NCCO10 Conductor Fellowship Program

Applications have now closed.

The National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO) invites applications for the 2023 Conductor Fellowship Program at the 10th Biennial National Conference, November 9-11, 2023, hosted by Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.

Objectives

To encourage and support graduate students who are on the cusp of a career in conducting choral music
To provide an opportunity to strengthen conducting technique, score preparation skills, and rehearsal methods through participation in a conducting masterclass with NCCO Featured Artist Dr. Anton Armstrong of St. Olaf College
To provide networking opportunities with fellow collegiate choral conductors with the intent to develop mentor/mentee relationships that continue beyond the conference
To encourage graduate student activity at the NCCO National Conference

Applicant Criteria

Applicant must hold an active NCCO student membership at the time of application. Two-year student memberships are $50. Click here to join.
Applicant must be actively pursuing an artist diploma, master's, or doctoral degree in choral conducting or a related area (e.g., other fields of conducting, music education, choral literature and pedagogy)
Applicant must submit a complete application; incomplete applications will not be considered
All accepted fellows are expected to attend the NCCO10 Conference at Morehouse College, November 9-11, 2023, and attend all Fellowship-related events.

This Year

To ensure greater access for student conductor fellowship applicants, we have eliminated the $25 application fee for all applicants.
Everyone who applies for the Fellowship program will receive a 30-minute mentoring session with an NCCO faculty member at the conference. This change will allow for meaningful engagement for all applicants -- not just those accepted into the program -- to further our goal of "encouraging and supporting graduate students who are on the cusp of a career in conducting choral music."

Summary

Below is a summary of activities the Conducting Fellows will participate in during and after the NCCO National Conference:

Participation in the Conducting Masterclass
$500 stipend
conference registration fee waived

Applications Have Closed

Deadline: August 6th, 2023, 11:59pm HST

APPLICATION MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS

Applications are due on August 6th, 2023, 11:59pm Hawai'i Standard Time

Completed online application. Click on the button above.
C.V./resume highlighting the applicant's academic & teaching experience, and their work with both collegiate-level and other choral ensembles
Video selections, approximately 12-15 minutes, of the applicant conducting in recent rehearsal(s) and/or performance(s)
- Video footage should demonstrate the applicant’s strongest work in leading choral ensembles
- Videos must be submitted as either public or unlisted YouTube/Vimeo links (not private videos)
- If an applicant wishes to submit an excerpt from a longer piece of video footage, they must provide a link to the exact portion of the video they wish for the adjudicators to review
- Footage should ideally provide clear images of the front of the conductor; verbal instructions given by conductor must be clearly audible
- Adjudicators reviewing applications will be considering the following when evaluating the videos (equally weighted):
  - Effective and nuanced conducting gesture
  - Effective and confident rehearsal technique
  - Clarity of verbal communication
  - Musicianship and musicality, as evidenced by their interpretation of the music on the recording
One letter of recommendation from a current or recent faculty member or professional in the choral field who can speak to any or all of the following about the applicant:
- Conducting skills and comfort in working with collegiate-level students
- Potential for success in teaching and conducting
- Progress in their academic degree
- Leadership style
- Collegiality

The candidate’s letter of recommendation must be emailed as a PDF by the reference/letter-writer (not the applicant) to Dr. Jace Kaholokula Saplan, Arizona State University ([email protected])

Letters must be received by August 6th, 2023, 11:59 PM Hawai’i Standard Time or the application to be considered complete. Results will be emailed on or before August 13th, 2023.