Conducting

The TCU School of Music offers the following programs for conductors at the graduate level:

• Master of Music with a wind band, choral and orchestral conducting emphasis
• Doctor of Musical Arts in band, choral and orchestral conducting

Christopher Aspaas, BM, MM, PhD
Bobby Francis, BM, MM
Germán Gutiérrez, BM, MM, DA

Assistantships are available to qualified, full-time graduate students in the School of Music. Applicants must be admitted to the program, have an outstanding academic record and present favorable recommendations.

Master’s and doctoral applicants will be considered for graduate assistantships as part of their application process. Assistantships provide tuition grants plus stipend and require approximately ten hours of work weekly.

The deadline for doctoral applications is December 1, and the deadline for master’s applications is January 15.

Master of Music

The Master of Music degree in Wind/Band Conducting is a 32 hour degree program. Students accepted into the MM conducting program at TCU will have a comprehensive experience in all areas of the band program. This will include conducting of concert ensembles: Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Concert Band and Chamber Music Ensembles. Additionally – each student will receive experience in marching band, basketball band and all other aspects of the program.

Conducting Opportunities:
1. Assist with Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band
2. Assist with TCU Chamber Music Ensembles
3. Assist with the TCU “Horned Frog” Marching Band
4. Assist with the TCU Basketball Band

Doctor of Musical Arts

The objective of the TCU Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree in performance, piano pedagogy, composition or conducting is to develop the musician-scholar—one who displays a high level of mastery in a professional medium and is equipped with scholarly research skills. The program leading to the degree is designed to prepare musician-scholars for careers as creative artists and teachers at institutions of higher learning. Enrollment in the doctoral program is carefully monitored toward the goal of remaining highly selective and relatively small. Prospective DMA students must demonstrate the potential for both artistry and scholarship on the highest levels.

The Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting is a 32 hour degree program. Students accepted into the MM conducting program at TCU will have a comprehensive experience in all areas of the choral program. This will include conducting of concert ensembles: the TCU Concert Chorale, TCU Frog Corps, and other ensembles as opportunities arise. Individual lessons and study with the Director of Choral Activities, private applied study with Voice Division faculty, training in Vocal Pedagogy, Musicology, and Theory. Additionally, MM Conducting students will lead two Recital performances.

Program requirements:

Facility in piano: must be able to play open score and choral accompaniments for leadership in rehearsal.

Facility in foreign language diction: ability to use the IPA to transliterate primary languages used in choral music (German, French, Italian, Latin) and have the skills necessary to transliterate other languages as needed.

Successful completion of an undergraduate degree in music. Contracted teaching experience is preferred.

The graduate program in orchestral conducting at Texas Christian University provides first-class education under the direction of Dr. German Gutierrez, as well as a broad variety of course offerings in music history and theory. In addition, our students have access to a unique variety of podium time. Conducting opportunities include children, youth, college, community, and professional orchestras. Graduate students in Orchestral Conducting serve as assistant conductors of the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra and the TCU Symphony. and conducting fellow of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Students also have the opportunity of frequent interaction with the Music Director of the Fort Worth Symphony, as well as the opportunity to observe rehearsals and conduct outreach concerts.

DMA Students will also have the opportunity to work with renowned faculty in Choral Music and Wind Ensembles that will allow for further interaction and studies in these specified fields. During their course of study, DMA students conduct in at least one concert with an ensemble outside of their specialty.
Recent graduates from the orchestral conducting program have won prestigious music directorships and teaching positions around the world.

Only one student will be admitted to the DMA or Master program every other year to assure plenty of podium time.