Wind Band Conducting

The master's program qualifies graduates for the artistic direction of musical ensembles of all kinds, with the direction of wind ensembles and orchestras forming a special focus of the training. Another focus is the training in instrumentation and arrangement. The aim of the Master's program is the practice-oriented deepening and supplementation of the scientific and artistic professional preparation on the basis of subject-related Bachelor's studies and qualifies students for professional practice for
The following fields which are open to the students:

• Conducting wind orchestras
• Conducting ensembles
• Arranger*in for wind ensembles / wind orchestras
• Teaching wind orchestra and / or ensemble conducting

Furthermore, the study program serves to qualify students for professional activities that require the application of artistic and scientific knowledge and methods, for example, in the field of instrument making, cultural management, musicology etc. Furthermore, the study program should contribute to the personality formation and development of social competences of the students. The students should be enabled to perceive and help shape artistic and overall social developments.

The four-semester Master's program in Wind Band 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 is an attendance 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 Artistic Individual 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 programme Wind Band Conducting requires the completion of a Bachelor's degree (BA) or another equivalent degree at a recognised Austrian or foreign post-secondary educational institution (e.g. university, college) (§ 64 Abs. 3 UG 2002). Admission with a pedagogical degree such as teaching degree or instrumental & vocal pedagogy is NOT possible.

A prerequisite for admission to the degree programme is also the successful completion of the admission examination. For this, an online application is first required, during which the necessary documents are checked. An invitation to the entrance examination will only be sent after the complete documents have been checked.

ATTENTION:

• The examination of the pre-study documents 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!

Documents required for online application

• BA certificate or degree certificate 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!)
• The following studies are considered relevant for admission: BA Instrumental Studies (all instruments), BA/Diploma Choral Conducting, BA/Diploma Orchestral Conducting, BA Instrumental (Vocal) Pedagogy (with focus on wind band conducting), BA/Diploma Teacher Training ME/IME (with focus on wind band conducting), BA/Diploma Teacher Training ME and other UF (with ULG Wind Band Conducting).
• 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.

Form of the documents

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

the Admission Examination

If you have received an invitation to the admission examination, you must take the following partial examinations:

A - Examination to determine artistic aptitude. 

The examination consists of the analysis and conducting performance of two works. The following must be prepared:

• Analysis and conducting performance of a transcribed orchestral work corresponding to the level of difficulty of: Beethoven, L. v., Egmont Overture / Arr. Esterbauer, A., Verdi, G., La Forza del Destino (Overture) / Arr. Cesarini, F. Rossini, G., La Gazza Ladra (Overture) / Arr. Schwarzmann, A. Strauss, J., Kaiserwalzer / Arr. Schwarzmann, A.
• Analysis and conducting of an original work for wind orchestra according to the level of difficulty of: Gustav Holst, Second Suite for Band; G.F. Händel, Fireworks Music; Fisher Tull, Introit; F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Overture for Harmony Music; Claude T. Smith, Overture on an Early American Folk Hymn; Alfred Reed, Armenian Dances Part 1.

B - 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 at International Affairs.