Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover

Regular course length 4 semesters

Course leading to the degree of Master of Music

Options Orchestral conducting, Choir and ensemble conducting, Opera repetiteur/repetiteuse

The field of European art music has in the course of its history produced, and is still producing today, a heritage of many great works that have become firmly and permanently embedded in our musical culture, and which we must be committed to preserving. There are thus many tasks to be performed in the field of managing and directing musical activity, for which well trained and highly qualified conductors are required. The HMTMH offers training for precisely such tasks.

1. Course content and objective
The content of the course is diverse, in line with the practical requirements of a later career, and the central study subjects assume not only existing skills, but also a high degree of talent and of potential for development.

In addition to the principal study subject, Orchestral conducting, there are important subsidiary subjects which, like the principal subject, are taught individually: Full score reading, Vocal score reading and Sight reading.
In addition, there are seminars and practical tuition in groups in the subjects Interpretation, Historically informed performance, New Music and Italian for opera.

2. Tuition
One enormous advantage of the tuition is that individual teaching is provided in those subjects that are key to the course and to later professional activity (see under Course content).
In addition, the HMTMH regularly institutes symphony orchestra and opera projects under the direction of its own internationally renowned faculty members. This interdisciplinary cooperation leads to outstanding musical results, providing students with important learning experiences from which students of conducting too can benefit through their own work with student ensembles.
The HMTMH maintains a small opera house of its own, something which few comparable institutions in Germany are able to do. This gives students of conducting an outstanding arena to work in, and a fine opportunity to train and qualify for a later career as an opera-house conductor.
The training is supplemented by regular master classes in conducting, supported by external orchestras such as the Orchestra of Hildesheim Civic Theatre, and by placements with the NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra Hannover and internships at the Lower Saxony State Opera (including “Hannover Young Opera“); all of these provide important elements of practical experience in preparation for a professional career.

3. Who is the course aimed at?
Fundamentally, the Master’s degree course in Conducting/Orchestral conducting is directed above all at young musicians who have an enthusiasm for opera, are strongly attracted by symphonic music and have the will to realise such music as conductors. An outstanding ear, good piano playing, experience with other (preferably orchestral) instruments, the desire to compose and arrange, to undertake analyses and concern themselves with musical ideas, but also the specific motoric gifts, behavioural skills and communicative talent / social intelligence characteristic of a conductor are further important requirements and aptitudes which students ought to be able to contribute to this course and to their subsequent profession.
The formal requirement is the possession of a relevant Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification.
In view of the outstanding artistic aptitude that is required, candidates must have obtained their first degree with a final grade of at least 2.8 overall, and of 1.5 in the principal subject Orchestral conducting.
In exceptional cases, candidates may be accepted who have acquired the particular knowledge and skills required for such a first degree outside a formal course of study. A first degree of some kind is however always required.

4. Career outlook
General music director, opera conductor, chorus director, solo repetiteur/ repetiteuse with conducting obligations at a German or international opera house; musical director of a symphony or chamber orchestra; freelance conductor with guest engagements in the various areas of the professional music scene where the functions of a musical director need to be performed.