Program Overview

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Master of Music in Conducting (Emphasis Choral Conducting) (MMUS)

Overview

The UBC School of Music offers excellent training for graduate assistant conductors with ample podium time in front of outstanding ensembles. Degrees are offered with emphases in Choral, Orchestral, or Wind conducting.

What makes the program unique?

The M.Mus. with emphasis in choral conducting is a selective program designed to give the aspiring professional and/or academic choral conductor exceptional training and experience at the graduate level. The program features four core components: extensive podium time with the UBC choral ensembles, an intensive two-year seminar in choral history and literature, high-level performance opportunities of both a cappella choral works and choral/orchestral masterworks, and individual instruction and guidance from the director of choral activities.

Program Structure

The program features four core components: extensive podium time with the UBC choral ensembles, an intensive two-year seminar in choral history and literature, high-level performance opportunities of both a cappella choral works and choral/orchestral masterworks, and individual instruction and guidance from the director of choral activities. Students get extensive experience as teaching assistants and conductors of the five active choirs at the School of Music.

Quick Facts

• Faculty: Faculty of Arts
• Academic Unit: School of Music
• Specialization: Choral Conducting
• Mode of delivery: In person at UBC Vancouver
• Program Components: Coursework + Thesis required
• Tuition (First Year):
  • Domestic: $5,626.02
  • International: $9,883.98

Admission Information & Requirements

Check Eligibility

Minimum Academic Requirements

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

• TOEFL:
  • Overall score requirement: 90
  • Reading: 22
  • Writing: 21
  • Speaking: 21
  • Listening: 22
• IELTS:
  • Overall score requirement: 6.5
  • Reading: 6.0
  • Writing: 6.0
  • Speaking: 6.0
  • Listening: 6.0

Prior degree, course and other requirements

Prior Degree Requirements

Most successful applicants to the choral conducting program will hold a Bachelor of Music degree. Applicants with significant professional musical experience but with a Bachelor's degree other than a BMUS will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Course Requirements

• BMus degree or equivalent
• Vocal and/or instrumental training sufficient for ensemble leadership in area of emphasis
• Piano proficiency
• Strong foundation in music history and theory

Document Requirements

A pre-screen video submission is required. The pre-screen video contains examples of the applicant’s performance and rehearsal as a conductor.

Meet Deadlines

• Canadian Applicant Deadline: 1 December 2025
• International Applicant Deadline: 1 December 2025

Prepare Application

Transcripts

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study.

Letters of reference

Applicants have to submit 3 references to apply to this graduate program.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest, sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor.

Research Information

Research Highlights

Highlights of research activities are centered firstly on podium time and conducting. Typically, graduate conducting students are on the podium each day of the week leading ensemble rehearsals and developing gestural technique.

Research Focus

The research activities in the graduate choral conducting program include the following foci: the relationship between gesture and sound, advanced rehearsal techniques, choral management, diagnosis of the choral score as it pertains to musical interpretation, and the study of both traditional and non-traditional choral repertoire.

Facilities

There are five performing spaces at the University of British Columbia. UBC’s choral ensembles rehearse in the Boy Barnett Recital Hall and other spaces in the School of Music.

Tuition & Financial Support

Tuition

• Application Fee:
  • Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat: $118.50
  • International: $168.25
• Tuition:
  • Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat: $5,626.02 per year
  • International: $9,883.98 per year

Financial Support

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based and need-based opportunities.

Career Options

The M.Mus. in choral conducting prepares the student for a range of career options and opportunities. Typically, graduates of the program continue on to do one of the following:

• return to an existing conducting/teaching position, with new and enriched skills
• take on a new, more engaging and prestigious conducting/teaching position
• enter a doctoral program in conducting at a major North American university

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

ENROLMENT DATA

• Applications:
  • 2023: 2
  • 2022: 9
  • 2021: 6
  • 2020: 3
  • 2019: 5
• Offers:
  • 2023: 2
  • 2022: 3
  • 2021: 3
  • 2020: 0
  • 2019: 3
• New Enrolment:
  • 2023: 2
  • 2022: 3
  • 2021: 2
  • 2020: 0
  • 2019: 3
• Total Enrolment:
  • 2023: 5
  • 2022: 6
  • 2021: 7
  • 2020: 3
  • 2019: 5

Completion Rates & Times

This program has a graduation rate of 89% based on 9 students admitted between 2015 - 2018. Based on 8 graduations between 2020 - 2023 the minimum time to completion is 1.02 years and the maximum time is 2.73 years with an average of 1.79 years of study.

Research Supervisors

The supervisor for the M.Mus. with emphasis in choral conducting is Dr. Graeme Langager. Dr. Langager is UBC’s director of choral activities.

Related Programs

• Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition (DMA)
• Doctor of Musical Arts in Orchestral Instrument (DMA)
• Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano (DMA)
• Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice (DMA)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Music, Emphasis Ethnomusicology (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Music, Emphasis Musicology (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Music, Emphasis Theory (PhD)
• Master of Arts in Music, Emphasis Ethnomusicology (MA)
• Master of Arts in Music, Emphasis Musicology (MA)
• Master of Arts in Music, Emphasis Theory (MA)
• Master of Music in Composition (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Conducting (Emphasis Orchestral Conducting) (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Conducting (Emphasis Wind Conducting) (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Guitar (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Harpsichord (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Historical Performance Practice (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Opera (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Orchestral Instrument (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Organ (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Piano (MMUS)
• Master of Music in Voice (MMUS)