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Choral Conducting

Choral Conducting is a multidisciplinary subject!

The Choral Conducting lessons centre around repertoire; from knowledge of styles to a personal interpretation. Artistically, you need to learn to be expressive and inspiring in words and gestures.
Knowledge of the human voice and insight into the rehearsal process are prerequisites for good conducting. These studies, the Master's degree in particular, include contact with the other conducting programmes, allowing you as a choral conductor to explore the sounds of purely instrumental music as well. The curriculum offers scope to develop your skills in small ensemble settings, with the help of a practice choir, in private lessons and during a conducting placement in a professional setting.

And of course you are always free to develop your own initiatives!

Meet our team

Meet your lecturers

Hans Leenders

Classical organ / Choral Conducting

Hans Leenders is artistic director of the professional chamber choir Studium

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Curriculum

Curriculum

Major Choral Conducting

More info

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Main Subject and Components related to the Main Subject

28

30

21

49

Main Subject Choir Conducting

14

14

9

23

Technique

14

16

8

22

Conducting Work Placement

4

4

Professional Development

10

10

17

2

Basic Digital Tools

2

Health and Well-Being

1

Piano for Conducting Students

3

3

3

Singing

2

2

2

Choir Classical (Specialist)

2

2

2

2

Advanced Digital Tools

2

3

Studio Recording Preparation

1

Your Art as a Business Basic Course

2

Your Art as a Business Electives

1

Additional Aural Analysis

4

Music Theory

22

20

14

2

Skills Lab

8

8

Creative Lab

8

8

Capstone

4

History of Music

4

2

Choir Classical (General)

2

2

2

2

Elective Theory Modules

8

Minor

8

7

Free Space

8

7

Before you apply

Admission
requirements

First round 

The audition consists of two rounds. For the first round, the candidate needs to record 3 videos that contain:  

  • Video 1: A short introduction of him/herself in English: talk about your musical experiences, your motivation to study music, your main subject and why you choose to audition at Conservatorium Maastricht.  

  • Video 2: A recording of 30 minutes of a rehearsal in which the candidate works on 3- or 4-part repertoire, preferably several pieces of different styles. It is also permitted to add conducted Gregorian chant to the programme. The conductor should be clearly visible from the front.   

  • Video 3: A recording in which the candidate performs two songs solo, with or without accompaniment, and two pieces for keyboard instrument.     

Additional video’s (not required): The candidate may provide concert video registrations.  

The videos should be uploaded to an online platform such as YouTube.com or Vimeo.com. It is the candidate’s responsibility to make sure that the video links work.  

Second round 

In the second round, the candidate is invited for an online theory test which determines whether the candidate is admissible. More information about the theory test may be found here.  

Furthermore, the audition committee may decide to invite the candidate for an online or in-person live audition after reviewing the video material. The committee may decide to invite you to come to Maastricht for a live audition. During this audition you demonstrate your conducting skills, singing skills, and piano skills.     

Additionally, the theory department may re-invite the candidate for a level test to determine whether the candidate can start the theory program on a higher level.  

Please feel free to contact Hans Leenders at hans.leenders@zuyd.nl