CCM offers graduate degrees in orchestral conducting at the masters and doctoral level (MM/DMA). Under the tutelage of Maestro Mark Gibson, director of orchestral studies, student conductors learn the craft in a high-profile program at one of the finest conservatories in the country.
At the heart of the orchestral conducting curriculum is the belief that student conductors must have an intimate knowledge of the orchestral and operatic repertoire and of the conductor’s relationship with the orchestra, the composer and the public. Score study is incorporated into conducting seminars and weekly piano masterclasses, such that the repertoire is understood both in its socio-historical context and from the standpoint of technical execution.
Student conductors are assigned to act as cover conductors for the concert repertoire of the CCM Orchestras, and they are often called upon to conduct the orchestras under Maestro Gibson’s supervision. Conducting assignments include concert appearances with both the Philharmonia and Concert Orchestras, the Café MoMus series, the Mainstage Opera series and the CCM Ballet.
Through strong ties with the CCM Opera program and CCM’s world famous Musical Theatre program, orchestral conducting students have the opportunity to serve as music director of their own studio opera productions, to conduct performances of Mainstage Operas and Musicals as well as a biennial fully-staged, full length ballet produced by CCM’s renowned Dance Division.
Student conductors also have an open invitation to attend rehearsals of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, at the request of music director Paavo Jarvi. Maestro Jarvi has a strong relationship with the CCM orchestral conducting program – he regularly visits CCM to conduct the CCM Orchestras, and in 2008 he began giving conducting masterclasses to the orchestral conducting students. Click here for a video documentary of Maestro Jarvi's masterclass in January of 2008. One student per year is selected to serve as Conducting Fellow at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. To have a world-class professional orchestra next door to the conservatory contributes to the fact that CCM has one of the most desirable conducting programs in the country.
For more information about graduate studies at CCM, including scholarship opportunities and information about graduate assistantships, please refer to the CCM Graduate Student Handbook: (www.ccm.uc.edu/students/gradhandbook.aspx).
For more information about the admissions process, as well as specific degree requirements for either the MM or DMA programs in orchestral conducting, please refer to the CCM Bulletin: (www.ccm.uc.edu/students/bulletin.aspx).
Current Graduate Students in Orchestral Conducting
Christopher Allen, MM
Jung-Hyun Cho, MM
Huan Jing, MM
Teren Shaffer, MM
Chaowen Ting, MM
Olivier Ochanine, DMA
Aik Khai Pung, DMA
Recent Students of the CCM Orchestral Conducting Program
Masters Studies
Greg Anthony
Nathaniel Beversluis, Assistant Professor of Conducting, Elon University
Nicholas Chong, Columbia University, Doctoral Fellow, Musicology
Tung Chieh Chuang, Peabody Conservatory of Music, Performer's Certificate Studies
Ryan Ho
Jungho Kim, Assistant Conductor, Sioux City Symphony
Yorgos Kouritas, Eastman School of Music, DMA Studies
Bryan Perri
Fritz Stewart
Jackson Warren, James E. Rogers Institute for Orchestral and Opera Conducting,
School of Music, University of Arizona, DMA Fellow
Johannes Müller-Stosch, Director of Orchestral Studies, Cal State Long Beach;
Music Director, Holland Symphony Orchestra
DMA Studies:
Brian Cole, Associate Dean, Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music
Petar Dundjerski, Assistant Conductor, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
Thomas Heuser, CCM Orchestras webmaster;
Conducting Assistant, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra;
Music Director, Xavier Symphony Orchestra;
Music Director, UC Symphony Orchestra, www.uc.edu/groups/orchestra
Christopher Hill, Director of Orchestras, University of New Hampshire;
Music Director, Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra
Lance Inouye, Sarasota Opera
Blake Richardson, Fulbright Scholar, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, Spain
Angela Santangelo, Conductor, Great Wall Festival;
Resident Conductor, Starling Showcase Orchestra
Bradley Thachuk, Associate Conductor, Ft. Wayne Philharmonic
Xian Zhang, Music Director, Orchestra di Milano, "Giuseppe Verdi"