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Conducting Audition Information
Please Note: We are not
accepting applications for the Orchestral Conducting program for fall 2019 at
either the MM or DMA level.
Choral Conducting
Choral Conducting Applicants should submit the following:
ü What qualities or experiences
first drew you to conducting?
ü Why do you believe the conducting
program at the University of Maryland would be a good fit for you?
ü Describe the future you envision
for classical music and your potential role in it.
Video of 10-15 minutes in length of a rehearsal with a mixed ensemble of
at least 12 voices.
Video or audio of a public performance.
Prescreen results will be sent via email by
early January 2018.
Applicants chosen for an on-campus audition
after initial screening will be asked to lead a choral rehearsal of up to 30
minutes, have a personal interview with members of the conducting faculty, and
complete musical skills testing. Auditions will take place during February
2018. Those selected for a live audition will be given 2-3 dates from which to
choose.
Wind Conducting
At the MM level, we offer a degree in
Instrumental Conducting with a Wind Conducting concentration. At the DMA level,
we offer a DMA in Wind Conducting. Please pay close attention to the specific
application requirements for each of the different degree options.
Prescreen results will be sent via email by
early January 2018.
Live auditions for those selected for the
wind conducting programs will take place in January or February, 2018. Those
chosen for an on-campus audition after the initial screening will be asked to
complete a test of ear training skills and general knowledge of the field.
Candidates will also be asked to perform on their primary instrument and
demonstrate their level of score-reading at the piano. This will be followed by
a session of up to 25 minutes with the UMD Wind Orchestra on works chosen by
the conducting faculty.
All Wind Conducting (MM and
DMA) applicants must submit a video personal statement following these
guidelines: Upload a 2-4 minute video personal statement of yourself discussing
some or all of the following questions/statements. You may share some of the
same information that you include in your written personal statement. The
admissions committee will use both the written and video statements to evaluate
how you present yourself on and off the page.
1.
What qualities or experiences first drew you to conducting?
2.
Why do you believe the conducting program at the University of Maryland
would be a good fit for you?
3.
Describe the future you envision for classical music and your potential
role in it.
Wind
Conducting Applicants must also submit the following:
1. Upload a list of
what you consider to be the 35 finest works that would be considered "in
the repertoire" of university or conservatory wind ensembles (i.e.
Hindemith's Symphony in Bb or Septet would be appropriate, Beethoven's Fifth
Symphony would not.)
2. Upload a prescreen video, meeting
the following requirements:
1.
MM Applicants - Upload a video of 10-20 minutes of you conducting an
instrumental ensemble of no less than seven players (preferably a wind
ensemble.) The video may be a combination of rehearsal and performance
conducting, or it may all be of rehearsal(s). It should not be only a
performance. The video should be made with the camera behind the ensemble and
you facing the camera.
2.
DMA Applicants - Two examples of the applicants conducting should be
uploaded:
The video(s) should be made with the camera
behind the ensemble and you facing the camera.