MASTER OF MUSIC IN CHORAL CONDUCTING

Master of Music in Choral Conducting - 36 Credit Hours

• Tuition: $800/credit hour
• Technology Fee: $7/credit hour
• Matriculation Fee: $125 one-time fee
• Recital Fee: $500/summer

Estimated Indirect Costs for all Graduate Programs 
 

• Books: $1,114
• Transportation: $1,690
• Personal/Miscellaneous: $5,530
• Room & Board Allowance: $8,140

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

• 2023 Summer: June 12 - July 30, 2023

• 2024 Summer: June 10 - July 28, 2024

• 2025 Summer: June 9 - July 27, 2025

Three Summer Class Cadence
Each summer’s immersive curriculum features academic courses such as choral literature, theory, performance practice, diction, advanced musicianship/score study, and vocal pedagogy. Ample podium time is provided during daily lab choir sessions. Seminars on current choral trends and topics, private lessons, and opportunities to work with guest master-clinicians round out your educational experience.

A typical day might include two academic courses in the morning, a seminar and lab choir in the afternoon, and, on a rotational basis, a rehearsal in the evening. As the Des Moines Choral Festival kicks off, the typical day starts to include more rehearsals and performances.

We take an integrated approach to learning. Much of the music that is thoroughly explored in the lab choir setting is also discussed in academic courses and appears on Des Moines Choral Festival concerts. Our goal is to vastly expand your skills on the podium, increase your knowledge of choral repertoire, and provide you with academic acumen that you can bring back to your choirs in your communities.

Preferred course of study:

Summer One - 12 credits

• 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 551: Vocal Pedagogy in the Choral Setting 2 credits
• MUS 541: Graduate Choral Ensemble 1 credit
• MUS 561: Concert Conducting 1 credit

Summer Two - 12 credits

• 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 541: Graduate Choral Ensemble 1 credit
• MUS 561: Concert Conducting 1 credit

Summer Three - 12 credits

• 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 and MUS 553: Choral Diction (1 &2) 2 credit
• MUS 541: Graduate Choral Ensemble 1 credit
• MUS 542: Advanced Musicianship Training 1 credit
• MUS 561: Concert Conducting 1 credit
• MUS 571: Master’s Oral Comprehensive Exam 1 credit

We are happy to hear of your interest in the Master of Music in Choral Conducting degree at Simpson College. To apply for the program, the following items must be submitted to the Department of Continuing and Graduate Studies.

We are now accepting applications for the Summer 2023 cohort. The Application Deadline for graduate stipend consideration is March 15, 2023. We look forward to reviewing you as a candidate!

Submit an online application and the following supplementary admissions items. Once your application is submitted you can check the status of your application anytime. 

Curriculum Vitae

Personal Statement: In your personal statement, please describe your educational and musical background, your teaching philosophy, goals and objectives, and future career plans. Please feel free to include any information that you feel would be helpful to the committee in making our admission decisions. Limit your statement to 600 words.

Pre-screening videos: Two video selections of approximately 6-10 minutes each. One video should be of a recent performance and one should be of a recent rehearsal. Videos should not be edited for content. It is preferred that the videos capture the front of the conductor (as viewed from the singer’s perspective); however, we understand that this is not always possible and strongly recommend that at least one (preferably the rehearsal video) shows this perspective of the applicant. IMPORTANT: We request that you upload your videos to YouTube as “unlisted” videos and provide a PDF with links to these two videos. More directions here if you need them. 

References: Provide Contact Information for three professional references.

Official Transcripts: An official transcript is required from each institution attended.

SEND YOUR TRANSCRIPTS TO:
Simpson College
Office of Admissions
701 North C Street
Indianola, IA 50125
admiss@simpson.edu

Submit an Application

View the MMCC handbook.

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.

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.

Faculty:
Dr. Kurt Knecht, Music Theory and Music History 
Dr. Tim McMillin, conducting 
Dr. Philip Moody, conducting 
Dr. Matthew Oltman, conducting
Dr. Amy Voorhees, conducting 

Guest Clinicians/Artists:
Dr. Bruce Chamberlain, DCA emeritus, University of Arizona
Michael Christie, Artistic Director, New West Symphony
Dr. Peter Eklund, DCA, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Vince Peterson, Artistic Director, Choral Chameleon & Empire City Men’s Chorus
Dr. Erin Plisco, Associate DCA, Missouri State University
Dr. Jennaya Robison, DCA, University of Missouri-Kansas City