Doctor of Music (D.M.A.) – Orchestral Conducting

Prerequisites and Entrance Requirements

The applicant must be accepted as a graduate student and must have a master's degree from an accredited institution. The applicant must also submit the following to the advisory committee:

a repertoire list, and a complete description of conducting and related professional experience;
programs and critical reviews if available; and
as stated in the Admission Process section here, two letters of recommendation (one from a professional colleague, not teacher of the applicant) attesting to the applicant’s past and potential ability as a conductor.
The following entrance examination requirements must be completed successfully:
an entrance audition with the CUA Symphony Orchestra before a faculty committee;
a written examination pertaining to general knowledge of the orchestral field;
an aural examination;
an individual interview with the orchestra director;
Research Methodology or its equivalent;
written examinations (two hours each): music history placement examination and music theory placement examination.

Program of Study

In the first year of the graduate conducting program, each student will study with one of the major orchestral conducting faculty but may participate in the open studio opportunity for short-term study with other music faculty who specialize in specific repertoire, including choral music and musical theatre. In the second full year of study, the student will alternate between the major orchestral conducting faculty each semester to receive the full benefit of varied interpretative and technical perspectives.

The D.M.A. committee, in consultation with the student, will arrange a program of study of 54 semester hours beyond the master's degree. Although the program will be organized to meet the individual needs of the student, it will normally include:

Program of Study	Semester Hours
Conducting Private Instruction	12
Graduate Conducting Seminar MUS 643	8
Music History and Literature	6
Music Theory and Analysis	6
Advanced Orchestration MUS 581	3
Combined Lyric Diction I and II MUS 576A and 576B (at 2 credits each)	4
Music Electives (at least 2 credits should be in Piano - MUPI 720A - or other instrument by advisement)	5
The Assistant Conductor MUS 504	2
Required Recitals (see below under Graduation Requirements) MUS 902A-902B	0
Required Recital (see below under Graduation Requirements) MUS 917	4
Internship in Opera Conducting MUS 695	0
Score Reading at the Keyboard MUS 500 (at 2 cr. each)	4
Final Oral Comprehensive Examination MUS 998A w/classes; MUS 998B w/o classes (see below for details)	0
Field Experiences for Orchestral Conductors (see below for details)
Total	54

Field Experiences for D.M.A. Orchestral Conductors

Doctoral students will observe and assist with at least one Catholic University opera production and at least one Catholic University musical theatre production. The requirement could alternatively be fulfilled with outside organizations with the approval of the major professor. Satisfactory completion of the requirement is contingent upon approval of the major professor and a positive evaluation from the supervising/host conductor. The student will also spend a minimum of two semesters observing one or more approved outside ensembles. The orchestral conducting faculty will assist the student in finding a suitable placement with an outside organization. In the event that an appropriate outside ensemble cannot be found, the student may fulfill the requirement with Catholic University ensembles as approved by the major professor.

Satisfactory completion of the requirement is contingent upon approval of the major professor and a positive evaluation from the supervising/host conductor.

Graduation Requirements

Four recitals. The exact nature of two of them (each MUS 902A, 0 credit) is flexible and will be determined by the adviser, private teacher and the student. One recital (MUS 917, 4 credit hours) must be conducting an opera or musical theater production. The last recital must be a lecture-recital (MUS 902B, 0 credit).

All recitals must be videotaped [video recorded]. Two copies of each recital program and one videotape [video recording] of each recital must be submitted to the advisor within two weeks after each recital has been performed in public. After review by the advisory committee, recital programs will be deposited in the student's academic file.

The lecture-recital differs from the other degree recitals both in scope and format. It should last approximately one hour, with no intermission. The advisory candidate should assume that it will be delivered before a group of graduate music students at a university. The topic of the lecture-recital must be approved by the advisor at least six months prior to the presentation date. During the research and writing stages, each student will meet regularly with their advisor.

The lecture-recital should reflect a balance between speaking and performing. All musical examples need not be performed live; limited use of taped [recorded] examples is acceptable. In addition to the lecture-recital, each student must complete a scholarly research paper on the topic of the lecture-recital presentation. The paper must reflect a high standard of scholarship, both in research and writing, that is appropriate for the doctoral level. Two copies of the research paper must be submitted to the advisor. Approval of the paper is required before the lecture/recital requirement is satisfied.

Reading proficiency examination (noncredit). Each student must pass a reading proficiency examination in two languages, normally in German and Italian. With the advisor's approval, French may be substituted.

Final Comprehensive Oral Examinations (noncredit). Successful completion of the final comprehensive examination before a faculty committee constitutes the final requirement. During the examination, candidates will be tested on transposing instruments; failure to demonstrate appropriate competence in the last topic will require retaking that portion of the examination before being able to graduate.