Conducting Audition Requirements

Master of Music and Doctor of Arts

• All candidates are to submit a pre-screening conducting video with their application to the School of Music, prior to being granted an in-person audition with our choirs. This would include both performance and rehearsal footage, totaling no more than 15 minutes, to be reviewed by the Director of Choral Activities. The video should include 1-2 works in performance of contrasting styles, and the rehearsal footage is to be unedited. Both performance and rehearsal footage should have the conductor clearly visible (frontal view). These videos should be a YouTube or Vimeo link.
• Live Audition:
  • The candidate will prepare two contrasting choral works to be conducted in front of our top mixed choir before the members of the choral faculty. Please plan to conduct and rehearse each piece. One will be a piece of your choice that you will introduce; the other will be a piece with which the choir is already familiar. 
  • The length of the audition will be approximately 15-20 minutes. 
  • The candidate will also be asked to solve particular conducting problems such as changing meters, mixed meters, and hemiolas and asked to demonstrate aural skills/musicianship.
• Video Audition (Out-of-State)
  • • If a live audition is not feasible (due to out-of-state or out-of-country residence), an individual may be provisionally admitted to the program based on: 
    • Candidate’s teacher(s) recommendation and other required submitted documents such as transcripts, etc. 
    • Video recording (20 minutes) of the candidate conducting his/her own ensemble in either a performance or a rehearsal. (Please be sure that the camera angle is facing the conductor.) 
    • A scheduled interview with our choral faculty.

Master of Music and Doctor of Arts

Master of Music and Doctor of Arts

• Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree in music education or performance, in addition to have at least two years of public/private school band teaching experience. 
• Applicants must have knowledge of the core wind band & chamber repertoire, having studied or conducting such works. 
• All candidates are to submit a conducting video that includes both performance and rehearsal footage, totaling no more than 15 minutes, to be reviewed by the Director of Bands. The video should include 1-2 works in performance that depict contrasting styles, and the rehearsal footage is to be unedited. Both performance and rehearsal footage should have the conductor clearly visible (frontal view). These videos are to be in the form of YouTube or Vimeo links. 
• The candidate’s video footage (both rehearsal and performance) and a scheduled interview with the Director of Bands will be the primary audition materials for evaluation. An in-person audition will “not” be necessary.”