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Masters ProgramsDate: August 21, 2009
Hi, I'm applying to masters programs this fall (more into choral conducting than music ed) and would love some recommendations of where to apply, especially if you know any specific information that would help me narrow down a long list I have of places people have mentioned. I looked around on the forums, but it seems like most people have gotten private replies to this sort of question.
Thanks!
Sarah Replies (12): Threaded | Chronological
Terry Koch on August 21, 2009 7:49pm
Sarah,
My daughter in law just completed what she felt was an excellent experience with a master's in choral conducting at the University of Oregon.
Best Wishes,
Terry Koch
on August 21, 2009 9:05pm
Hi Sarah;
There are two programs in Indiana with which I am familiar: Butler University in Indianapolis and Ball State University in Muncie. I did my masters at Butler and my doctorate at Ball State. These are relatively small programs, unlike, say Indiana University, and because of that have advantages and disadvantages. The biggest advantage is that you get more podium time. While doing my masters at Butler, I directed the Women's Glee Club for three semesters. At Ball State, full-time directorships were pretty much limited to doctoral students, but I had a master's candidate as my assistant director for the University Choral Union for a year.
The choral guys at Butler are excellent. Henry Leck heads the department and directs the younger, less experienced Butler University Chorus; he is, of course, world renowned for his work with the Indianapolis Children's Choir and as a children's choir clinician. His expertise, however, goes far beyond that. Eric Stark directs the Butler Chorale and the Butler Madrigal Singers, both of which are advanced auditioned ensembles. He also is conductor and artistic director for the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir. If you are interested in Vocal Jazz, Tim Brimmer directs Jordan Jazz, the vocal jazz group on campus, and can provide technical information as well as artistic inspiration.
The choral personnel have changed since I was at Ball State. From what I hear, the new Director of Choral Activities, Duane Karna, is very good. He just finished his first year. Before that, he was at University of Nevada, Reno. Ball State's assistantships, if you can get one, are a little better financially.
Good luck!
Russell Thorngate
Director of Choral Activities
University of Wisconsin, Marathon County
on August 22, 2009 2:36am
Have you looked into Westminster Choir College of Rider University with campus in Princeton, NJ?
Pat Maimone
M. M. in Organ Performance WCC 1974
Mt Olive Lutheran Church Organist/Choir Director
Santa Monica, CA 90405
on August 22, 2009 5:09am
There are many good programs out there. My suggestion is go somewhere, if you can, near a city that is full of excellent, innovative choral concerts to go to. E.g. U. of Maryland near Washington, D.C., Westminster Choir College near New York City, University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. I don't mean to diss anyone else. Florida State, Indiana, Colorado, West Chester (Pennsylvania), Cincinnati all come to mind, as do conservatories like Julliard, Peabody and Boston, and there is certainly fine choral music throughout the USA and Canada. But those three cities seem to be the ones in North America where you have mind-expanding and top-drawer choral offerings week after week.
on August 22, 2009 7:01am
Sarah - While I can't address the specifics of the program, I would recommend you look into George Mason University in Northern Virginia. They just upgraded their Department of Music this last summer into a separate School of Music, under the interim directorship of Mark Camphouse (a well-known band director and composer). The professors most involved with the choral programs are Dr. Lisa Billingham and Dr. Stan Engebretson, both of whom I've gotten to know somewhat in the last ten years (I've done some recordings of their programs), and they are part of a very ambitious and energetic musical program. I have no idea what assistantships are available, or what stipends there are available (if any) - but if you are willing to look at an up-and-coming program, take at look at Mason. One advantage of being in this area is that there are a substantial number of choral programs in the communities surrounding the District, and the opportunities of extending your education by contacts outside the University are probably pretty substantial. Good luck!
Ron Duquette
Catholic Choir Director
Fort Belvoir, VA
on August 22, 2009 8:47am
The University of Northern Colorado, in Greeley, has a fantastic program. In addition to a good conducting curriculum, the core areas of Theory and Musicology of wonderful.
on August 27, 2009 1:17pm
I'm finishing a DMA at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. It is one of the few large programs I'm aware of (over 600 music majors) where choral conducting masters students have gotten significant podium time. For more information, contact Dr. Bill Young, DCA: 336-334-5493 or weyoung(a)uncg.edu.
