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Curriculum requirements for the DMA in Conducting program can be found on the Academic Bulletin.

Program of Study

ORCHESTRAL CONDUCTING

Dive deep into the artistry of orchestral conducting while embracing the symphonic realm. Our conductors not only master their principal area but also enrich their skills with immersive training in choral conducting. Imagine the thrill of leading rehearsals and performances with our esteemed School of Music orchestras, where every gesture shapes the harmonies of tomorrow. Beyond the podium, Boston’s dynamic musical landscape invites you to explore countless opportunities for collaboration with both amateur and professional ensembles.

With a select cohort of two to six resident graduate students at any time, our DMA program ensures ample podium time within our ensembles. Drawing on their seasoned musical backgrounds, orchestral conducting students join a community where individual growth fuels collective excellence. Through personalized mentorship and collaborative seminars, they actively contribute to each other’s journey toward mastery.

CHORAL CONDUCTING

In the world of choral conducting, we celebrate the rich tapestry of vocal expression through comprehensive literature surveys and graduate seminars. Explore the depths of choral repertoire, from historical perspectives to contemporary interpretations, as you refine your understanding of style and performance practices. These studies seamlessly integrate with the academic rigors of our doctoral program, preparing you to lead with both artistry and scholarship.

Joining a close-knit cohort of two to six resident graduate students, choral conducting scholars take the helm of our School of Music ensembles, nurturing their leadership skills while honing their craft. With individualized mentorship and collaborative learning environments, every student actively shapes their path while contributing to the vibrant musical community at Boston University.

Program Highlights

Master Both Orchestral and Choral Conducting

• Experience the thrill of mastering both orchestral and choral conducting, expanding your musical versatility and artistic expression.
• Take the podium with confidence, leading our School of Music orchestras and choral ensembles through dynamic rehearsals and exhilarating performances.
• Engage with the renowned Boston University Opera Institute, enhancing your understanding of vocal performance and collaborative skills through interdisciplinary opportunities.

Thrive in Boston’s Musical Hub

• Immerse yourself in Boston’s vibrant music scene, collaborating with a diverse array of amateur and professional musical groups. Some of our recent collaborations include the Boston Children’s Chorus, Handel & Haydn Society (H+H), Juventas, Boston Arts Academy, and the National Children’s Chorus.
• Engage in exciting extracurricular opportunities that amplify your learning experience and enrich your musical journey. Highlights include ensemble work with professional level church choirs, community ensembles such as BackBay Chorale, Boston Choral Ensemble, and Seraphim Singers, and professional opportunities with ensembles such as the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and Nightingale Vocal Ensemble

Elevate Your Skills on the Podium

• Maximize your podium time within our program, where a select group of five to seven graduate conductors ensures personalized attention and ample performance opportunities. Opportunities exist to serve as assistant for the Boston University Singers, Boston University Symphonic Chorus. Qualified DMA and MM candidates may serve as associate conductors and principal director for the Boston University Soprano-Alto Chorus and Boston University Choral Society.
• Hone your craft through hands-on mentorship and collaborative learning environments that foster growth and innovation.
• Refine your conducting technique through our graduate conducting seminars, studying with both major area, primary instructors in choral and orchestral conducting studios.

Uncover the Heart of Musical Expression

• Embark on a journey through extensive choral and orchestral repertoire studies, deepening your understanding of musical history, style, and interpretation.
• Dive into graduate seminars that dissect repertoire nuances, equipping you with the knowledge to command performances with artistry and precision.
• Delve into extensive choral and orchestral repertoire surveys, deepening your understanding of historical context, performance styles, and artistic interpretation.
• Participate in graduate seminars that offer in-depth exploration of repertoire, fostering a thorough examination of musical style and performance practices. Our comprehensive choral literature sequence spans four semesters while our graduate conducting seminar offers opportunities for refining conducting technique as well as leading chamber performances with our graduate conductors chorus.
• Each graduate conductor shares a cycle each semester for the graduate conductors chorus, producing ample lab experience combined with masterclass style instruction.

Cultivate a Community of Excellence

•  Join forces with a tight-knit community of talented peers and distinguished faculty, where collaboration fuels creativity and mutual support propels success.
• Engage actively in peer learning, group projects, and ensemble leadership roles that prepare you to excel as a leader in the world of conducting.

Forge Your Path to Artistic Leadership

• Develop robust leadership skills as you take charge of our School of Music ensembles, shaping musical narratives and inspiring audiences with your vision.
• Receive personalized mentorship from world-class faculty who are committed to nurturing your unique talents and guiding your professional growth.

Leadership and Artistic Excellence

• Develop strong leadership skills as you assume leadership roles within our School of Music ensembles, preparing you to excel in professional conducting roles.
• Receive personalized guidance from faculty mentors who are dedicated to nurturing your artistic vision and career aspirations.

Opportunities

Because the School of Music Conducting enrollment is intentionally small, students enjoy close contact with their mentors, colleagues, other musicians and composers, and conducting opportunities of an informal nature present themselves with some frequency. Both Orchestral and Choral graduate conducting students also have a history of involving themselves in the large, active professional and amateur Boston musical communities beyond the School of Music, numbers of them having become assistant conductors for some of these organizations. In addition, quite a few have formed their own choral ensembles, chamber ensembles, new music ensembles and orchestras, some of which have thrived beyond the conductor’s study at BU and continue to contribute to the wealth of musical activity in Boston.

Graduate conductors work closely with the School of Music orchestral or choral ensembles. The orchestral conductors appear with the Boston University Symphony Orchestra and/or Chamber Orchestra, both leading performances and serving as active assistant conductors to the ensembles’ conductors. When appropriate to the needs of the ensembles and the skills of the graduate conductor, students also lead sectional rehearsals on the repertoire under preparation.

Learn & Apply

Likewise, the choral conductors serve on a rotating basis as assistant conductors with the Boston University Symphonic Chorus and the Boston University Singers, leading performances and sectionals as need arises, and as skills and experience permit. Conducting Fellowships are also available at Marsh Chapel for graduate students in choral conducting.

Featured Faculty

• 

  Kenneth Amis

  Lecturer in Music, Tuba

• 

  Jennifer Bill

  Lecturer in Music, Saxophone; Conductor of Concert Band

• 

  Aaron Goldberg

  Director of Athletic Bands; Big Band/Jazz Ensemble Conductor; Senior Lecturer in Music

• 

  Sarah Ioannides

  Director of Orchestral Activities; Associate Professor in Orchestral Conducting

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  William Lumpkin

  Associate Professor of Music; Artistic Director, Opera Institute

• 

  Mark Miller

  Lecturer, Music; Conductor, All-Campus Orchestra

• 

  Daniel Parsley

  Assistant Professor in Choral Conducting, Director of Choral Activities

Notable Alumni and Principal Positions