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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

  1. To ensure greater access for student conductor fellowship applicants, we have eliminated the $25 application fee for all applicants.
  2. 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
Deadline: August 6th, 2023, 11:59pm HST

APPLICATION MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS

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

  1. Completed online application. Click on the button above.
  2. C.V./resume highlighting the applicant's academic & teaching experience, and their work with both collegiate-level and other choral ensembles
  3. 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
  4. 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.

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