Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Mississippi School of the Arts has moved its application deadline into the summer. Applications are due June 3, with onsite auditions tentatively set for June 10.

“We hope that by June things will be back to normal operation,” Executive Director Suzanne Hirsch said.

This will be the second audition date of the year, with the first having taken place in February.

Spots were filled then, but there are still spots available in four of the school’s discipline programs. These include the Media, Theater, Dance and Vocal programs.

“I hope that we will fill up the rest of the spots,” Hirsch said. “We like to have a full campus. It allows for a lot of creativity.”

The second audition was originally set for April 13, but with the campus being closed the school was forced to reschedule.

“I wanted to err on the side of caution,” Hirsch said.

With the next audition set in June, Hirsch is hopeful that students can come and showcase their talents.

“Right now we’re hoping we can do it in person,” Hirsch said.

In the case that MSA is unable to host in person auditions, the school will have alternative options.

“It’s possible that we’ll have a virtual option,” Hirsch said. “And we have an interview process that could be done by phone.”

Applications that don’t require an audition wouldn’t be affected.

If the school is able to host in-person audition, the guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should be lifted by then.

“By moving it to June, families can feel more comfortable bringing their students to audition,” Hirsch said.

Students may have difficulty attaining required documents for their application such as ACT scores or transcripts, which are requested from their current school.

“We’re willing to be as flexible as we can,” Hirsch said.

Students who are currently in the 10th grade can apply to MSA. They must be a Mississippi resident and demonstrate artistic achievement in the visual, literary or performing arts.

For more information about applying to MSA, call Brianna More at 601-823-1309.

 

Story by Gracie Byrne