Music (Conducting)

Applicants for the MMus in Conducting will normally have:

• An honours degree (minimum 2.2) in music performance, or
• An honours degree in Music (minimum 2.2) with a strong specialism in performance, or
• An equivalent qualification and have demonstrated the necessary conducting potential or be of equivalent professional standing.

Equivalency for international degrees will only be checked on submission of an application.

If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website. An IELTS score of 6.0, with no individual component score lower than 6, will normally be required for entry to the MMus programme.

Applicants should submit the following along with the application:

• CV with details of your performing and conducting experience (repertoire and performances), musical training and other relevant experience/education.
• Statement of Purpose outlining your aims and objectives for undertaking postgraduate study in conducting.
• A recent example of academic writing in music of between 1000 and 2000 words, i.e. an essay or an excerpt from an undergraduate thesis.
• Academic Transcripts
• Two references relating to your conducting experience, preferably one from your most recent teacher and one from an industry professional.

Applicants are also asked to submit the following materials directly to the Programme Chair: A high-quality video recording with recent recordings of conducting in concert and rehearsal contexts from the orchestra/choir's viewpoint.

Audition

The video recording submitted with the application is viewed and only candidates who pass this pre-selection stage will be invited to an audition and interview. For audition requirements, please see the Conservatoire website.

Interview

Suitable applicants will be invited to the Conservatoire to undertake an interview. The interview is intended to assess your suitability for entry to the programme. You should be prepared to answer questions about your music studies, conducting experience and repertoire, research interests and career plans. International applicants who are unable to attend an interview in person will be facilitated with an online interview usually via Microsoft Teams.

The MMus (Conducting) course is designed to prepare you for a future career as a conductor in the music industry. Graduates of the course have pursued careers as orchestral and choral conductors in professional, educational and community contexts, and in music education and leadership roles. There are also opportunities for further study at the Conservatoire through our DMus in Performance or PhD programmes.