The KU School of Music offers Graduate degrees in Choral, Band and Orchestral Conducting. See below for detailed information on each of these areas.

Graduate Level Orchestral Conducting at KU

KU offers first class MM and DMA programs in Orchestral Conducting. These competitive programs offer students the opportunity to conduct a broad range of repertoire in preparation for a professional conducting career. The art of conducting is examined from the perspective of gesture and movement, score study/analysis/ear training, and rehearsal techniques and strategies. In addition, students learn a broad range of orchestral repertoire within social and historic contexts. A secondary focus is placed on the operatic and theatrical experience as part of the path to becoming a well-rounded conductor.

Audition Dates

Dates by arrangement with the Director of Orchestral Activities, David Neely. (dneely@ku.edu).

General Information

It is preferred that all applicants for the Master of Music in conducting degree have a bachelor's degree in music performance or one year of successful professional-level conducting experience that can be documented. It is preferred that all applicants for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting have a masters degree in orchestral conducting or two years of successful professional-level conducting experience that can be documented. This may include public school or university teaching, directing a professional or semi-professional ensemble, or other equivalent professional arenas.

Deadline for Applications

Music Application: Submit your application to receive a graduate teaching assitantship, along with all preliminary audition materials (listed below), to Jane Gnojek (jgnojek@ku.edu).

Apply online at http://www.graduate.ku.edu/01-00_abt_admissions.shtml

Preliminary Audition Requirements

• a complete application and the applicant's resume.
• a videotape that shows the applicant conducting at least two compositions in performance and two compositions in rehearsal. The conductor must be in full frontal or a partial profile view and at least part of the ensemble must be in view. The repertoire selected for the video must be appropriate to the musical and technical abilities of the ensemble.
• a formal analysis (two-pages typed maximum) of a symphonic work as determined by the Director of Orchestral Activities.
• MM and DMA applicants-an orchestral work to be determined by the Director of Orchestral Activities and the accompanied recitative ("Speaker Scene") in the act I finale of Mozart's Magic Flute.
• a list of three references who can speak to the applicant's musical abilities. Include name, professional title, relationship to applicant, address, phone number with area code, and e-mail address.

Faculty Review of Materials/Invitation to Audition

Upon faculty review of the materials that are submitted, a limited number of finalists will be invited to audition and interview at the University of Kansas on a specific audition date.

Formal Audition

The required audition piece for applicants in Orchestral Conducting will be an orchestral work to be determined by the Director of Orchestral Actitives.

The live audition will include three parts:

1. An interview with Prof. Neely discussing the applicant's experience and professional goals
2. A musical skills and knowledge diagnostic including aural skills, score recognition, and knowledge of orchestral instruments and musical terminology.
3. A twenty minute audition with the KU Symphony Orchestra adjudicated by the heads of the conducting divisions. The audition will begin with a run-through to assess non-verbal communication and gesture. The audition will conclude with the candidate rehearsing the piece in the remaining time.

Notification

The applicants will be notified of their status within three weeks of the audition.

Assistantships and fellowships notifications will come from the Dean of the School of Music and Graduate Studies offices.

www.music.ku.edu/programs/orchestra

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Graduate Level Wind Conducting at KU

KU offers cutting edge MM and DMA programs in Wind Conducting. These competitive programs offer students the opportunity to conduct a broad range of ensembles in preparation for a professional conducting career. The art of conducting is examined from the perspective of gesture and movement, score study/analysis/ear training, and rehearsal techniques and strategies. In addition, students learn a broad range of repertoire within social and historic contexts. A focus is placed on contemporary music and the development of the wind band as a serious artistic medium.

Audition Requirements for Graduate Study in Wind Conducting

It is preferred that all applicants for the Master of Music in conducting degree have two years of successful professional-level conducting experience that can be documented. It is preferred that all applicants for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting have four years of successful professional-level conducting experience that can be documented. This may include public school teaching, directing a professional or semi-professional ensemble, or other equivalent professional arenas.

Deadline for Applications

Priority consideration for graduate fellowships and graduate teaching assistantships AND preliminary audtion materials:

1. Music Application

• Make a request to receive a teaching assistantship application to Jane Gnojek (jgnojek@ku.edu)
• Send preliminary audition materials and completed teaching assitantship application to:
  
  

  Director of Graduate Studies
  School of Music
  460 Murphy Hall
  1530 Naismith Drive
  The University of Kansas
  Lawrence, KS 66045
  musicgrad@ku.edu

2. KU Application

• Apply online at: http://www.graduate.ku.edu/01-00_abt_admissions.shtml

Preliminary Audition Requirements

• a complete application and the applicant's resume.
• a videotape that shows the applicant conducting at least two compositions in performance and two compositions in rehearsal. The conductor must be in full frontal or a partial profile view and at least part of the ensemble must be in view. The repertoire selected for the video must be appropriate to the musical and technical abilities of the ensemble.
• a performance audio tape or CD of an ensemble that the applicant has trained.
• a formal analysis (two-pages typed maximum) of the following literature:
• MM & DMA applicants - Grainger, Percy: Lincolnshire Posy.
• a list of three references who can speak to the applicant's musical abilities. Include name, professional title, relationship to applicant, address, phone number with area code, and e-mail address.

