Orchestral Conducting Prescreening

Doctor of Musical Arts

To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Musical Arts degree program in music conducting, an applicant must present a live performance audition before a faculty committee. As part of the audition, an applicant must present a ten-minute lecture on a topic related to conducting. The applicant may be asked to conduct a live performance group or to illustrate appropriate conducting techniques in relation to printed scores. The applicant may submit video recordings or performances that he or she has conducted.

Applicants to the doctoral program in orchestral conducting must submit a video of the applicant in rehearsals and performances. Upload the videos to the Digital Portfolio section of the College of Music Supplemental Application. You will be given access to the Digital Portfolio after the College of Music Supplemental Application is submitted.

After reviewing all applicants’ materials, we will invite finalists to campus for a live audition. Candidates will be contacted by faculty to arrange a date. Auditions will include an extended rehearsal with the Symphony Orchestra (repertoire will vary), a detailed score study question-and-answer session, an assessment of functional keyboard skill and solo instrument proficiency, and meetings with various members of the orchestra and graduate orchestral program, as well as with the MSU conducting faculty. An assessment of foreign language diction skills (French, German, Italian, English, and Latin) is also required. This can take place during the audition or at the beginning of the first semester of study.

The deadline is December 1.