School of Music | Conducting Audition Requirements

Band Conducting
Choral Conducting
Orchestral Conducting

Master of Music

Initial screening requires a submission of candidate conducting video –preferably rehearsal and performance footage. Video needs to be submitted via the School of Music Admissions Portal.

If initial screening is accepted candidates will be invited to campus to guest conduct one of the large ensembles for a final audition.

Doctor of Musical Arts

To be admitted for study leading to the Doctor of Musical Arts, applicants must hold a master’s degree in music or music education (or the equivalent) of at least 30 credit hours from an accredited college, university, or comparable institution, and present a GPA of at least 3.0 for all previous graduate-level work (A = 4.0). Appropriate preparation for doctoral study will vary according to the major/degree plan chosen; therefore, prospective applicants should consult with faculty in their intended major area for specific requirements and expectations.

Applicants are required to submit the following:

A completed application for admission to DMA graduate study.
Two official transcripts of all college work. Translations must be provided for all international transcripts.
Non-refundable $60 application fee.
Three current letters of reference from persons qualified to comment on the applicant’s academic musical achievement, teaching and/or professional experience, and potential for success in the degree program.
A double-spaced typed paper of five pages or more that illustrates the applicant’s best writing and research skills. A term paper completed as part of master’s level work is sufficient, or the student may submit a research paper, a critical analysis or an article suitable for publication.
A resume or curriculum vitae. This should include a list of concert performances, compositions, publications, and other musical accomplishments.
Test scores must be sent to TCU from the testing agency: GRE (all students) and TOEFL (international students).

Based on the results of pre-screening, an invitation may be extended to perform an on-campus audition/recital/interview in the principal applied music area before a faculty committee. Applicants should not select an audition day until they have received an official invitation to do so. If invited, the audition/recital/interview should be arranged in coordination with the faculty in the major area and the College of Fine Arts Graduate Office. The CFA Graduate Office will send faculty contact information after application materials are received.

The candidate must present a dossier at the audition; it should include the audition program, a vita and a repertoire list. During the audition, which will be heard by at least three members of the graduate faculty, the candidate normally performs 30-45 minutes from a prepared one-hour program. After the performance, the applicant will interview with the faculty present. The faculty will report their evaluation of the audition and interview to the College of Fine Arts Graduate Office, using the Report of DMA Audition Form. This report will be added to the student’s file, which will be reviewed by area faculty, the Graduate Standards Committee, the School of Music director and the associate dean for graduate Studies.

Master of Music

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.

Prescreening requirements:

Letters of recommendation

10 minutes of uncut rehearsal video with an ensemble

10 minutes of conducting performance video with an ensemble where the conductor can be seen throughout (front view is preferred)

Any other requirements required by the School of Music Admissions Portal.

Area-specific Audition requirements:

Audition dates are organized through the Director of Choral Activities, and include meeting with cooperating faculty, rehearsal with the TCU Concert Chorale, and some testing of skills (piano, diction, musicianship, etc.)

Doctor of Musical Arts

Coming soon!

Master of Music

In addition to the University and School of Music requirements, students interested in this program must fulfill the following requirements.

Every graduate student must participate in an ensemble for a minimum of two semesters during residency. In special circumstances related to stipend or assistantship, ensemble participation may be required for additional semesters.

International Student Requirements

Applicants from countries other than the United States must meet the same admission standards required of all other applicants. In addition, before being admitted to the School of Music, each international student must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Exam. The University requires an official iBT score of 80 for admission. Performance majors must earn 30-34 hours in approved graduate courses, including at least 12 hours in studio instruction, and present two recitals, the content and format of which shall be determined and evaluated by the student’s Graduate Advisory Committee. Pedagogy, musicology, music theory and composition majors must earn 34-36 hours in approved graduate courses, with at least half of the courses, including thesis where appropriate, in the principal field. The piano pedagogy curriculum is designed to provide advanced training in the field of piano pedagogy by preparing students to teach studio and class piano, conduct research in their field, write papers suitable for publication and present lectures and workshops on pedagogical topics. A comprehensive oral examination must be passed before the completion of all programs. This examination is given after the final recital or project is completed.

Students seeking admission typically hold a Bachelor of Music degree before matriculation.

Live audition conducting the TCU Symphony and theory and history examination held at TCU.

Applying for master of music studies in orchestra conducting is a two-phase process. The first face is the submission of both a complete application for admission, and a preliminary recording and conducting portfolio. A high-quality video recording should include (performance and rehearsal) of at least a movement of a symphony, and/or two contrasting pieces of the standard orchestral repertoire.

