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    CONDUCTING

    With an exceptional placement rate into professional, military and educational positions, our conducting program provides graduate students with multiple opportunities for first-hand experience leading large ensembles. Our location in the greater Washington-Baltimore area provides considerable opportunities to lead amateur, professional and church ensembles. With generous podium time, our conducting students receive professional level training to prepare them for careers in conducting.

    Degrees Offered

    • Choral Conducting:
    • Instrumental Conducting With Orchestral or Wind Emphasis:
    • Wind Conducting:
    • Orchestral Conducting:

    The Program

    Students seeking the M.M. may specialize in choral or instrumental conducting, while students seeking the D.M.A. can focus on choral, orchestral or wind conducting.

    Conducting students receive professional level training in class and through individual mentorship in conducting, pedagogy, rehearsal skills, score analysis and preparation, career development and practical experience in symphonic, wind, choral and opera repertoire.

    Our students take advantage of generous, regular podium time with ensembles, including music major, non-music major and lab ensembles.

    Choral conducting majors take part in annual collaborations with and preparation opportunities for the National Symphony Orchestra and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra as well as national and international performance tours.

    All conducting majors collaborate regularly with other conducting areas – orchestral, wind and choral – and may have the possibility to assist operas.

    Our Faculty

    Andrea Brown

    Associate Director, Bands
    Conducting & Ensembles
    Director, Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band
    Director, UMD Wind Ensemble

    2531B The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
    College Park MD, 20742

    (301) 405-5542

    Craig Kier

    Associate Professor & Director, Maryland Opera Studio
    Division Coordinator, Conducting & Ensembles

    2122 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
    College Park MD, 20742

    (301) 405-5545

    Edward Maclary

    2118 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
    College Park MD, 20742

    (301) 405-4561

    David Neely

    Director of Orchestral Activities, Conducting & Ensembles
    Director, UMD Symphony Orchestra

    2116 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
    College Park MD, 20742

    (301) 405-6716

    Craig Potter

    Assistant Director of Bands, Conducting & Ensembles
    Director, University Band

    The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
    College Park MD, 20742

    Michael Votta

    Professor, Conducting & Ensembles
    Director, Bands
    Director, UMD Wind Orchestra

    2531 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
    College Park MD, 20742

    (301) 405-5544

    Curriculum

    M.M. (Choral Conducting)

    Course Duration Credits
    Lessons & Projects 4 semesters 10
    Repertoire & Pedagogy 5 courses 11
    Aural Skills/Practicum 4 courses 4
    Research Methods 1 course 3
    Music Theory/History 2 courses 6

    M.M. (Instrumental Conducting With Orchestral or Wind Emphasis)

    Course Duration Credits
    Lessons & Projects 4 semesters 10
    Repertoire & Pedagogy 3 courses 6
    Aural Skills/Practicum 5 courses 5
    Research Methods 1 course 3
    Music Theory/History 2 courses 6
    Elective 1 course 2

    D.M.A. (Choral Conducting)

    Course Duration Credits
    Lessons & Projects 4 semesters 10
    Seminars 4 courses 8
    Pedagogy 1 course 3
    Aural Skills/Practicum 4 courses 4
    Research Methods 1 course 3
    Academic Electives 2 courses 6
    Dissertation Research 2 semesters 12

    D.M.A. (Wind Conducting)

    Course Duration Credits
    Lessons & Projects 4 semesters 10
    Seminars 7 courses 11
    Aural Skills 2 courses 4
    Research Methods 1 course 3
    Electives 2 courses 6
    Dissertation Research 2 semesters 12

    D.M.A. (Orchestral Conducting)

    Course Duration Credits
    Lessons & Projects 4 semesters 10
    Ensemble 1 semester 1
    Seminars 6 courses 10
    Aural Skills 2 courses 4
    Research Methods 1 course 3
    Electives 2 courses 6
    Dissertation Research 2 semesters 12