1. All Programs
  2. Master of Music in Choral Conducting

Graduate

Master of Music in Choral Conducting

Gain advanced knowledge, training and performance experience on a delivery schedule ideal for working musicians

Master of Music in Choral Conducting

You’ll learn to describe and discuss a wide breadth of choral literature and have many opportunities to practice and produce advanced, expressive and communicative conducting. Each requirement is crafted to sharpen your expertise and experience so you thrive in both today’s classrooms as an artist-teacher and live performance spaces as a conductor.

View the Course Requirements

Please note: The current course requirements do not reflect proposed curriculum changes.

Why our Program?

NASM-Accredited

The premier accrediting body for educational programs in music and the establishment of curricular standards and guidelines.

Extensive podium time

Experience with high-level choral ensembles

Designed for the busy professional teacher

Summer sessions and online classes allow you to grow in ways that are immediately impactful to your profession.

Prepare to meet the demands facing musicians in the marketplace

As a candidate in the Master of Music in Choral Conducting program, you’ll gain in-depth knowledge and competence in the field of choral conducting. Study coursework that supports your area of specialization, such as music history or ensemble work, and engage in professional creative work during myriad choral performances and rehearsals. The program is designed with working professionals in mind, consisting of summer semesters at our Indianola Campus and online coursework during the academic year.

About our program

You can maintain full-time employment while completing the MMCC, making it one of our most cost-effective degrees.

Current secondary-school choir directors, elementary music educators with an interest in choral music, church music directors, community choir directors, children’s choir directors, performing singers and those interested in pursuing a terminal degree in choral conducting and college teaching will all find this degree appealing and uniquely well-suited to them in its quality of instruction and choral experience.

The degree is designed to prepare musicians for careers in choral conducting. The curriculum and experiences lead to highly qualified and experienced artist-teachers of choral music. You’ll enhance your work in the field as choral conductors and artist-teachers in positions similar to those from which you came to the program.

Our new hybrid program combines an intensive musical experience on Simpson’s main campus in Indianola, Iowa with online coursework during the academic year. The summer sessions for the next three years are planned as follows:

  • 2025: June 16-July 13
  • 2026: June 15- July 11
  • 2027: June 14-July 11

Graduate housing is available on campus for reduced rates.

Find your place in the professional music world

Musical performing arts is more than an industry or career—it’s a calling, a passion, a lifestyle. We value the creativity and drive every student brings to our campus, and we facilitate numerous professional opportunities in the greater Des Moines area, around the nation and across the globe. Our program brings the power of music to new audiences, and you’ll be encouraged to record any ensemble performances you conduct. You’ll graduate with an impressive reel of work experiences, advanced knowledge and a deep network that includes our committed faculty and your cohort. Most importantly, you’ll have the skills to bring the joy of music to others throughout your life’s work.

Meet our faculty

Jon Arnold

Jon Arnold

  • Director of Choral Studies
  • Director of Master of Music in Choral Conducting
  • Assistant Professor of Music

Timothy McMillin

  • Co-Director and Resident Faculty for Master of Music in Choral Conducting
All Faculty & Staff

Questions? Contact us.