Cory Alexander
alexander_c(a)utpb.edu
on August 28, 2009 5:33am
The University of Louisville has one of the finest Masters programs in the country. Dr. Kent Hatteberg has done wonderful work in the past 10 years. Their choirs are also very well known on the international competition scene, so your masters will include excellent performacnce opportunities. In addition to the a cappella work, the university choirs participate with the Louisville Orchestra and other local orchestras often, so it is a thorough education.
on August 28, 2009 6:15am
There are many excellent masters programs around the country. Lessons I learned...
1) Find a mentor who is well connected and with whom you can have an excellent working relationship. He/she should be your primary supporter, not your enemy. (I had the benefit of this at the University of Kansas, but my mentor has moved on to administration at another university.)
2) Make sure the program has excellent podium time. Having the title Assistant Director of (fill in the blank) Choir, is ideal. If you select a school that does not have a doctoral program, you will get more time in front of a group. (Again, I had this benefit at KU - same group for 4 years doing an M.M. and a D.M.A.)
3) Do not go for a master's degree without some kind of a stipend and do not go into huge debt for it. If you are teaching now and plan to go back to the same type of job, make sure that the ROI (return on your investment - student loans, lost wages, etc.) matches the compensation you will receive when you are finished. If you are looking to get out of public school teaching, the market is saturated. There are lots of D.M.A.s and PhD.s who are applying for positions that only require a master's degree.
Best,
Amy Luckenbill
Director of Music
Overland Park Christian Church
OP, KS
on September 10, 2009 7:29am
All right, I've been doing some more research, and I have some specific questions now. I'm trying to get from having ideas of schools to knowing more specific similarities and differences between them. I'm particularly interested in answers pertaining to Yale, UMichigan, Temple, Westminster, Miami, Oregon, Madison, Indiana, Arizona, Butler, and Boulder.
How much podium time?
What kind of financial help is there? How good are the conducting teachers? Is it a nice place to live? How much early music is there? What makes it better than other schools? Is there a certain focus/interest that might not be the case at other schools? How long is the program? Does it encourage composition and other musical pursuits in addition to conducting?
I would appreciate any information related to these questions. Thank you!
Sarah Riskind
on September 10, 2009 11:47am
Hi Sarah;
I'l respond about the MM program at Butler; I attended from 2004-2006, and I was very happy with the experience.
How much podium time? I was the full-time conductor of the Women's Glee Club for three semesters. In addition, I was able to rehearse with the vocal jazz group (I was assistant director for a year), but they mostly performed without conductor. And I did a couple of pieces with the Chorale (the top choir, in which I also sang).
What kind of financial help is there? When I was there, there were two full assistanships with stipend, and one half assistantship without stipend. The latter was what I had. How good are the conducting teachers? Very. I studied most with Eric Stark, but also spent a semester with Henry Leck, and a semester with the orchestra conductor, Richard Clark. Is it a nice place to live? I liked Indianapolis very much. How much early music is there? There is a Madrigal Singers group, led by Eric Stark; I was not involved with them. What makes it better than other schools? (I don't know much about other schools.) It doesn't have a doctoral program, so the MM students are the top dogs. Is there a certain focus/interest that might not be the case at other schools? Major works, often in conjunction with the Butler Symphony Orchestra and/or the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir. How long is the program? Two years. Does it encourage composition and other musical pursuits in addition to conducting? Yes. I was able to study composition with James Mulholland. I also played in the Jazz ensemble and the horn choir. Russell Thorngate Director of Choral Activities University of Wisconsin, Marathon County
on September 10, 2009 9:10am
Sarah,
It's good that you have narrowed down your list a bit. All of your questions would be best directed to the choral directors at each of the schools you have listed. The reason most people have received private replies to this sort of question, I think, is an issue of respect and civility. I think it is of limited usefulness to garner one person opinion about someone else's program. This is a highly personal decision, and I would be highly skeptical of anyone saying this or that program was "best" for you, without ever having met you, or have seen you work.
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