Wind Conducting Program
The University of Missouri-Kansas City offers both the Masters degree and Doctor of Musical Arts degree in instrumental conducting. The studio is designed to be highly selective and small to ensure adequate podium time and individualized instruction as needed. The process for admission to the conducting program is as follows and involves a "dual admission process" - one from the Conservatory and one from the Conducting faculty. In order to be considered for a live audition, an applicant must complete the following steps and meet the requirements for advanced study.
1. All incoming conducting students must have significant previous conducting experience as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Music.
2. Prepare and submit an application to the Conservatory of Music. These materials can be found online at www.umkc.edu/conservatory or by contacting Dr. James Elswick at 816-235-2932.
3. Submission of a high quality VHS tape of approximately 10 minutes of your conducting in performance or rehearsal. (This videotape should be of your front and not shot from behind.) It is permissible to include excerpts of different pieces or rehearsals to convey a wider range of styles but not required. Also on your tape, please include a small introduction of yourself and describe your goals in pursuing a conducting degree. This tape and a copy of your vita should be sent to Dr. Sarah McKoin by January 1 of the year you wish to pursue your degree.
4. Additionally, please submit a six-concert season of programming that best describes your repertoire knowledge and musical dynamics. This concert season should be for a college ensemble.
If you are subsequently chosen to come and do a live audition with the Wind Symphony on campus, you will be contacted by April 1. During your live audition at UMKC, you will be asked to conduct and rehearse the Wind Symphony for about 15-20 minutes. You should be prepared to conduct selected movements of Lincolnshire Posy by Percy Grainger as the standardized portion of your audition. Further audition literature will be discussed with you before you arrive. Following your audition, you will have an interview with some other faculty members and then have a private conducting lesson with me on a selection of your choice. If you have any questions about anything along the way, please feel free to contact Dr. McKoin at either, mckoins@umkc.edu or 816-235-2952.
Graduate Choral Conducting Program
The Conservatory's graduate choral conducting program offers a unique and individualized curriculum based upon 1) practical conducting experiences with Conservatory ensembles, 2) academic preparation including application of the movement theories of Laban and Dalcroze to conducting gesture, and 3) private conducting lessons focusing and coordinating all aspects of study.
Orchestral Conducting Program
The program is primarily designed for orchestral conductors but can be custom tailored to fit a variety of disciplines, including opera and/or ballet conducting. The studio is usually limited to three students guaranteeing reasonable podium time. Highly successful degree candidates are considered for the assistant conductor position with the Kansas City Ballet, for which Robert Olson has been conductor for 12 years. Robert Olson, director of orchestras, is particularly known for his expertise in Mahler and Stravinsky.
There are normally two graduate assistantships available in any given year; one as orchestra manager, the other as assistant in opera, which includes conducting a production of your own.
For further information, contact Robert Olson. E-mail olsonrh@umkc.edu or phone 816-235-5208.
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