Corcoran Scholars
Each year, an exceptional group of undergraduate students are selected as Corcoran Scholars at the George Washington University.
Corcoran Scholars are chosen as incoming first-year undergraduates and join a cohort of talented arts and design students who are driven by academically robust programs that exemplify creative expression. They receive a Corcoran Scholars award that is renewable for up to ten semesters with continuous full-time study and good academic standing.
Corcoran Scholars are given priority placement in the Arts + Design Living Learning Community (LLC), an Academic Residential Community that is available to admitted first-year students. Admitted first-year Corcoran Scholars students simply indicate this preference on their Housing Application.
Eligibility and Requirements
Corcoran Scholars awards are granted to first-year undergraduate applicants through completion of an audition or portfolio review during the GW application process.
Corcoran Scholars awards are renewable for up to 10 consecutive semesters of undergraduate study, assuming the following:
- Corcoran Scholars must either major or minor in their arts discipline, depending upon the academic program.
- Dance, Music and Theatre: Priority consideration is given to students wishing to major in these areas; however, those intending to minor are also eligible.
- Art and Design: Students must major in Art History, Art History + Fine Arts (dual degree), Fine Arts (BA or BFA), Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Interior Architecture, or Photojournalism.
- Corcoran Scholars must have continuous full-time enrollment and active progress toward their Corcoran major or minor, depending on the area requirements (above).
- Corcoran Scholars must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Application Process
The selection process for Corcoran Scholars is competitive, and successful candidates demonstrate excellence as talented scholars in the performing and visual arts and design. Scholarships are awarded to students of exceptional talent, maturity and commitment. A committee of faculty members evaluates applicants based on their creative work, academic record, life experiences and understanding of the program, as well as program-specific audition, portfolio review or interview requirements.
Corcoran Scholars awards are renewable for up to 10 consecutive semesters of undergraduate study, assuming continuous full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress. First-year applicants applying for Fall Admission to GW, including Early Decision I, Early Decision II or Regular Decision may apply.
To apply to the program, students must:
- Submit an application for admission to GW via the Common Application
- Complete a program-specific Corcoran Scholars application in SlideRoom including an audition or portfolio review, based on your program's requirements (below).
- Performing Arts Audition Requirements
Corcoran Scholars who wish to study performance arts must complete an audition as part of the application process. Each performance area has different requirements.
Dance, BA and Minor Guidelines
Priority consideration for Corcoran Scholars is given to students wishing to major in this area; however, those intending to minor may apply.
Dance Corcoran Scholars applicants must complete the Dance Audition Application in SlideRoom by January 5, 2025. Upon completion of your SlideRoom application, you will be contacted by Theatre & Dance ([email protected]) to confirm your audition date, time and details.
Virtual Auditions
Virtual Auditions must be submitted through SlideRoom by January 5, 2025.
For virtual auditions, you are encouraged to visit campus and participate in a technique class at another time, when possible, but your Corcoran Scholars application will be considered complete by completing your SlideRoom Audition Application and solo. For your virtual submission of a solo, the dance should be 3-5 minutes in length. The solo may be choreographed by you or by a teacher.
Music, BA and Minor Audition Guidelines
Corcoran Scholars consideration is for Fall first-year applicants only who wish to major or minor in Music.
Music Corcoran Scholars applicants must complete the Music Audition Application in SlideRoom by January 5, 2025.
Upon completion of your SlideRoom application, applicants choosing to audition in-person on our Corcoran Scholars Audition Day on Saturday, January 25, 2025, will be contacted by Music to confirm your audition date and details.
Virtual Auditions
Virtual Auditions must be submitted through SlideRoom by January 5, 2025. Music faculty will be in touch in early January to set up a time for a brief interview.
Specific musical instrument audition guidelines:
- JAZZ / POPULAR MUSIC: Perform two (2) or three (3) selections in contrasting styles that demonstrate technical and musical facility. Some reference to the blues is encouraged and jazz rhythm players will be asked to demonstrate accompaniment techniques. An accompaniment will be provided.
- PIANISTS: Perform two (2) three (3) selections from different style periods, including one lyrical piece; also be prepared to play major/minor scales and arpeggios.
- STRINGS: Perform two (2) or three (3) pieces of contrasting style that demonstrate technical and musical facility. No accompaniment.
- VOCALISTS: Perform three (3) selections, all to be sung from memory. Two (2) selections may be from the classical/art music repertoire. One (1) selection must be in a foreign language. One (1) selection may be from the pop/jazz/musical theater repertoire. All selections must be accompanied; a departmental accompanist will be provided. All sheet music for voice Corcoran Scholars Program candidates must be sent to the GW Music Program at least one week prior to the audition (for in-person auditions only, virtual applicants do not need to submit). Make sure copies are clean and complete and always bring the originals to your audition.
- WOODWINDS and BRASS: Perform two (2) or three (3) contrasting selections that demonstrate technical and musical facility. Be prepared to play major, minor and chromatic scales throughout the range of the instrument. Please bring three (3) photocopies of your music for the audition panel. No accompaniment.
- BAGPIPES: Perform two (2) or three (3) contrasting selections that demonstrate technical and musical facility. Be prepared to play selections from various light music idioms and if known, piobaireachd. Please bring three (3) photocopies of your music for the audition panel. No accompaniment.