Upon review of the preliminary recording/portfolio, selected candidates will be invited for the second face; a live audition performance and interview. The candidates will take the diagnostic exams in music theory and history. Candidates should expect to be on campus two full days to complete the audition interview and exams.

Master applicants in orchestra conducting must demonstrate proficiency on a musical instrument by submitting an audition recording with a performance by the applicant of music from the standard repertoire. It is not required that instrumental competence be at the level of a major in performance.

Required preliminary recordings are due first week of January. The School Office of Music Admissions will contact Orchestral Conducting applicants to invite them for a live audition and interview. Live auditions will be scheduled individually on a date and time in March/April that is mutually convenient to the applicant and faculty.

Initial screening requires a submission of candidate conducting video –preferably rehearsal and performance footage. Video needs to be submitted via the School of Music Admissions Portal.

If initial screening is accepted candidates will be invited to campus to guest conduct one of the large ensembles for a final audition.

Recital 1

This recital will be a combination of individual conducting performances with TCU ensembles. The candidate is required.

Conduct at least one piece of the Concerto Competition Winner’s concert in the Spring Semester.

Conduct at least one full orchestral piece per year with the TCU Symphony.

The student will have the following opportunities within the orchestra department to meet the requirements of this recital:

Conducting Opportunities Available To Prepare For This Recital:

Conducting one or more compositions with the following ensembles: TCU Symphony Orchestra
TCU String Orchestra & Fort Worth Youth Orchestra.

Extra conducting opportunities will be presented by student’s participation in regional conducting symposia – band and orchestral.

Total music combined length must be at least 40 minutes.

Recital 2

This recital will be a small/chamber ensemble (Band, Choir, Orchestra) that the student organizes. (There is no limit on the number of players per ensemble). Repertoire must be approved by the major professor. Total music combined length must be at least 40 minutes. This program should include pieces from at least three different musical periods.

Conducting Opportunities Available to Prepare for This Recital:

Ensemble consisting of TCU students, area amateur musicians, area professional musicians.
Rehearsals will be limited to 1.5 hours per week during the semester of the concert.
A minimum of 14 hours of rehearsal time required.

Doctor of Musical Arts

Students seeking admission typically hold a Master of Music degree before matriculation.
Live audition conducting the TCU Symphony and theory and history examination held at TCU.

Students seeking admission typically hold a Master of Music degree before matriculation.

Live audition conducting the TCU Symphony and theory and history examination held at TCU.

Applying for doctoral music studies in orchestra conducting is a two-phase process. The first face is the submission of both a complete application for admission, and a preliminary recording and conducting portfolio. A high-quality video recording should include (performance and rehearsal) of at least a movement of a symphony, and/or two contrasting pieces of the standard orchestral repertoire.

Doctoral applicants in orchestra conducting must demonstrate proficiency on a musical instrument by submitting an audition recording with a performance by the applicant of music from the standard repertoire. It is not required that instrumental competence be at the level of a major in performance.

Program requires 60 credit hours beyond the Master’s degree, a document, a written comprehensive exam, and an oral comprehensive exam.

Recital 1

This recital will be a combination of individual conducting performances with TCU ensembles. The candidate is required.

1)Conduct at least one piece of the Concerto Competition Winner’s concert in the Spring Semester.

2) Conduct at least one full orchestral piece per year with the TCU Symphony.

The student will have the following opportunities within the orchestra department to meet the requirements of this recital:

Conducting Opportunities Available To Prepare For This Recital:

Conducting one or more compositions with the following ensembles: TCU Symphony Orchestra, TCU String Orchestra, & Fort Worth Youth Orchestra.

As a part of recital 1 and/or recital 3, each DMA candidate will conduct one composition with the Wind Symphony and a choral ensemble.

Extra conducting opportunities will be presented by student’s participation in regional conducting symposia – band and orchestral.

Total music combined length must be at least 40 minutes.

Recital 2

This recital will be a small/chamber ensemble (Band, Choir, Orchestra) that student organizes. (There is no limit on the number of players per ensemble). Repertoire must be approved by major professor. Total music combined length must be at least 40 minutes. This program should include pieces from at least three different musical periods.

Conducting Opportunities Available To Prepare For This Recital:

Ensemble consisting of TCU students, area amateur musicians, area professional musicians.
Rehearsals will be limited to 1.5 hours per week during the semester of the concert.
A minimum of 14 hours of rehearsal time

Recital 3

This recital will be a combination of individual conducting performances using the ensembles associated with emphasis (same as Recital 1) and should include at least one major orchestral piece (Symphony, Tone poem, Choral work, or Contemporary composition) with the TCU Symphony.

Total music combined length must be at least 40 minutes.