Instrumental Conducting

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Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting - Orchestral

Major code: M718

Coursework Requirements (PDF)

Required Proficiencies

This degree requires the following proficiencies.

Contacts

Dr. Jonathan Shames

Professor of Orchestral Conducting
OU Opera Theater Artistic Director

Application Deadline

To receive full consideration for admission and graduate assistantships, the application is December 15. The School of Music cannot guarantee an audition, interview, admission, or graduate assistantship if application is received after the deadline.

Assistantships

There is no separate application for assistantship. Unless the applicant indicates otherwise, we assume that all applicants are interested in being considered for assistantships. Please note that assistantships are usually awarded for the Fall and Spring semesters together. We very seldom have assistantships available for anyone entering in a Spring semester. We do not award assistantships for Summer sessions.

Procedure for Applying

Submit the online application (see Graduate Admissions page) and all materials described below. The Conductor of the OU Symphony Orchestra (major professor for this degree) will review the written and recorded materials to determine whether or not to contact the applicant to schedule a live, on-campus audition.

Pre-screening application materials required for this degree

A video recording of a recent ensemble performance and/or rehearsal conducted by the applicant
- Submitted to the online application. Video files or links to online videos may be submitted under Digital Portfolio > Upload Media.
A detailed description of the applicant's current conducting program (ensemble size, ability of performers, rehearsal and performance schedule, repertoire, etc.).
- Submitted to the online application under Supporting Documents.

Application materials required for all graduate degrees

These items must be submitted to the online graduate application system.

Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Submitted to the online application under the Supplemental Materials tab.
- While style and format are free to vary, your document should include the following information:
  - Personal Contact Information
  - Education, including institutions attended and degrees earned (when applicable)
  - Employment history (including teaching experience for music education majors)
  - Noteworthy performances, conference presentations, or scholarly endeavors
  - Research publications, including thesis topics/titles, music compositions/arrangements, or other related scholarly work
  - Any academic/music honors, awards, or scholarships received
Statement of Purpose
- Submitted to the online application under the Supplemental Materials tab
- The personal statement is intended to provide insight into the applicant’s desire to pursue a graduate degree in music. Applicants are expected to prepare and submit original work that reflects their own ideas, experiences, written communication skills. The use of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) tools to write, draft, substantially revise, paraphrase, or otherwise generate content is not permitted. Minimal use of assistive AI for grammar, spelling, etc. is allowable. By submitting the Statement of Purpose, applicants affirm that the work is their own, original, and complies with this policy. The program reserves the right to request clarification regarding submitted materials if concerns arise regarding authorship or originality.
- Please compose a brief personal statement (approximately 2–3 pages of double-spaced, 12-point font text with 1-inch margins) regarding your desire to pursue a graduate degree in music. Include responses to the following prompts:
  1. How would you describe your professional path to this point?
  2. Why do you want to pursue this degree at OU?
  3. How do you want to grow musically, artistically, pedagogically, and/or intellectually during your graduate studies?
  4. What skills, expertise, and experiences do you bring to graduate study at OU?
  5. Describe your post-degree plans (i.e., How will you apply your newly acquired academic knowledge and expertise?).
Three letters of reference
- Submitted to the online application under the Supplemental Materials tab
- Your three reference letters should include:
  - At least one letter from: your studio professor, ensemble conductor, chamber coach, etc., or a person who has considerable knowledge about your abilities as a performer or composer.
  - At least one letter from: a person who can speak to your abilities as a scholar of music.

Audition

The Conductor of the OU Symphony Orchestra (major professor for this degree) will review the the application materials described above to determine whether or not to contact the applicant to schedule a live, on-campus audition.

Applicants invited to campus for a live audition will present a 20 to 30-minute conducting audition with a University ensemble presented before a committee consisting of appropriate members of the Graduate Music Faculty.
The audition will consist of a rehearsal of works assigned prior to the audition, as well as a session with Dr. Shames that will include questions on score-reading, ear-training, and analysis.