Conducting

Prescreening Requirement: All applicants must upload a preliminary conducting video recording by the application deadline. The conductor should be in full frontal or partial profile view; at least part of the ensemble should also be in view. Repertoire should be appropriate to the musical and technical level of the ensemble.

Video of rehearsal must be conducted in English. Please note that any safety precautions needed to protect the health of participants will not negatively impact the evaluation of the video.

• For Choral Conducting applicants, videos should include 15 minutes of rehearsal of two contrasting works; performance video is optional for choral conductors.
• For Orchestral Conducting, and Wind Conducting applicants, the video recording must show the applicant conducting at least two compositions in a performance and at least two compositions in a rehearsal.
• For Contemporary Ensembles Conducting applicants, the video recording must show the applicant conducting at least two compositions in a performance and at least two compositions in a rehearsal or reading. If possible, the pre-screening repertoire should include at least one work from the early 20th-century repertoire (Stravinsky, Copland, Schoenberg, etc.) and also a work from later in the century.

All conducting applicants are required to include, among the three letters of recommendation, at least one from a musician who is well acquainted with their work as a conductor.

On-Campus Audition Repertoire:

Prior to the audition date, conducting applicants who are selected for auditions will be informed of the required work(s) to be prepared for the audition.

On the audition day:

• Applicants rehearse and conduct the prepared score(s) with an Eastman ensemble. Auditions are scheduled for 15 to 20 minutes.
• A three-part written exam is given on the audition day. The exam covers music history, theory (analysis), and score recognition.
• An interview with members of the conducting and ensembles department faculty will be scheduled, either individually or in groups.
• There is no separate instrumental or vocal audition required.