Mason Gross School of the Arts
Audition
Requirements | Mason Gross School of the Arts
Conducting Audition
Information
Choral Conducting (MM and DMA)
Prior to submitting an application to Rutgers University graduate admissions,
all students wishing to apply to the graduate choral conducting program must
complete a prescreening by contacting the Director of Choral Activities, Dr.
Patrick Gardner via email at pgardner@mgsa.rutgers.edu.
Do not formally apply until you have communicated with Dr. Gardner.
In the
prescreening email applicants must include:
•A CV and list of major repertory conducted and sung.
•A written description of Piano and Vocal skills.
After
the prescreening material is reviewed, applicants may be contacted for a phone
interview. Those invited to continue to the second stage of the audition will
be asked to provide:
•A high quality CD of performances conducted by the applicant.
•A Video of the applicant in rehearsal and performance. If possible, the
video should show a major segment of the performance with the camera facing the
applicant from the point of view of the choristers (and orchestra if
applicable).
**Refer
to the Recorded Audition page of our website for guidelines on video
submissions. In person auditions are by invitation only. Applicants invited to
campus for a live audition will have repertoire assigned by the Director of
Choral Activities in consultation with the applicant. Typically the applicant
will conduct one work of their choice (providing 65 scores if the work is not
in the RU choral library) and one work which the chorus is preparing at the
time of the audition. During the on campus visit applicants will be vocalized
by the DCA and the piano skills of the applicant will be assessed.
Instrumental Conducting (MM and DMA)
Candidates
for the graduate program in wind conducting must submit these additional items:
•A Video of no more than 10 minutes in length. The video must into both
rehearsal and performance conducting. The view should be from behind the
ensemble viewing the conductor.
•A repertoire list of compositions conducted since attaining your
undergraduate degree.
•A repertoire list of the twenty-five most artistically significant
pieces for wind band from your perspective.
**Refer
to the Recorded Audition page of our website for guidelines on video
submissions. Upon review of all material submission, candidates who are deemed
acceptable will be invited to campus to do a live audition with the University
Wind Ensemble or Symphony Band. Assigned repertoire will be discussed at the
point of invitation and the audition will be no more than 15 minutes. Ten minutes
will be spent performing or reading a composition while five will require
actual rehearsal of the ensemble. Please feel free to contact Professor Darryl
Bott, Director of University Bands at dbott@mgsa.rutgers.edu with any
questions that you may have regarding the program.
Orchestral Conducting (MM and DMA)
Candidates
for the graduate program in Orchestral Conducting must submit the following:
•A Video of no more than 15 minutes in length. The DVD must include both
rehearsal and performance conducting. The view should be from behind the
ensemble viewing the conductor.
•A Video of you playing your instrument or a composition
•An updated CV
•A repertoire list of works conducted publicly, with relative ensembles
•An essay detailing why you want to study conducting and what you feel
you have to offer the profession
**Refer
to the Recorded Audition page of our website for guidelines on video
submissions. Upon review of all material submission, candidates who are deemed
acceptable will be invited to campus to do a live audition with the Rutgers
Symphony Orchestra or Rutgers Sinfonia. Assigned repertoire will be discussed
at the point of invitation and the audition will be no more than 15 minutes.
Please feel free to contact Maestro Kynan Johns, Director of Orchestras
at kjohns@mgsa.rutgers.edu with
any questions that you may have regarding the program.
Updated on 10/13/2018