STUDENT CONDUCTING MASTERCLASS
INFORMATION AND APPLICATION
The NW ACDA 2022 conference leadership committee is delighted to announce that a masterclass in conducting will be held during the 2022 Northwestern Region Conference in Spokane. The masterclass is offered to acknowledge and develop the conducting and rehearsal skills of outstanding undergraduate and graduate students and to promote student activity at the conference. We welcome and encourage applications from students in both small and large music programs. The masterclass will offer a wonderful learning opportunity for everyone involved.
The masterclass will be held on Thursday, March 11, 2022, at 10:00 am, and it will be led by renowned conducting-teacher, Dr. Edith Copley. This masterclass will include four undergraduate and/or graduate students who are enrolled full-time in a music degree program. Applicants are not required to be enrolled in a conducting class at the time of application. They are only required to be enrolled in a college/university music program.
The masterclass will allow for approximately 12-15 minutes of podium time during the session. Selected student conductors will prepare two pieces:
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“O nata lux” from Morten Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna
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A second pre-assigned piece of repertoire suitable for developing voices
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must:
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Hold a current ACDA student membership (available at www.acda.org) at the time of application and the masterclass,
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Be a full-time student at a college/university at the time of application,
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Submit a complete application at NW ACDA 2022 Conducting Masterclass Application by November 15, 2021. Applicants will be notified of acceptance by December 1, 2021.
Masterclass participants must register to attend the conference. Conference registration opens on Thursday, October 7, 2021.
AUDITION PREPARATION GUIDELINES
NW ACDA understands that not all students will have access to a choir meeting in person. Due to the COVID-19 social distancing restrictions presenting a variety of unique situations for choral programs, the committee will accept any of the following listed below. Preference will not be given to one type of video over another. Applicants will prepare and upload to YouTube a video recording (unlisted) of an audition that meets the following criteria.
If the video was created before COVID-19, please choose a video that shows contrasting styles, if possible. If the video is being created for the masterclass application, students will conduct and rehearse two compositions for chorus in contrasting style and tempi. Selections may be unaccompanied or accompanied. Excerpts of longer works may be selected. In support of the work of the ACDA Diversity Initiatives Committee, students are encouraged to select one work by a BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or a woman, non-binary, and/or transgender composer.
Conducting applicants choose one of the following options: A, B, C, or D.
Option A:
A previously recorded video of rehearsal and performance, which shows a clear view facing the conductor.
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If the only video available does not include rehearsal, this will be accepted.
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If using a video created before the COVID-19 pandemic, when possible, please include a balance of rehearsal and performance.
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Two separate videos will be permitted, please only edit the start and stop from one piece to the other, and submit them as one total video.
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The video’s total length is between 8 and 12 minutes, with the time equally divided between both selections if there are two.
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Please identify the title and composer of the piece on the video.
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Please do not identify yourself or the institution, nor include your name in the video title or YouTube channel to which it has been uploaded.
Option B:
A video with the student conducting a pianist in a live setting.
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Video recording of conductor rehearsing two selections of contrasting style, or one longer selection.
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A frontal view of the conductor is visible from head to toe in the video.
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All verbal instructions to the choir can be clearly understood. The sound of the choir is neither too loud nor too soft to be heard.
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Conductor has clearly announced each selection before rehearsing it, or included the titles in the video.
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The video’s total length is between 8 and 12 minutes, with the time equally divided between both selections if there are two.
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Please do not identify yourself or the institution, nor include your name in the video title or YouTube channel to which it has been uploaded.
Option C:
A video of a student conducting a choir in a live, socially distanced setting following
CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and the student’s institutional guidelines for safety.
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Video recording of conductor rehearsing two selections of contrasting style, or one longer selection.
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A frontal view of the conductor is visible from head to toe in the video.
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All verbal instructions to the choir can be clearly understood. The sound of the choir is neither too loud nor too soft to be heard.
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Conductor has clearly announced each selection before rehearsing it, or included the titles in the video.
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The video’s total length is between 8 and 12 minutes, with the time equally divided between both selections if there are two.
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Please do not identify yourself or the institution, nor include your name in the video title or YouTube channel to which it has been uploaded.
Option D:
A video of a student conducting a choral recording.
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Video recording of applicant conducting two selections of contrasting style, or one longer selection.
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A frontal view of the conductor is visible from head to toe in the video
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Conductor has clearly announced each selection before conducting it, or included the titles in the video.
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The video’s total length is between 8 and 12 minutes, with the time equally divided between both selections if there are two.
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Please do not identify yourself or the institution, nor include your name in the video title or YouTube channel to which it has been uploaded.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
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Student Conductor Applicant has submitted the application form and has checked their YouTube video’s URL for accuracy.
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Student Conductor Applicant has set their YouTube video to “unlisted” (not “private” or “public”).
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Student Conductor Applicant has received endorsement from a faculty member who is an active ACDA member certifying that they have met the requirements for the written guidelines of the application. Faculty Endorsement Letter
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Student Conductor Applicant has submitted the application form and video URL by the deadline as printed in the guidelines. (November 15, 2021)
Questions may be directed to
Dr. Sandra Babb, Student Activities R&R Chair,