The UMKC Choral Conducting Symposium, hosted by UMKC Conservatory Choral Faculty members Dr. Charles Robinson and Dr. Jennifer Sengin will meet from Monday, June 30-Wednesday, July 2 on the campus of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Joining the UMKC Conservatory faculty will be our featured guest clinician, Dr. Sandra Snow, Professor of Choral Conducting, Director of Choral Programs, and Chair of the Conducting Area at Michigan State University.
The Symposium will provide conducting master classes as its primary focal point, as well as interactive lectures and workshops lead by UMKC Conservatory faculty and guest teachers. Representative topics include expressive-communicative conducting technique, rehearsal strategies, score study, diverse repertoire, performance practice, and choral programming.
Symposium conductors will sing with and conduct the semi-professional UMKC Summer Choral Chamber Ensemble each day. The Symposium environment is collaborative and encouraging, allowing participants to enhance skills in conducting, rehearsing and communicating with ensembles at all levels. At the end of each day, participants are invited to join the Symposium community in social gatherings at various establishments through the Kansas City area if they choose.
Digital BrochureUMKC Conservatory Professor of Choral Music and Music Education, Music Education Area Coordinator
UMKC Conservatory Director of Choral Studies, Assistant Professor in Choral Music, Raymond R. Neevel/Missouri Endowed Professorship in Choral Musi
Michigan State University Professor of Choral Conducting, Director of Choral Programs, and Chair of the Conducting Area
A detailed schedule will be emailed to participants in the weeks leading up to the symposium.
Tuition includes all classes, all scheduled events during the workshop. Please note that this fee does not include overnight housing or meals. Meals and on-campus housing are not available for this event.
We do not offer refunds for our summer programs. All fees and deposits are non-refundable.
James C. Olson Performing Arts Center (PAC) - 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, MO 64110. A staff member will be inside the lobby waiting to check participants in as they arrive.
Participants can park in the Cherry Street Parking Garage or the Student Success parking lot on the east side of the building, both can be accessed with the student parking pass. If participants do not want to purchase a pass, the 5th floor of the Cherry Street Parking Garage has metered parking, but on Saturdays and Sundays campus parking is free. The 5th floor of the garage also has a ramp that leads directly to the PAC.
Parking permitNote: If you register online, you will need an account with our online registration software. Creating an account is easy and just requires some contact information. Please contact us if you have any trouble creating or accessing your account.
Hard-copy forms are available upon request by emailing music-ce@umkc.edu.
If registration is being partially or fully funded by a student’s school or outside source, please contact us at music-ce@umkc.edu for special registration instructions.
Registration and payment must be received by June 13, 2025
Refund Policy: We do not offer refunds for our summer programs. All fees and deposits are non-refundable.
The UMKC Conservatory Composition Symposium is June 15 - 19, 2025.
A week-long intensive composition workshop for college- and graduate student-age composers. Composers selected for the workshop will write works for American Wild Ensemble. Each day will feature reading sessions and masterclasses on notation, composition, instrumentation, and other related topics, culminating in a final performance of students’ works, which will be recorded. Students will study with internationally renowned composers Chen Yi, Paul Rudy, and Yotam Haber.
Digital Brochure
UMKC Conservatory Associate Professor of Music Composition, Composition Area Coordinator
UMKC Conservatory Curators' Distinguished Professor of Music Composition
UMKC Conservatory Lorena Searcy Cravens/ Millsap/ Missouri Distinguished Professor of Composition
Our general schedule is available below. A detailed schedule will be emailed after registration closes.
Tuition includes all classes, all scheduled events during the workshop. Please note that this fee does not include overnight housing or meals. Meals and on-campus housing are not available for this event.
Symposium Application: FREE (suggested submission by Friday, May 2)
Participant Registration Fee: $600 (deadline Friday, May 31)
Auditor Registration Fee: $300 (deadline Friday, May 31)
We do not offer refunds for our summer programs. All fees and deposits are non-refundable.
James C. Olson Performing Arts Center (PAC) - 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, MO 64110. A staff member will be inside the lobby waiting to check participants in as they arrive.
Participants can park in the Cherry Street Parking Garage or the Student Success parking lot on the east side of the building, both can be accessed with the student parking pass. If participants do not want to purchase a pass, the 5th floor of the Cherry Street Parking Garage has metered parking, but on Saturdays and Sundays campus parking is free. The 5th floor of the garage also has a ramp that leads directly to the PAC.
Parking permitApplicants will submit a score sample, with or without audio, as a part of their application. (See below for score submission.)
Within 4 weeks of your application being submitted (and no later than the May 31 registration deadline), you will be sent an email notifying you of your acceptance status. If accepted, you will be sent additional registration instructions. Selected composers will be expected to write a short work (~5 min) for any combination of flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and percussion. Scores and parts will be due by June 1.
Students may apply for one of two tracks:
If accepted, participants will be emailed a link allowing them to register online. Hard-copy forms are available upon request by emailing
Registration and payment must be received by May 31, 2025
Refund Policy: We do not offer refunds for our summer programs. All fees and deposits are non-refundable.
