For current students: Fall 2024 Ensembles Audition Information
A wide variety of performance opportunities await our students each year, with orchestras, bands, choirs and opera, jazz nonets and combos, small ensembles, and more.
A variety of programs and initiatives operate continuously or annually to enhance learning experiences and help students prepare for their future in music.
The MSU College of Music supports and challenges students, values innovation and creativity, and helps every community member achieve professional excellence.
The Michigan State University conducting program offers an intense, collaborative and comprehensive graduate degree program guided by renowned conductors and educators in band, orchestral and choral disciplines.
The conducting faculty at MSU believes all students in the program should develop their abilities by working with voice, winds, percussion and strings—regardless of their primary field of study. All students have access to private lessons with the entire conducting faculty, and podium opportunities with orchestras, wind ensembles, choirs, new music groups, jazz ensembles, small ensembles, and opera theatre. Students, too, can collaborate across conducting disciplines, and with various areas at the College of Music.
The Michigan State University conducting program offers an intense, collaborative and comprehensive graduate degree program guided by renowned conductors and educators in band, orchestral and choral disciplines.
The conducting faculty at MSU believes all students in the program should develop their abilities by working with voice, winds, percussion and strings—regardless of their primary field of study. All students have access to private lessons with the entire conducting faculty, and podium opportunities with orchestras, wind ensembles, choirs, new music groups, jazz ensembles, small ensembles, and opera theatre. Students, too, can collaborate across conducting disciplines, and with various areas at the College of Music.
The program focuses on three key skills: score study, efficient and pedagogically sound rehearsal techniques, and artistic leadership. Additional training is available in wind and choral literature, string bowing technique, jazz style and notation, and foreign language/diction study.
Graduates of MSU’s highly competitive conducting program are versatile, skilled, and future leaders of the conducting vocation. The area prides itself on advancing art, breaking barriers, and a robust, inclusive environment that springs from MSU’s rich legacy in orchestral, choral and band conducting.
The conducting area at MSU is led by a distinguished faculty of artistic conductors who stand together to foster an inclusive, creative and supportive environment for students to reflect and thrive through real-world experiences.
The program includes works by Nixon, Grainger, Ellerby, and David, conducted by David Thornton.
The concert features Boston Brass with the MSU Wind Symphony performing works by Björk, Navarro, Pegram, Goodwin, May, and Lecuona, conducted by Kevin L. Sedatole.
Join us for Beethoven’s Concerto with MSU faculty, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, and a student Fanfare, conducted by Octavio Más-Arocas.
The Hearts of Vision Chamber Orchestra from South Korea, led by Sung Jae Lee and featuring pianist Margarita Shevchenko, is renowned for their emotional and technically skilled performances by visually impaired musicians.
The program includes works by Pitts, Cuong, Holst, and Svanoe, conducted by Arris Golden.
Conductor earns top faculty award at MSU for distinguished contributions.
Spartans bring a deep bench of talent to national choral conference.