Conservatory Enrollment Process
- The Conservatory of the Arts is part of the Springfield Public Schools which means admission to the school is lottery-based and only open to Springfield residents.
- Grades 6 and 9 are admitted through the SPS balloting process which happens in the winter of each school year.
- Students looking to attend the school outside the balloting window (or for grades other than 6 and 9) must contact SPS’s Student Assignment Services Center and ask to be put on the waitlist.
- Once a spot opens, students will be contacted (in the order they appear on the waitlist) to participate in an audition and interview.
- All students must take dance to satisfy their PE requirements, so all students are required to audition for dance and another art pathway (for more information, see the Expectations section below).
- After the audition and interview have occurred, families will be informed about the next steps needed to enroll their students.
Conservatory Expectations and Auditions
The Springfield Conservatory of the Arts School is a 6th – 12th grade school that focuses on training students to become performers. Our school is designed to cultivate artistic talent with the expectation that students will present their abilities, skills, and passion in their performing art pathways. One expectation is for all incoming students to participate in our audition process which will consist of a short interview and a sample performance demonstration.
Additionally, all students MUST take dance class to satisfy their physical education requirement for the state of Massachusetts; we do not offer physical education, or sports, and students cannot opt-out of dance class. Middle school students must pass dance as a state requirement. High school students will need to complete and pass two years of dance, as it is a graduation requirement.
Our audition process is a way for students to demonstrate a sample performance. It involves a short interview with a member of the New Student Review Committee and a demonstration of their artistic ability or skill in a specific art pathway. Below is a breakdown of the audition expectation based on each art pathway.
Aside from the audition above, ALL students are expected to also audition for dance.
Additionally, all students MUST take dance class to satisfy their physical education requirement for the state of Massachusetts; we do not offer physical education, or sports, and students cannot opt-out of dance class. Middle school students must pass dance as a state requirement. High school students will need to complete and pass two years of dance, as it is a graduation requirement.
Our audition process is a way for students to demonstrate a sample performance. It involves a short interview with a member of the New Student Review Committee and a demonstration of their artistic ability or skill in a specific art pathway. Below is a breakdown of the audition expectation based on each art pathway.
- Choir – select 2 contrasting songs to perform. The panel will be looking for technique, memorization, and melody.
- Band
- Experienced – select one song of any genre to perform. The panel will be looking for technique, memorization, and melody.
- Inexperienced – the band teacher will see if they can follow tasks on how to learn to play a band instrument. The panel will be looking for ability to follow instruction and willingness to try.
- Theatre – present a 1-minute monologue from a movie, cartoon, sitcom, musical or play. Panel will be looking for characterization and emotional expression.
- Strings
- Experienced – select one song of any genre to perform. The panel will be looking for technique, memorization, and melody.
- Inexperienced – the band teacher will see if they can follow tasks on how to learn to play a band instrument. The panel will be looking for ability to follow instruction and willingness to try.
Aside from the audition above, ALL students are expected to also audition for dance.
- Dance audition – select a song of any genre and create a choreography that’s 60 seconds long. No TIKTOKs. The panel will be looking for technique and memorization.