Bienen School of Music CHORAL ORGANIZATIONS

Andrew Megill, director of choral organizations, leads a graduate conducting seminar.

The Northwestern University Bienen School of Music offers a Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) and a Master of Music (MMus) in Choral Conducting. The graduate program in Choral Conducting offers a diverse and multifaceted approach to the study of musical leadership and conducting. Small class sizes and abundant podium opportunities offer daily conducting experiences as well as close interaction with music faculty in a repertoire-based program emphasizing gesture and designed to prepare students for professional conducting.

At the Bienen School of Music, graduate students serve as assistant conductors for each of the major choral ensembles, working on a regular basis with the talented students in Northwestern’s Voice and Opera program. The rigorous academic expectations of Northwestern are balanced by ample performing opportunities with Bienen choral ensembles as well as in the thriving choral community of Chicago. Graduate choral students are also afforded opportunities to serve as assistant conductors for opera productions, new-music performances, and choral-orchestral collaborations, and are often sought out by their colleagues to conduct in recitals and extra-curricular performances.

April 27, 2024 – soloists, choral faculty, and graduate students backstage after a choral/orchestral collaborative performance.

All current graduate conducting students maintain active performing schedules with ensembles throughout the Chicago area. The Choral Conducting program boasts many notable alumni who are now enjoying professional careers at prestigious organizations as the Chicago Symphony Chorus, Westminster Choir College, Boston Conservatory of Music, and Temple University.

If you are interested in more information or applying to the choral conducting program, please visit the Bienen School of Music Graduate Admissions page.