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.
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.
Conducting & Ensembles Division Coordinator
Craig Kier
Director, Arts for All, College of Arts and Humanities
Associate Professor, Voice & Opera
Associate Professor, Conducting & Ensembles
Advisor, Maryland Opera Studio
1102B Francis Scott Key Hall
College Park
MD,
20742
Our Faculty
Andrea Brown
Associate Professor, Conducting & Ensembles
Associate Director, Bands
Director, Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band
Director, UMD Wind Ensemble
Division Coordinator, Conducting & Ensembles
2531B The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park
MD,
20742
Jason Max Ferdinand
Associate Professor, Voice & Opera
Associate Professor, Conducting & Ensembles
Director, Choral Activities
Director, UMD Chamber Singers
Director, UMD Concert Choir
2118 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park
MD,
20742
David Neely
Associate Professor, Conducting & Ensembles
Director, Orchestral Activities
Director, UMD Symphony Orchestra
2116 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park
MD,
20742
Craig Potter
Senior Lecturer, Conducting & Ensembles
Assistant Director of Bands, Bands
Director, University Band
Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band
2531 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park
MD,
20742
Michael Votta
Professor, Conducting & Ensembles
Director, Bands
Director, UMD Wind Orchestra
2531A The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park
MD,
20742
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 |