Application Procedures and Deadlines

The application and recommendations forms are also available from the 8th grade counselor at each middle school campus. Because ours is a four-year curriculum, most applicants apply in the 8th grade to be admitted for the following fall. If you are an older student wishing to apply, include all your grade reports from 8th grade through current year.

Step 1. Submitting Paperwork

Download the Application (MS Word) and submit it by Jan. 31 with the following:

This information should be mailed to

Lanier Bayliss, Fine Arts Academy Coordinator
McCallum High School
5600 Sunshine Drive Austin, TX 78756

The application must be processed prior to the audition/interview date. Students may prepare their answers to the application on a computer (or it can be in their own hand-writing).

Step 2. Scheduling an Audition

After the Academy office has received all your paperwork (application, letters of recommendation and grade reports) we will call you to schedule your audition. Auditions are by appointment only.

Fine Arts Academy audition dates are:
 Monday, Feb. 26 1:30 – 4:30 pm          Thursday, March 8 3:30 - 5:30 pm
 Tuesday, March 20 3:30- 5:30 pm        Saturday, March 24 9:30 am – 1:00 pm   

A student may schedule to audition/interview in more than one major, but if accepted, may major in only one area. A successful audition with the Fine Arts faculty is only one step in the process and does not constitute admittance.

Step 3. Preparing for your audition or portfolio review

Music auditions:  Instrumentalists perform 1 solo. Bring your instrument and two copies of the music.  It is not necessary to memorize the solo.  Scales and sightreading may be part of the audition. UIL solos are an excellent choice.  Vocal soloists should bring a pianist or an accompaniment CD or tape, sing one solo, preferably art song or classical song.  Vocalization and Sight-reading are also part of the audition.  

Theater auditions:  Perform 2 monologues, one comic and one dramatic.  Each monologue must be from a play.  Each monologue must be memorized. 
Each monologue should be between 2 and 21/2 minutes in length.

Technical Theater applicants perform 2 monologues and prepare a shadow box.  

Dance auditions:  Perform 3-4 minutes of prepared modern, ballet, jazz, dance(s).  Wear dance attire and bring a CD of the music for your dance(s).

Art Portfolio:  Bring 7-10 works (No elementary artwork, please) including:

  • A self-portrait with shading
  • Drawings from observation. Arrange these into a still-life.  Draw the still life in pencil and fully shade all objects.
  • Other suggested works:  pet, landscape, figures, 3-D work (sculpture, etc)

Step 4.  Shadowing a current McCallum Fine Arts Student

You may experience McCallum Fine Arts Academy first-hand by shadowing a current student in your area of interest.  After you have turned in all the required application materials, choose the day ( between January 15 - March 9).  Complete the “Shadow Form” and submit by mail or fax (841-7319).  We will confirm your shadowing date by telephone.