If you have completed the Bachelor of Vocal Studies or the Bachelor of Music Teaching or have previous experience as a conductor and would like to find out whether you are eligible to follow for the Master's programme, please contact Marjolein Niels, Head of Vocal Studies / Choral Conducting.

The aim of the Master’s programme is to help you to become an independent artist with ambition and a highly personal musical vision. The Master’s programme is a two-year course and is composed of three elements: Artistic Development, Professional Preparation and Research. To a large extent, you can design each of these components yourself. We therefore ask you to submit a study plan (known as a Masterplan) when you register. In that plan you must describe the content of the programme you intend to follow.

Choral conducting is a complex discipline that calls for both a broad spectrum of artistic development and excellent social skills, because a conductor has to be able to lead groups of both amateur and professional musicians. Singers expect you to have a vision of the score and the ability to convey that vision in a manner that is artistically and stylistically convincing and inspiring. They want to be inspired by you to achieve the highest musical and vocal standards.

The Artistic Development component of the Master's programme is dedicated to deepening all of these skills. You will practice your conducting skills with your own choir and/or the ensemble of the vocal department under the guidance and coaching of the main subject teachers Krista Audere and László Nemes.

The course in 'Professional Integration and Project Management' forms the core of the professional preparation component of the curriculum. During the course you will write your own project plan, for example for a series of concerts, a collaboration with a composer, a staged choral project or something entirely novel. It is entirely up to you. You will receive help in carrying out the project from a professional coach who is active in the relevant discipline.

Meanwhile, you will be conducting research on your chosen topic under the guidance of a supervisor. You will follow an introductory course on performing (artistic) research and attend meetings of a Master Circle, a peer-to-peer group consisting of fellow students and a circle leader. You will complete the Master's programme with a presentation of the results of your research.
Ideally, the components of the Master’s curriculum would be connected. For example, your project plan could be linked to the topic of your research, with both elements being used as the basis for your Master's exam.