Choral Conducting

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

• master the technique of conducting at the highest level and be able to present themselves professionally
• conduct a choir or ensemble with confidence and artistic expression
• have a comprehensive repertoire from the Renaissance to the present day
• have historically sound knowledge of performance practice and stylistics
• have acquired comprehensive knowledge of music theory and musicology and are able to apply this knowledge in practice
• have a profound knowledge of the human voice in all its aspects
• be familiar with rhetoric and articulation
• have the ability to motivate
• have the ability to communicate and work in a team
• be free and independent in their artistic work
• have mastered the basics of scientific work and be able to analyse, interpret and write up artistic content in a well-founded manner
• develop their individual interests beyond their own subject area through targeted in-depth study within the framework of (free) electives in the spirit of lifelong learning.

The four-semester Master's program in Choral Conducting is modular in structure. A module is the combination of teaching and learning content into thematically and didactically meaningful units of study. The names and content descriptions (study objectives) of the individual modules as well as the number of ECTS credits to be achieved for each module and the type of performance assessment are specified in the curriculum.

The module descriptions refer to the corresponding learning outcomes and competencies. The master program Choral Conducting is a face-to-face program and cannot be offered - not even in parts - as a distance learning program. 

The courses from the Central Artistic Subject (ZKF) as well as the other Individual Artistic Instruction (KE) or Artistic Instruction (KU) are designed to build up on each other. A prerequisite for enrollment in courses from the ZKF or KE/KU is a positive evaluation of the previous semester in every semester except the first. The same applies to piano reduction opera and oratorio literature (KE). Piano reduction of opera and oratorio literature can only be taken in combination with ZKF.

Link to the semester schedule

Admission to the master's program in Choral Conducting requires the completion of a relevant bachelor's degree (BA) or other equivalent studies at a recognized Austrian or foreign post-secondary educational institution (e.g. university, college) (§ 64 para. 3 UG 2002).

For this, an online application is first required, during which the necessary documents are checked. Only after examination of the completely submitted documents and positive evaluation of the application video an invitation to the admission examination takes place.

ATTENTION:

• The examination of the documents of the preliminary studies can take up to 4 weeks! Early application is therefore recommended.
• You can only apply for studies for which you have not yet obtained a degree!

Necessary documents for online registration

• BA certificate or diploma of a relevant degree programme, if the degree programme has already been completed.
• Current confirmation of enrolment, if the degree programme has not yet been completed (the certificate must be submitted by the time of enrolment!)
• overview of subjects and grades (Transcript of Records) of the BA degree programme
• Official confirmation of the main subject/instrument, if this is not evident from the other documents (e.g. "Bachelor of Music" is not sufficient!)
• If further previous studies are available, a complete overview of subjects and grades (Transcript of Records) of all artistic and pedagogical Master's and diploma studies must also be uploaded.
• Application video

Form of the documents

• The documents can be uploaded as PDF in the application form, the video will be entered as a link.
• If the documents mentioned are not available in German or English, an official translation must be submitted.

Application video

On the basis of the videos sent in, a pre-selection will be made by the examination committee. 
The following extract from the examination programme MA Choral Conducting is to be uploaded on a video platform of your choice:

• Conducting with choir or (vocal) ensemble (consisting of at least 5 ensemble members) of a work of choice, briefly showing the ensemble but mainly the face and body of the applicant.

Please ensure in advance that the persons captured on video and audio have given their consent to the audio and video recordings and submission as part of the admission examination. In this respect, the University Mozarteum Salzburg is to be fully indemnified and held harmless.

The duration of the video should be approx. 8-10 minutes.
Important information on video uploads can be found HERE, as well as the data protection information. The guidelines mentioned there are to be observed urgently!

The entrance examination

If you have received an invitation to the entrance examination on the basis of your application video, you will have to take the following partial examinations:

A - Online interview to determine artistic aptitude 

In the online interview with the examination board on motivation, background, previous studies and expectations, the submitted video will also be discussed. For this purpose, an interview date and a link to a video conferencing tool will be sent in advance. Please make sure that a good internet connection is available at the time indicated (probably mid-April); a PC/laptop with camera/microphone is also necessary. 
The interview will take place via ZOOM and will last approximately 10 minutes. 
After passing part examination A, admission to part examinations B and C will be granted.

B - Examination Choral Conducting

Conducting (10-20 minutes):

• Conducting prepared works: rehearsal with choir or (vocal) ensemble. Two vocal works (one of them a capella), which will be announced to the candidate with the invitation to the entrance examination.
• Conducting with piano: a demanding work of the 19th and 20th century, an accompagnato recitative or conducting (accompanying) an aria with a singer The works to be conducted will be made known to the candidate with the invitation to the entrance examination.

Playing a piano reduction from opera or oratorio literature (10-20 minutes):

• Performance (playing and singing) of a short opera scene from a German, Italian or French opera from the piano (e.g. an accompagnato recitative, an aria or an ensemble from an opera).
• sight-reading an extract from an opera or oratorio from the piano score
• Playing the score (prepared and from the sheet)

C - German language skills

• Required language level: at least A2 before the end of the 2nd semester (Common European Framework of Reference CEFR 2001)
• Information on the German examination and the recognised certificates can be found HERE

Dates & timetable

The dates of the entrance examination as well as important deadlines can be found in the current schedule. 
Time schedule:

• Examination registration during the application period online via the registration portal for university applicants
  (ATTENTION: Registration only possible if documents are complete, including video!)
• If the application video is positive: Invitation to the on-site entrance examination
• Participation in the on-site admission test in May/June
• if you pass the admission test: invitation to enrol for the degree programme
• Enrolment during the general admission period

Different examination method

Please note that the University Mozarteum Salzburg offers various support options for the admission examination 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 or +43 676 88122 337.

Students of the Master's programme are recommended to complete a semester abroad. Semesters 2 and 3 of the degree programme are particularly suitable for this. In addition to the subject-specific competences, the following qualifications can be acquired through a study period abroad:

• Acquisition and deepening of subject-specific foreign language skills
• Acquisition and deepening of general language skills (language comprehension, conversation, etc.)
• Acquisition and deepening of organisational skills through independent planning of everyday study life in international administrative and university structures
• Getting to know and studying in international study systems as well as broadening one's own subject perspective
• Acquisition and deepening of intercultural competences

The recognition of examinations taken during studies abroad as compulsory subjects, elective subjects or free elective subjects is carried out by the Director of Studies. The documents required for the assessment are to be submitted by the applicant immediately after the stay abroad.

Details under International Affairs.