- CLASSICAL GUITAR / PERCUSSION: Please contact GW Music Program at [email protected] for specific audition requirements in these areas. Indicate “2024 Classical Guitar/Percussion/Composition Candidate” in the subject line.
COMPOSERS / ARRANGERS / PRODUCERS / COMPUTER MUSIC: Submit a portfolio of two (2) to four (4) work samples. These samples can include (but are not limited to) music that you have written or created using traditional notation and/or within a digital audio workstation, recordings that you have engineered and/or produced, and electronic musical instruments that you have created. In your essay (see number 9 on the SlideRoom application), please include a description of your experience as a music creator and what you hope to gain from pursuing music as a Corcoran Scholar. Please submit uncompressed audio and/or video files.
Theatre, BA and Minor - Acting Audition Guidelines
Priority consideration for Corcoran Scholars is given to students wishing to major in this area; however, those intending to minor may apply.
Theatre Corcoran Scholars applicants must complete the Theatre Audition Application in SlideRoom by January 5, 2025. Upon completion of your SlideRoom application, you will be contacted by Theatre & Dance ([email protected]) to confirm your audition date, time and details. You must choose to audition in-person or virtually.
Virtual Auditions
Acting Corcoran Scholars candidates must perform two contrasting age appropriate monologues from contemporary plays that have been read by the applicant in their entirety (e.g. have not been drawn from monologue books or online sources). Monologues are not to exceed a combined total of 3 minutes in length. If you have interests beyond acting (for example, directing, design, choreography, playwriting, theatre studies, etc.), you are welcome to upload only ONE acting video and use your SECOND video to showcase work in any of these other areas.
Theatre, BA and Minor - Design/Production Guidelines
Priority consideration is given to students wishing to major in this area; however, those intending to minor may apply.
Design/Production Theatre Corcoran Scholars applicants must submit the application in SlideRoom, including a portfolio of your work by January 5, 2025. As part of your SlideRoom Corcoran Scholars application, you will be asked to select a virtual or in-person interview. In January, you will be contacted by Theatre & Dance ([email protected]) to confirm your interview date, time and details.
- Visual Arts Portfolio Requirements
Corcoran Scholars students must major in Fine Art, Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Interior Architecture, or Photojournalism.
A portfolio review is required as part of the GW admissions application for certain programs, and with the portfolio submission, applicants to these programs are automatically considered for the Corcoran Scholars:
- Fine Arts, BFA
- Graphic Design, BFA
- Interaction Design, BFA
- Photojournalism, BFA
A portfolio review is not required for these programs as part of the admissions application to GW, however, it is required if applicants wish to be considered for Corcoran Scholars:
- Fine Arts, BA
- Interior Architecture, BFA
- Art History Requirements
Corcoran Scholars students must major in Art History. To be considered for Corcoran Scholars, applicants must submit a writing sample that demonstrates critical thinking about art and/or knowledge of art history. Applicants will submit their writing sample in SlideRoom.
If you are planning to major in the Art History + Fine Arts BA dual degree option and want to be considered for Corcoran Scholars, you can choose to submit either the application for Art History or your portfolio by selecting the SlideRoom application for our Fine Arts BA.
On-Campus Audition Day:
- OVERVIEW OF AUDITION DAY SCHEDULE
Corcoran Scholars Audition Day will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025 with optional programming on Friday, January 24, 2025 in the evening.
Friday, January 24, 2025 (optional, but it’ll be fun!)
Fridays at Five and Pizza Party at 5pm
Phillips Hall B120 (801 22nd St NW, Washington, DC 20052)
You are invited to join the Corcoran Music program for Fridays at Five, our monthly, informal gathering where students share what they are working on, experiment, listen, and learn in a group setting. We welcome all listeners and performers to hop in, relax, and join our community of students, faculty and friends. Enjoy pizza and meet current Corcoran Scholars!
Saturday, January 25, 2025
8:30am-9:30am - Check-in and Breakfast (University Student Center, Great Hall - 800 21st St NW)
9:30am-10:00am - Welcome (University Student Center, Betts Theatre - 800 21st St NW)
Auditioning students and families will join us for a welcome with Dr. Lauren Onkey, Director of the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, Corcoran Faculty, and current Corcoran Scholars.
10:00am-2:30pm - Auditions Begin for All Programs (Detailed information will be sent via email from your program of application in mid-January.)
10:00am-10:30am - Q&A with Dr. Lauren Onkey, Director of the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, and GW Undergraduate Admissions Representatives for parents and accompanying guests of auditioning students.
10:30am-11:30am - Discover the Arts Campus Tour for parents and accompanying guests of auditioning students.
“I've learned so much about music, voice, and myself through my coursework and vocal lessons. I am very thankful to the Corcoran Scholars program and all of the faculty and staff who have taught and coached me throughout my college years at GW.”
Kayla Cooper-Gamble, Music
“The Corcoran Scholars program at GW has permitted me to pursue my career through incredible internship experiences with several professional theatre and dance companies in Washington, D.C.”
Daniel Debner, Theatre
Learn More About Our Corcoran Scholars
Current Corcoran Scholars
Important Note: All current Corcoran Scholars students will receive occasional emails to their GW email through the Corcoran Scholars listserv. If you are not receiving them, please contact us.
Questions?
Contact us at [email protected].