Faculty Review of Materials/Invitation to Audition

Upon faculty review of the materials that are submitted, a limited number of finalists will be invited to audition and interview at the University of Kansas on a specific audition date. If an applicant has been selected as a finalist, they will be notified four weeks prior to the specific audition date. While the auditions take place in February, no applicant should make travel arrangements until they have been invited for a final audition.

Formal Audition

The live audition will include three parts:

1. An interview with Dr. Popiel discussing the applicants professional goals, teaching philosophy, and experience.
2. A musical skills and knowledge diagnostic including aural skills, score recognition, and knowledge of wind/percussion instruments and musical terminology.
3. A twenty minute audition with the KU Wind Ensemble adjudicated by the heads of the conducting divisions. The audition will begin with a run-through to assess non-verbal communication and gesture. The candidate will then be asked make several adjustments to their conducting. The audition will conclude with the candidate rehearsing the piece in the remaining time.

Notification

The applicants will be notified of their status within three weeks of the audition.

Assistantships and fellowships notifications will come from the Graduate Studies office, not from the Conducting and Ensembles area.

www.music.ku.edu/programs/band

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Graduate Level Choral Conducting at KU

The University of Kansas graduate choral conducting program is one of America's most comprehensive programs. Led by Dr. Paul Tucker, Director of Choral Studies, the program combines practical and academic studies in both vocal and orchestral disciplines. The choral program makes use of the latest technology to help prepare the graduates to become leaders in the musical world.

The University of Kansas choral conducting students are afforded daily experience in training choirs with one of the university's ten choirs. Select graduate students are given the responsibility to teach their own choir as part of their Graduate Assistantship. These GTA's are carefully mentored so that there is immediate feedback with regards to their progress. Conductors are also given the opportunity to work with leading conductors from other institutions.

Our choral graduate students have had the opportunity to work such experts as:

• Dr. Jerry McCoy, The University of North Texas
• Dr. Ronald Staheli, Brigham Young University
• Dr. Andre Thomas, Florida State University
• Dr. Kenneth Fulton, Louisiana State University

In 2009 the University of Kansas began one of the few Masters of Music programs in conducting that is designed for study during the summer. This course can be completed in as few as three consecutive summers, and allows conductors to remain in full-time employment, while still completing an MM degree in conducting.

The Graduate Choral Conducting program at KU gives preference to applicants with significant teaching experience, keyboard skills, excellent communication skills, and a deep desire to learn and excel in the field of conducting.

Since the field of conducting cannot be isolated to one area only, candidates accepted to the graduate program will be expected to excel not only in choral music but in the instrumental arena as well.

Application Address

Director of Graduate Studies
School of Music
460 Murphy Hall
1530 Naismith Drive
The University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS 66045
musicgrad@ku.edu

Application Deadline

Because our on-campus choral conducting audition date is in mid-February and it takes several weeks for the application materials to clear the university, the college and finally get to us, the candidate would be well served to submit the application packet no later than January 11. Early December is preferred.

Application Process

Apply online at: http://www.graduate.ku.edu/01-00_abt_admissions.shtml. Be sure to send a video of your conducting (view of the conductor) comprised of rehearsal and performance material. In addition to the video please include a CD of significant performances you've conducted.

Audition Panel

The audition panel will be comprised of some or all of the following individuals.

• The Director of Choral Activities
• The Associate Director of Choral Activities
• The Associate Professor of Choral Music Education
• The Director of Organ and Church Music

Audition Process

The conducting audition will last roughly ten minutes. The candidate will be expected to conduct a single piece. Prior to the candidate's arrival on campus, the Director of Choral Activities will assign the title for the audition. The candidate will conduct straight through the work (or movement), giving the audition panel an opportunity to see the candidate's artistry and physical communication skills a conductor. In this segment of the audition, the candidate may not coach the choir verbally. Following the first reading of the piece, the candidate will be expected to rehearse a single segment of the work. This will give the audition panel a chance to see the candidate's approach to rehearsal. It is important that the candidate not choose a segment that is too long or that cannot be improved in the time available. The point of the exercise is to see the maximum improvement of the passage in the shortest amount of time. The candidate should keep rehearsing until informed that the time limit has been reached. The candidate will then be given some specific conducting challenges to determine his or her ability to respond to instructions. This phase is conducted with the choir so as to create the most adverse condition possible. The candidate's ability to respond to instructions will be determined from this exercise.

Graduate Placement Examination

In addition to the Graduate School's graduate placement exams in Musicology and Theory, Choral Conducting candidates will be tested on their proficiency in Score Reading at the Piano and Diction for Singers.

On-Campus Audition

Once we have received and evaluated the required materials, a determination will be made as to the candidates who will be invited to campus for auditions and interviews. The auditions and interviews may take place during the fall or spring semester. We will make the greatest effort to inform the candidates at least a month prior to the audition dates. The earlier we receive your materials; the earlier we can make this determination.

Video

The audition video should include both rehearsal, and performance recordings, demonstrating the candidate's conducting skills. The camera should be positioned so as to produce a face-on view of the conductor. Video submissions must be in DVD format. Permission must be obtained from the Director of Choral Activities in order to submit another format.

www.music.ku.edu/programs/choral