Master of Music in Conducting

Deadline to submit application for the academic year (August 2023):

Friday, April 21, 2023

With the creation of the Master of Music in: Choral and/or Orchestral Conducting, the Conservatory of Music expands its offer of musical studies at the graduate level, thus filling the need for study programs that provide new opportunities for professional growth.

The mission of this new degree, unique in Puerto Rico, is to create a program that provides advanced training to highly qualified students, promoting the highest standards of musical quality.

The main goal is to promote the development of advanced skills in musical direction, analysis and interpretation techniques, enabling the student to begin a professional career or continue studies in doctoral programs.

1. Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance or Musical Education. The Bachelor of Arts with a specialty in Music will be considered an equivalent degree. However, applicants must demonstrate the same standards of knowledge similar to those candidates with a Bachelor of Music.
2. Admission Application – Your application must be submitted before the deadline with the corresponding non-refundable payment.
3. An official credit transcript from an accredited university institution where you studied. The transcript is required to demonstrate that the student completed the baccalaureate degree with a GPA of 3.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale.
4. Résumé – Summary of your background and achievements.
5. Annotated list of repertoire presented in concerts.
6. Three letters of recommendation from teachers or professionals in the music field who are familiar with your work.
7. Shortlisting Video – The candidate will submit a high-quality, unedited video recording that includes three to four excerpts from orchestral works of various styles. Excerpts can come from concerts or rehearsals. Recommended formats for your video are: YouTube, Dropbox or Google Drive sent to email admisiones@cmpr.edu.

The duration of the video must be a maximum of 25 minutes, to be distributed as follows:

• The candidate will briefly talk about his or her musical preparation, goals, and interest in studying conducting at a master's level (duration two minutes).
• The videos of the works must not be more than three years old.
• Videos should not have reverb effects.
• The camera should focus on the candidate where his or her gestures and posture can be appreciated, in addition to the orchestra or chamber ensemble.
• Direction of a rehearsal or concert. The repertoire must consist of three works from contrasting periods to choose from the Classical, Romantic and 20th Century periods.
• The skills you must show are: understanding of musical styles, artistic challenges, expressiveness, conducting technique and gestural skills. Only works from the standard orchestral repertoire, operatic works or contemporary works will be accepted. Do not include pop, jazz or Broadway repertoire. Small sets of any size are accepted.
• It is a requirement to submit in writing the repertoire presented in the recording, date and place of rehearsal or concert and copy of the concert programs (if applicable).
• The candidate must present a video of no more than three minutes playing a work on their main instrument or, if their instrument is the voice, singing a work from the Italian anthology.

If the preselection evaluation is favorable, the candidate will be invited to an in-person audition that will take place on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

In-person audition

Selected candidates must attend an in-person audition to conduct the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music Orchestra. The list of repertoire that must be prepared and presented for the audition is included, which will last between 20 to 25 minutes. It may be required to direct the entire work or some segment of the work. The candidate's ability to identify errors in areas such as rhythm, notes, tuning, balances, etc. will be evaluated.

Evaluation of musical skills: All candidates who participate in in-person auditions must also pass the following requirements:

1. Written essay – The candidate must write an essay which must be 1 to 2 pages, double spaced, with a font size of 12 points (times new roman or arial), written in Spanish. It must be an original work. The candidate will choose one of the topics that will be provided.
2. An interview with the faculty of the graduate management program and the dean of Academic Affairs where the candidate will be evaluated regarding their experience and professional goals. The candidate is expected to be able to discuss matters of analysis related to the material studied for the audition or other works presented in the interview. An assessment of sight-reading on the piano of selections from orchestral literature will also be included.
3. A written exam that will consist of questions related to, but not limited to, transportation, harmony, style, composers and repertoire.

Repertoire to present at the Audition:

• Egmont Overture by Ludwig van Beethoven
• Symphony no. 40, K 550 by WA Mozart, movements I and II
• Romeo and Juliet, (fantasy overture) by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
• A Soldier's Story by Igor Stravinsky, scene 3

Language

All classes in the Master of Music Program in Orchestral Conducting will be offered in Spanish. Applicants from non-Spanish-speaking countries must be able to speak, read and write fluently in Spanish.

