A Christian College of the Liberal Arts & Sciences

Master of Music in Composition

Audition Requirements

Will be required to hold the BM degree in composition or its equivalent, or to demonstrate equivalent experience and knowledge in writing original music for both instrumental and vocal/choral genres.  A portfolio of compositions will be submitted as part of the application process.

Portfolio Deadline:  January 21

Two or three representative written scores of original compositions must be submitted prior to the audition/interview, with a strong preference (but not requirement) that they be accompanied by recordings of the pieces submitted (recordings only are not acceptable.)  At least one of the submitted scores should be written for voice(s) and at least one for instrument(s).  The candidate should also prepare two to three pieces from the repertoire of the major instrument or voice representing his or her current level of ability.  If the major instrument is not piano or organ, one or two selections demonstrating the candidate’s level of keyboard skill are also required. 

Goals

To encourage talented Christian composers to create, explore, understand, and serve as advocates for high-quality original music in a variety of genres and settings, inside and outside the broader Christian community.

Objectives

Each student will be encouraged:

  1. to explore a wide variety of compositional techniques and methods, with an eye toward further developing strong compositional craft
  2. to develop a personally unique compositional style or language
  3. to consider stylistic eclecticism as the dominant compositional ethos of the postmodern world.  At least some compositional assignments will deliberately demand the learning of new musical languages.
  4. to become involved in the activities of professional compositional societies
  5. to articulate a personal plan of action concerning establishment as a composer within Christian worship and fellowship communities, as well as to consider and articulate any unique contributions of music composed from a Christian worldview to wider musical and cultural communities.