Master of Music in Choral Conducting

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

Earn your master's and improve your musicianship in three summers of study and practice

Our Master of Music in Choral Conducting is offered in partnership with the CORO Choral Institute and inspires creative and intellectual growth of every student. 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—the coursework is spread across three summer semesters at our Indianola Campus.

Prepare to meet the demands facing musicians in the marketplace

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.

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COURSEWORK

Required classes

Choral Literature 12 credits total

MUS 501: Choral Literature 1
MUS 502: Choral Literature 2
MUS 503: Choral Literature 3

Seminar in Choral Conducting 6 credits total

MUS 511: Seminar in Choral Conducting 1
MUS 512: Seminar in Choral Conducting 2
MUS 513: Seminar in Choral Conducting 3

Music Theory 4 credits total

MUS 531: Analysis of Musical Scores

Music History 2 credits total

MUS 521: Topics in Music History and Literature

Choral Topics 4 credits total

MUS 551: Vocal Pedagogy in the Choral Setting (2 Credits)
MUS 552: Choral Diction 1 (1 Credit)
MUS 553: Choral Diction 2 (1 Credit)

Musicianship 1 credit total

MUS 542: Advanced Musicianship Training

Graduate Choral Ensemble 3 credits total

MUS 541: Graduate Choral Ensemble (repeated each summer)

Concert Conducting 3 credits total

MUS 561: Concert Conducting – Choral (repeated each summer)

Oral Comprehensive Exam 1 credit total

MUS 571: Master’s Oral Comprehensive Exam – Choral

CONDUCTING

Recital requirements

Each summer, opportunities to conduct in performance will be assigned to each student by the conducting faculty. The conducting committee evaluates these performances. At the end of the program of study, the combined conducted pieces must have contained the following elements.

A combined performance time of approximately 60 minutes.
One selection must be performed in English (as the original language)
One selection must be performed in Latin
One selection must be performed in German, French, or Italian
One selection must be performed in an additional language
One selection must be unaccompanied
One selection must be with keyboard accompaniment
One selection must be with instrumentalists
One selection must be from a multi-movement work (although the full work is not required, knowledge of the entire work and how the particular movement(s) relate to the entire work is required)

Conducting Podium Time is assigned through public concerts during the Des Moines Choral Festival. All recital requirements are fulfilled during the student’s three summer residencies.

EXAMINATION

Oral comprehensive exam

Each student is required to pass a 45- to 90-minute oral comprehensive exam that will be administered during their third and final summer in the program. During the exam, the student must demonstrate knowledge by answering questions about choral literature and concert programming, music theory and history, choral rehearsal techniques, choral pedagogy and diction and choral resources at a master’s level.

Meet the Faculty

Summer 2019 Faculty

Resident Conducting Faculty:
Dr. Tim McMillin
Dr. Matthew Oltman
Dr. Philip Moody

Visiting Conducting Faculty:
Dr. Amy Voorhees, Susquehanna University
Dr. Jennaya Robison, Luther College
Erin Plisco, Missouri State University

Orchestral Conducting Masterclass Teachers:
Dr. Peter Eklund, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Michael Christie, Music Director of New West Symphony

Additional Academic Course Faculty:
Dr. Kurt Knecht, Music Theory and Music History
Dr. Nicholas Miguel, Vocal Pedagogy and Choral Diction

Program Details
Three-Summer Schedule/ Program Dates
Tuition and Fees

Who is this program for?

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.

What can I do with this degree?

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.

When and where are classes held?

All coursework takes place at Simpson’s main campus in Indianola, Iowa, and features a schedule of delivery in the summer-only months. Graduate housing in campus’ Washington Apartments is available for less than $20 per day.

Program Schedule/Dates
The Master of Music in Choral Conducting program occurs over the course of three summers. Dates for the upcoming summers will be

2020 Summer: June 15 - August 2, 2020
2021 Summer: June 14 - August 1, 2021
2022 Summer: June 13 - July 31, 2022

Three Summer Class Cadence
Each summer’s symbiotic curriculum blends choral literature study, individual conducting lessons, score study and rehearsal techniques and strategies. Additional music courses for the degree include music theory and history, choral pedagogy, choral diction and more.

A typical day combines a lecture or presentation-style choral literature class with group conducting sessions and choral rehearsals to practice conducting gesture, score analysis and rehearsal techniques and pacing.

For example, the cantatas of Bach are discussed in the morning choral literature class, focusing on the composer's life and the form of his cantatas in relation to other composers. In the afternoon, a seminar in choral conducting provides time to discuss rehearsal strategies of Baroque music and integrating instrumental forces. Next, the Institute Choir rehearses excerpts of a cantata under the baton of the graduate students; professors observe and critique technique during individual podium time. These rehearsals culminate in a performance presented to the general public as part of the Friday Cafe Series and the Choral Festival Discovery Concerts.

Preferred course of study:

Summer One

MUS 501/2/3: Choral Literature (1, 2, or 3) 4 credits
MUS 511/2/3: Seminar in Choral Conducting (1, 2, or 3) 2 credits
MUS 531: Music Theory 4 credits
MUS 551: Vocal Pedagogy in the Choral Setting 2 credits
MUS 541: Graduate Choral Ensemble 1 credit
MUS 561: Concert Conducting 1 credit

Summer Two

MUS 501/2/3: Choral Literature (1, 2, or 3) 4 credits
MUS 511/2/3: Seminar in Choral Conducting (1, 2, or 3) 2 credits
MUS 521: Topics in Music History and Literature 2 credits
MUS 552/553: Choral Diction (1 or 2) 1 credit
MUS 542: Advanced Musicianship Training 1 credit
MUS 541: Graduate Choral Ensemble 1 credit
MUS 561: Concert Conducting 1 credit

Summer Three

MUS 501/2/3: Choral Literature (1, 2, or 3) 4 credits
MUS 511/2/3: Seminar in Choral Conducting (1, 2, or 3) 2 credits
MUS 552/553: Choral Diction (1 or 2) 1 credit
MUS 541: Graduate Choral Ensemble 1 credit
MUS 561: Concert Conducting 1 credit
MUS 571: Master’s Oral Comprehensive Exam 1 credit

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

Program Information

NASM-Accredited

Degree completed in an 8-week summer term during each of three consecutive summers

Live on campus

Keep your full-time job

36 credit hours to completion

Value Added

Work with internationally-acclaimed musicians

Extensive podium time

Experience with high-level choral ensembles

Interact with Des Moines Metro Opera

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.

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