Wind Band Conducting

The aim of the Master's programme is to deepen and supplement the academic and artistic skills already attained in a subject-related Bachelor's degree. Upon completion of the MA course, the following fields are open to students:

• Conducting wind orchestras
• Conducting ensembles
• Arranging for wind ensembles / wind bands
• Teaching wind band and / or ensemble conducting

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

The four-semester master's programme is modular in structure.  Each module comprises teaching and learning content that has been combined to form thematically and didactically meaningful units of study. The names and content descriptions (study objectives) of the individual modules, 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's programme is a face-to-face programme and cannot be offered - not even in part - as a distance learning programme. The courses from the Principal Study, as well as in other One-to-One Tuition, are designed to build upon each other. Prerequisite for enrolment in courses from the Principal Study or One-to-One Tuition is a positive evaluation of the previous semester (from the second semester onwards).

The curriculum provides an overview of the courses to be completed, which are grouped into modules.

The courses are visible online in Curriculum Support:

Link to the curriculum

Admission to a master's program requires the completion of a relevant bachelor's degree (BA) or another equivalent degree at a recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution (e.g. university, college) (§ 64 Para. 3 UG 2002).

A prerequisite for starting the course is also passing an audition. Auditions take place once a year and consist of an instrumental audition and, if necessary, proof of German language skills. All information about the audition can be found under “Information on the admissions process” further down on the page.

PLEASE NOTE: You can only apply for study programmes for which you have not yet obtained a degree!

Students of the Master's programme are encouraged to complete a semester abroad. Semesters 2 and 3 of the degree programme are particularly suitable for this. In addition to subject-specific competences, a study period abroad can also lead to the acquisition and deepening of:

• Subject-specific foreign language skills
• General foreign-language skills (language comprehension, conversation, etc.)
• Organisational skills, through independent planning of everyday student life in international administrative and university structures
• Knowledge about international study systems, as well as broadening one's own subject perspective
• Intercultural competences

Examinations and assessments taken during studies abroad can be approved by the Director of Studies as equivalents to compulsory subjects, elective sujects or free elective subjects required by the Mozarteum University for your degree course. The documents required for the approval procedure are to be submitted by the applicant immediately after their exchange semester.

Details at International Affairs.

Admission to an MA Performance programme requires the completion of a relevant bachelor's degree (BA) or other equivalent degree at a recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution (e.g. university, college) (§ 64 Para. 3 UG 2002).

A prerequisite for admission to this university course is also the successful completion of an audition. Registration for an audition is completed online via Muvac and requires candidates to upload documents proving their eligibility for the course. An invitation to audition will only be issued after the necessary documents have been submitted in full and approved by the admissions office.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Document checks can take up to 6 weeks! Early registration is therefore recommended.
• Applicants can only apply for degree programmes for which they have not yet obtained a degree!

Applicants whose documents have been approved will be invited to the on-site audition. This consists of an instrumental audition and, if necessary, a test of German language skills.

The following documents must be uploaded in the online application form:

• BA certificate or degree certificate of a relevant degree programme, if the degree programme has already been completed
• Confirmation of current enrolment if the degree programme has not yet been completed (the certificate must be submitted prior to enrolment!)
• Overview of subjects and grades (Transcript of Records) of the BA degree programme
• Official confirmation of the principal study, if this is not evident from the other documents (e.g. "Bachelor of Music" is not sufficient!)
• If further previous studies have been completed, a full overview of subjects and grades (Transcript of Records) of all artistic and pedagogical Master's and diploma studies must also be uploaded.

Format of documents

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

Please note:

Applicants who pass the audition and are offered a university place must ensure that their documents meet the certification requirements by the time of their enrolment at the latest.

• Online registration during the application period via the application portal Muvac (Please note: Registration is only possible if all required information and documents have been submitted!)
• Once the online application has been processed: invitation to on-site audition. The invitation will be sent via Muvac.
• The invitation to audition on-site must be accepted or rejected in Muvac; information on the audition programme in the principal study must be provided if required by the instrument/degree programme in question
• participation in the on-site audition
• Upon passing the audition and being offered a place: invitation to enrol in the degree programme
• Enrolment (in person) during the general admission period

The audition requires candidates to analyse and conduct two works. The following must be prepared:

• Analysis and conducting of a transcribed orchestral work. The following suggestions indicate the level of difficulty expected: 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. The following suggestions indicate the level of difficulty expected: 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.

All applicants whose first language is not German must prove their German skills by the end of the 2nd semester.

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

Exam A - Examination to determine artistic aptitude: 28.5.2025
Exam B - German language skills: certificate (to be presented by the end of the 2nd semester)

overview of all current entrance exam dates

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 or +43 676 88122 337.