Entrance examinations for ensemble conducting

The entrance examination consists of a three-part test in the principal study:

1. principal study

a) At the entrance examination in ensemble counducting, a seconda vista rehearsal assignment is performed with the assigned ensemble, e.g. string quartet, wind quintet or brass quintet. The assignment is e-mailed to the applicant 7 days before the entrance examination takes place.

b) At the entrance examination in choir conducting, the applicant works with two choir pieces. One of the pieces is known by the choir. The applicant must conduct this piece all the way through once without stopping, correcting or commenting. The other piece is a rehearsal assignment, where the choir has some knowledge of the piece. The applicant must conduct a rehearsal with the choir at a more advanced rehearsal stage than learning the sheet music. The applicant chooses the order of the two pieces at the entrance examination. The assignments are e-mailed to the applicant four weeks before the entrance examination takes place.

At the entrance examination in choir conducting, the applicant must sing a song of his/her own choice without accompaniment (max. 3 minutes), which must demonstrate the applicant’s ability to use his/her voice as during choral instruction.

Both tests are supplemented with a short interview which may be based on the entrance examination.

The duration of the entrance examination is 30 minutes (45 minutes including assessment).

The entrance examination is assessed by two internal censors and a grade is awarded according to the 7-point grading scale.

2. PIANO

The test consists of two parts:

• a classic piece of your choice is performed (maximum 10 minutes)
• prima vista (difficulty such as Sarastro's aria "In diesen heil'gen Halle" from Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute")

The duration of the entrance examination is 30 minutes including assessment.

The entrance examination in piano is assessed passed / failed.

The entrance examination is assessed by the principal study teacher and an internal subject censor.

3. Aural training

Rhythm

A rhythm task that can contain polyrhythmic as well as odd and alternating time signatures. The rhythm task is unanimous and is performed with an accompanying tempo.

Melody

A melodic task, which can be a romantic song with accompaniment or an unaccompanied free tonal/atonal voice from a choir piece. The melody is sung, preferably with lyrics. If it is an accompanied song, the accompaniment is played by the subject censor.

Chord hearing

Functional harmonic analysis of a presented homophone movement.

Score play

• For ensemble conductors: Performance on piano of a melody noted in alto or tenor key
• For ensemble conductors: Performance on piano of a melody noted in B or A tuning
• For choir conductors: Performance on piano of the single choral movement
   

30 minutes of preparation are given. The duration of the entrance examination is 15 minutes including assessment.

The entrance examination in piano is assessed passed / failed.

The entrance examination is assessed by the principal study teacher and an internal subject censor.

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

The applicants must also document training in elementary conducting technique at a level similar to that of a music academy. The course may be part of the curriculum in your previous education. As documentation of elementary conducting techniques, applicants are asked to attach a video recording of the applicant while working conducting an ensemble, an orchestra or a choir.

The entrance examination for the Master's programme is online. It consists of three rounds. Applicants must pass the first round to proceed to the second, and the second round to proceed to the third—these rounds are sequential and prohibitive.

1. Audition recording
2. Set task
3. Interview

All three parts of the entrance exam must be passed. 

1st round - Audition recording
A recording of the audition repertoire.  Requiremets for the repertoire and the recording are listed below.

2nd round - Set task
RDAM will provide applicants with a set task 7 days before the application deadline. 

The set task must be uploaded together with the rest of the application before the deadline. The aim of the set task is to assess how far an applicant can progress with a piece they likely have not encountered before. It is important to underline that there are no formal requirements to the quality of the recording of the proposed task. I.e. using a smartphone on the music stand is perfectly fine.

The set task will be available here 3 March 2025.

3rd round - Interview
The conversation will assess language skills and general communication and reflection abilities in English. The submitted letter of motivation and repertoire list will form the basis for the interview, but many different subjects may be addressed. 

Based on the above, RDAM will decide if the applicant is recommended for admission.

Repertoire requirements for the audition recording

Duration: 10-25 minutes

• A video recording of you conducting an ensemble of at least five musicians - preferably an orchestra. The recording must be of a previously prepared piece of a 5-10 minutes duration without interruptions - preferably from a concert. The conductor must be seen from the front.
• A video recording from a rehearsal with an ensemble of at least five musicians - preferably an orchestra. The recording must be of you working with and instructing the ensemble. The recording must be of duration of at least 5 minutes. If at all possible, the rehearsal should be held in English. If it is not possible, your online interview (part of the language requirements) will be a longer interview, where you will have the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to participate actively in a conversation on a level sufficient to instruct an ensemble. 

Requirements for the audition recording

• The audition recording must be unedited except between performances (i.e. between pieces), and the audition must be recorded within six months of submitting your application.
• Check that the recording submitted is accessible and that all recordings have been submitted successfully.
• Accepted formats: mp4, mp3, webm and mpeg.
• The maximum size of a file that can be submitted in the online application is 1GB. Therefore, it might be necessary to divide your audition recording into individual pieces (please remember not to edit within a piece of music).  

For extra guidelines on video recording, please watch our video. If YouTube is not available in your country, the video can also be accessed here.

Supporting information to be prepared when applying

Repertoire list: Applicants must submit a repertoire list with works/pieces/studies they have previously worked on in their application. 

Ensemble and/or orchestra playing: Applicants should describe their experiences in playing in orchestra/choir or smaller ensembles i.e. which kind of orchestra/ensemble, duration, repertoire.

Piano skills: As part of their application, the applicant must describe their experience with piano playing. Piano playing as a supporting subject in all programs and is an important part of the studies at RDAM. If the applicant has no prior experience in piano playing before starting their studies, RDAM will try to adjust the classes accordingly.