Wind Band Conducting

The curriculum is competence-oriented. Upon completion of the course. students should:

• have developed and deepened their practical skills and theoretical expertise in conducting and in the musical direction of a wind band/ensemble
• be versed in the theory and practice of interpreting repertoire in terms of technique and musical interpretation
• have grown into the musical director role
• be able to critically reflect on experiences and implement appropriate measures for optimisation
• have developed and improved their experience in rehearsal methodology and didactics
• have developed their knowledge of symphonic wind band instruments (including percussion), instrumentation, musical arrangements, transcribing and arranging, repertoire and stylistic analysis, and be able to apply this knowledge in practice.
• have deepened their skills and knowledge in the areas of harmony, composition and ear training
• have trained their ability to demostrate musical expression with the voice and consolidated their rhythmic-metric stability
• have absorbed impulses from the areas of jazz and pop music and be able to incorporate what they have learned into their practical work

This course is open to all who are already a band leader or ensemble director or can prove comparable previous knowledge. It not necessary to have completed previous studies at the Mozarteum University.

A prerequisite for admission is the successful completion of the audition. An online application is required for this, during which the necessary documents will be checked. Only after all documents have been checked and approved will an invitation to audition be issued.

The course starts every two years in March (summer semester) with teaching taking place on Saturdays during the academic year. 

Documents required for online registration

• written curriculum vitae
• letter of motivation
• (possibly) proof of previous education

Form of the documents

• The documents can be uploaded as PDF files in the application form.
• If the above-mentioned certificates and official documents are not available in German or English, an official translation must also be submitted.

The audition

If an invitation to audition is issued, an oral examination must be taken to determine artistic aptitude. This consists of three parts:

A - Interview

Interview with the audition panel on motivation, background, expectations (= personal presentation including artistic/musical career and previous conducting experience in addition to the submission of a written CV as part of the application for the audition)

B - Presentation & discussion of a wind band work of the candidate's choice.

The score must be submitted in duplicate or as a copy.

C - Conducting & Work Analysis

Conducting and work analysis of one of the following three works:

• Gustav Holst: First Movement (March/Allegro) and Second Movement (Song/Andante) from the Second Suite in F, Edition Colin Matthews.
• Antonin Dvořák/Arr.: Siegmund Goldhammer: Slavonic Dance No. 4, op. 46
• Johann Strauss II/Arr. Albert Schwarzmann: Emperor Waltz

D -German language skills

• Required language level: at least A2 (Common European Framework of Reference CEFR 2001)
• Information on the recognised certificates can be found HERE

Dates and procedure

• Online registration for an audition during the application period via the application portal Muvac
  (PLEASE NOTE: Registration is only possible after submission of all required documents!)
• Once documents have been approved: invitation to on-site audition
• Participation in the on-site audition in January
• Upon passing the audition: invitation to enrol in the programme
• Enrolment during the general admission period of the summer semester

Auditions are held once every two years; the course starts in the following summer semester.

Accessibility and widening participation

Please note that the Mozarteum University Salzburg offers various support options at the time of your audition and during your studies if you have a disability or a chronic illness.

If this applies to you and you would like to take advantage of counselling, please contact Claudia Haitzmann: claudia.haitzmann@moz.ac.at oder +43 676 88122 337.