<p>responding to the last post, if student is applying to Bienen School of Music one must assuredly do a full application to Bienen, including music resume, letters of rec, etc. The instrument I am most familiar with about was pre-screened consistent with other top schools of music and conservatories (requirements and procedure should be seen on website, I don’t know if they get altered each yr or not) and IF one passed pre-screening, then one was invited to competitive audition live on campus.
Then when one arrives on campus in the fall, one has new rep received over the summer to audition with for ensemble chair placement (ensemble availability for music majors will vary per instrument, # of older students, and other factors). The rep I saw was not easy.
On the other hand, to audition for ensembles that accept some non-music majors, I believe the auditioning happens the first week or so of school and is a more informal process.
Still, marching band has its own scheme that can be checked out.</p>