Curriculum Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting

Study costs

1. Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance or Musical Education. The Bachelor of Arts with a major in Music will be considered an equivalent degree, however, applicants must demonstrate the same standards of similar knowledge as those candidates with a Bachelor of Music.

   Candidates must demonstrate musical leadership based on experience directing a choral ensemble, preferably with experience directing church, school, private or community choirs.

2. Admission Application – Your application must be submitted before the deadline with the corresponding non-refundable payment.
3. An official credit transcript from an accredited university institution where you studied. The transcript is required to demonstrate that the student completed the baccalaureate degree with a GPA of 3.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale.
4. Résumé – Summary of your background and achievements.
5. Annotated list of repertoire presented in concerts.
6. Three letters of recommendation from teachers or professionals in the music field who are familiar with your work.
7. Shortlisting Video – The candidate will submit a high-quality, unedited video recording that includes three to four excerpts from choral works of various styles. Excerpts can come from concerts or rehearsals. Recommended formats for your video are: YouTube, Dropbox or Google Drive sent to email admisiones@cmpr.edu.

The duration of the video must be a maximum of 25 minutes, to be distributed as follows:

• The candidate will briefly talk about his or her musical preparation, goals, and interest in studying conducting at a master's level (duration two minutes).
• The videos of the works must not be more than three years old.
• Videos should not have reverb effects.
• The camera should focus on the candidate where their gestures and posture can be seen, as well as the chorus.
• Direction of a rehearsal or concert. The repertoire must consist of three works from contrasting periods to choose from the Renaissance, Classical, Romantic and 20th Century periods.
• The skills you must show are: understanding of musical styles, artistic challenges, expressiveness, conducting technique and gestural skills. Do not include pop, jazz or Broadway repertoire. Small sets of any size are accepted.
• It is a requirement to submit in writing the repertoire presented in the recording, date and place of rehearsal or concert and copy of the concert programs (if applicable).
• The candidate must present a video of no more than three minutes playing a work on their main instrument or, if their instrument is the voice, singing a work from the Italian anthology.

If the preselection evaluation is favorable, the candidate will be invited to an in-person audition that will take place on Monday, May 1, 2023.

In-person audition

Selected candidates must attend an in-person audition to direct the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music Choir. The list of repertoire that must be prepared and presented for the audition is included, which will last between 20 to 25 minutes. It may be required to direct the entire work or some segment of the work. The candidate's ability to identify errors in areas such as rhythm, notes, tuning, balances, etc. will be evaluated.

Evaluation of musical skills: All candidates who participate in in-person auditions must also pass the following requirements:

1. Written essay – The candidate must write an essay which must be 1 to 2 pages, double spaced, with a font size of 12 points (times new roman or arial), written in Spanish. It must be an original work. The candidate will choose one of the topics that will be provided.
2. An interview with the faculty of the graduate management program and the dean of Academic Affairs where the candidate will be evaluated regarding their experience and professional goals. The candidate is expected to be able to discuss matters of analysis related to the material studied for the audition or other works presented in the interview. An evaluation of sight reading at the piano of a chorale by Johann Sebastian Bach will also be included.
3. A written exam that will consist of questions related to, but not limited to, transposition, harmony, style, performance practices, diction, vocal pedagogy, languages, composers and repertoire.

Repertoire to present at the Audition:

• Crucifixus at 8 by Antonio Lotti
• Ave verum corpus by William Byrd

Language

All classes in the Master of Music Program in Choral Conducting will be offered in Spanish. Applicants from non-Spanish-speaking countries must be able to speak, read and write fluently in Spanish.

Curriculum Master of Music in Choral Conducting

Study costs

Diagnostic tests

Every student who has been accepted to the Master of Music program must take a diagnostic exam to demonstrate their competitiveness, comparable to a fourth year of baccalaureate in music, in the areas of theory, harmony, form and analysis, and music history. If you do not pass these exams, you must take remedial courses (non-credit) in the areas in need. You must complete remedial courses before enrolling in the required theory, analysis, and history courses required in the Master of Music in Music Performance and Education program. The student who does not appear to take one or both diagnostic exams will be automatically placed in the corresponding remedial courses.

Note: The applicant must have basic knowledge of the use of technology (computer)