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