Overview

The Orchestral Conducting program at New England Conservatory of Music curriculum addresses the vital skills required of a successful, resourceful conductor, including exploration of gesture, rehearsal style and strategies, working knowledge of multiple languages, aural and theoretical musical skills, and knowledge of orchestral literature.

Key facts

A crucial feature of orchestral conducting studio is its small size. The Head of the Orchestral Conducting Department limit the number of students to a maximum of three in any year, with up to two new, incoming musicians selected following a competitive audition process. This ensures that every student gets substantial podium time and the personal attention they deserve.

Each student can look forward to a one-hour private lesson, a two-hour seminar on advanced conducting topics, and between 35 and 60 minutes of podium time with the Lab Orchestra, a student orchestra of about 40 musicians, every week. Students share the podium for one concert each semester with this orchestra and can benefit from myriad other opportunities at the conservatory. This rigor and depth set NEC apart from other schools.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Studio Conducting

Advanced Conducting - Orchestral

Score Reading

German
Music Theory

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-02 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-01 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

110

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

44 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Boston, United States

Disciplines

Music Performance View 328 other Masters in Music Performance in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

110

Take A Free Practice Test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

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AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Admission to the Masters of Music program at NEC requires a completed bachelor’s degree, or its recognized equivalent, from an accredited college or university. The Masters of Music curriculum focuses on studio and ensemble work, supplemented by academic course requirements in musicology and music theory, as well as coursework that is complementary to your chosen major. Additional study is provided through frequent masterclasses, guest artists, and repertoire classes.

Auditions are a core aspect of Conservatory admission.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

61561 USD / year

≈ 61561 USD / year
Out-of-State

61561 USD / year

≈ 61561 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

61561 USD / year

≈ 61561 USD / year

Living costs

Boston

United States

1560 - 3239 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Orchestral Conducting.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Key facts

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Boston

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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