Julia Varela
Assistant Director of Enrollment, Graduate & Professional Studies
Advance your career goals with Messiah University's graduate program in music.
We are committed to guiding you through the admissions process every step of the way.
Messiah University offers a Master of Music in Conducting with tracks in choral, orchestral or wind conducting, a Master of Music Education (MME), and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Music Education with a conducting cognate. We also offer a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) in choral, orchestral, or wind conducting. Courses are also offered for non-degree seeking students.
Before completing an application for any of Messiah University’s graduate and certificate programs, please read our admissions requirements to ensure that you are eligible for enrollment and to receive a helpful checklist of the supporting documentation that you will need to provide to complete your application.
There are prerequisite requirements in the graduate program in Music.
M.M. in Conducting and MME: applicants must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in music. Applicants with degrees outside of music with significant music experience may apply and be considered for a conditional acceptance. Contact the enrollment counselor for music for more information.
Ph.D. in Music Education: applicants must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in music.
CAGS in Conducting: applicants must hold a master’s degree; music degree preferred.
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Submitted Messiah University application
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Official transcript(s) indicating completion (or anticipated completion) of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in music. In order to be considered "official", transcript(s) must be requested and sent directly from institution(s) attended to gradprograms@messiah.edu.
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Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; cumulative GPAs < 3.0 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis
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Statement of Purpose: a 300-500 word statement describing how you have prepared for graduate work, your reasons for applying for this particular graduate program, and how this program will help you meet your professional and educational goals.
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A 15-20 minute recording of the applicant conducting a live performance/rehearsal of a self-prepared ensemble.
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Applicant needs to conduct with camera facing the conductor showing common meters.
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Applicant must submit video exhibiting two, contrasting styles
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Recorded example of applicant playing piano in the keys of G major, F major, Eb major, and their relative natural minors
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Scales: two octaves, hands together, ascending and descending
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Chord Progression: I – IV6/4 – I – V6/5 – I; i – iv6/4 – i – v6/5 – i
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Performed/rehearsed repertoire list
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Contact information for two references: please select references who can address your professional experience and/or academic performance (excluding relatives)
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Resume or CV (curriculum vitae)
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Submitted Messiah University application
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Official transcript(s) indicating completion (or anticipated completion) of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in music. In order to be considered "official", transcript(s) must be requested and sent directly from institution(s) attended to gradprograms@messiah.edu.
-
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; cumulative GPAs < 3.0 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis
-
Statement of Purpose: a 300-500 word statement describing how you have prepared for graduate work, your reasons for applying for this particular graduate program, and how this program will help you meet your professional and educational goals.
-
Contact information for two references: please select references who can address your professional experience and/or academic performance (excluding relatives)
-
Resume or CV (curriculum vitae)
-
Submitted Messiah University application
-
Official transcript(s) indicating completion (or anticipated completion) of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in music. In order to be considered "official", transcript(s) must be requested and sent directly from institution(s) attended to gradprograms@messiah.edu.
-
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; cumulative GPAs < 3.0 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
-
Statement of Purpose: a 300-500 word statement describing how you have prepared for graduate work, your reasons for applying for this particular graduate program, and how this program will help you meet your professional and educational goals.
- A scholarly writing sample, such as a research paper written at the undergraduate or graduate level.
- A 15-20 minute recording of the applicant conducting a live performance/rehearsal of a self-prepared ensemble.
-
Applicant needs to conduct with camera facing the conductor showing common meters.
-
Applicant must submit video exhibiting two, contrasting styles.
-
- Recorded example of applicant playing piano in the keys of G major, F major, Eb major, and their relative natural minors.
-
Scales: two octaves, hands together, ascending and descending
-
Chord Progression: I – IV6/4 – I – V6/5 – I; i – iv6/4 – i – v6/5 – i
-
- Performed/rehearsed repertoire list
-
Contact information for two references: please select references who can address your professional experience and/or academic performance (excluding relatives).
-
Resume or CV (curriculum vitae)
- Wind and Orchestral Tracks: Video recording of the applicant playing an excerpt or etude on their primary instruments.
- Choral Track: Video recording the applicant singing an art song or aria in a foreign language with accompaniment as required by the score.
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Submitted Messiah University application
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Official transcript(s) indicating completion (or anticipated completion) of a master’s degree (music degree preferred). In order to be considered "official", transcript(s) must be requested and sent directly from institution(s) attended to gradprograms@messiah.edu.
-
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; cumulative GPAs < 3.0 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis
-
Statement of Purpose: a 300-500 word statement describing how you have prepared for graduate work, your reasons for applying for this particular graduate program, and how this program will help you meet your professional and educational goals.
- A 15-20 minute recording of the applicant conducting a live performance/rehearsal of a self-prepared ensemble.
- Applicant needs to conduct with camera facing the conductor showing common meters.
- Applicant must submit video exhibiting two, contrasting styles
- Resume or CV (curriculum vitae)
M.M. in Conducting is completed primarily online. Because of this, the U.S. government does not allow Messiah University to offer an F-1 student visa for entry to the United States in order to study in this program.
While international students may complete this degree remotely from outside the U.S., they will need to attend four one-week summer intensive courses on the Messiah University campus. Messiah may be able to issue the required paperwork to obtain a visa for the intensive portion of the coursework only.
If applying as a remote student, in addition to the admissions requirements above, international students must submit:
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a course-by-course evaluation of all international transcripts
- English proficiency exam: only TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, Pearson PTE Academic or PTE Express are accepted
Further information about these requirements is available on the graduate international student page.
Master of Music Education (MME) is completely online. Because of this, the U.S. government does not allow Messiah University to offer an F-1 student visa for entry to the United States in order to study in this program.
However, international students may complete this degree remotely from outside of the United States. If you are applying as a remote student, in addition to the admissions requirements above, international students interested in the MME must submit:
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a course-by-course evaluation of all international transcripts
- English proficiency exam: only TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, Pearson PTE Academic or PTE Express are accepted
Further information about these requirements is available on the graduate international student page.
CAGS in Conducting is completed primarily online. Because of this, the U.S. government does not allow Messiah University to offer an F-1 student visa for entry to the United States in order to study in this program.
While international students may complete this degree remotely from outside the U.S., they will need to attend two to three one-week summer intensive courses on the Messiah University campus. Messiah may be able to issue the required paperwork to obtain a visa for the intensive portion of the coursework only.
If applying as a remote student, in addition to the admissions requirements above, international students must submit:
-
a course-by-course evaluation of all international transcripts
- English proficiency exam: only TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test, Pearson PTE Academic or PTE Express are accepted
Further information about these requirements is available on the graduate international student page.
Please contact the enrollment counselor for music to determine eligibility.