aged musician to participate in the Rising Stars pre-tertiary jazz program.  

In addition, the inaugural J. N. Jazz Scholarship offers a full-ride undergraduate scholarship valued at $25,000 per annum. Awarded following a successful audition on the basis of financial need, the scholarship is intended to support a student of any gender throughout the duration of their four-year degree.

*The term “Latin Jazz”, while widespread, is generally considered to be a generalisation of the many distinct traditions of musical practice from across the southern Americas. The term most commonly encompasses the two broad fields of a) Afro-Cuban and b) Brazilian music, but also includes styles from across 22 countries of Latin America.

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Apply to study jazz

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Applications are now open for 2027. Explore our undergraduate study options.

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Enquiries

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