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College of Creative Arts and Media School of Music

Conducting, DMA

The primary objective of the Doctor of Musical Arts degree is the recognition of the highest achievement in music performance and teaching, preparing artist-pedagogues for careers in higher education and in the professional world.
The curriculum prepares you for careers in higher education and in the professional world. You will study repertoire and technique specific to ensembles in all 3 major performance areas: wind band, choir and orchestral. Demonstration of knowledge, skill, expressive fluency, and general conducting competency will be developed through public performance preparation with all 3 areas; however, most performing will be completed in your primary area of emphasis.

Your Degree Plan

Prepare for a career in higher education or the professional world by studying technique specific to ensembles in 3 major performance areas.
  • Advanced knowledge in major field of study (wind band, choral, or orchestra) and competencies in the other 2 areas
  • Advanced competencies in conducting, score study, and rehearsal techniques
  • Advanced knowledge of repertoire
  • Knowledge and skills in one or more fields of music outside the major such as history and literature, theory and analysis, musicology and ethnomusicology, performance, and pedagogy

Learn by Doing

Get involved outside the classroom.

Places and Spaces

See where you’ll study, research, and create.

View of Creative Arts Center from a distance on a spring day

Canady Creative Arts Center

The Loulie, Valerie, and William Canady Creative Arts center boasts 4 exhibition spaces, 5 performance spaces, 33 individual practice rooms, and 50 classrooms and studios with plenty of space to create. The loading dock at the rear of the building is a wonderful open-air space with stunning acoustics.
Explore the Canady Creative Arts Center

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Requirements

To be eligible for admission into a graduate program at WVU an applicant must submit official, bachelor's degree transcripts from a regionally accredited institution and hold a GPA of at least 2.75. WVU operates decentralized admissions. Decentralized admissions allows each graduate program to set its own application requirements in addition to the University requirements.

Admission Requirements

Additional admissions considerations

  • An on-campus audition with the WVU Wind Symphony, University Choir, or Symphony Orchestra is preferred, although video recorded auditions are allowed when great distance precludes a visit to campus. Contact Michael.Vercelli@mail.wvu.edu to be referred to the faculty member in your area of specialization to arrange the audition. Please also contact the School of Music for additional application requirements, which include letters of recommendation.

Applications that are incomplete or are submitted after the deadline may be reviewed if openings remain.

International applicants must also submit required documents for international applicants.

Application Deadlines

Each graduate program sets their own terms for admission and application deadlines. Applicants can only apply for admission for the terms displayed below. Any questions regarding the application deadline should be directed to the graduate program representative.

  • Fall: March 1
  • Spring: January 1

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