Choir Conducting

• Bachelor of Music with 240 credits or equivalent in the same subject as the Masters programme
• Advanced musical ability in the programme subject which must be demonstrated in the audition exam

For the pre-selection the platform muvac is used. 

On muvac you can upload video and audio recordings in the course of your application at the HfM Hanns Eisler Berlin.

Based on the uploades audio/video recordings the pre-selection is made subsequent to the application period.

• Video recordings in the best possible recording quality in accordance with the repertoire requirements below.
• No cuts may be made within a movement/piece.
• The videos must not be older than one year and may contain works from the prepared examination programme.

1. Conducting video of a choral work, also possible are rehearsal or concert excerpts. The video must show a frontal view of the applicant (choral perspective), 3-5 minutes in length per video.

   Please note: The video should show the applicant in a choir rehearsal/ a choir concert, that means no pure piano rehearsal.

2. Video of an instrumental or vocal recording (main subject).
3. Video of a vocal recording, max. 3 min. in lenght.
4. Video of a choral movement on the piano, max. 3 minutes in lenght. 

1. Conducting: At least 2 different choral works from two different epochs (Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic or classical modern), a cappella or with instrumental accompaniment.
2. Instrumental or vocal recording: performance of a work/movement on the piano or orchestral instrument or voice.
3. Vocal recording: Performance of a self-selected (a capella or self-accompanied) vocal piece or choral part (the voice should be clearly audible on the video).
4. Choral setting on the piano: any choral work of at least 4 voices (a cappella or with instrumental accompaniment), playing from the choral score or piano reduction.

Choral conducting (also as a teaching situation, realisation on several pianos, 20 minutes):

Three compulsory pieces:

• H. Schütz, 'Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt' (from: Geistliche Chormusik, Bärenreiter BA 500, Kassel 1955)
• F. Mendelssohn, Elijah No. 10 ('So war der Herr', Carus)
• F. Martin, Santus und Benedictus (from: Messe pour double Chaer a cappella, Bärenreiter BA 11315, Kassel 2024, ed. by M. Ostrzyga)
   
• Correpetition: performance of one of the compulsory pieces on the piano, with singing of the different vocal parts (ca. 5 min)

It is requested that you be prepared to use a tuning fork and to and to audition the choral parts if necessary.

Conducting a choir rehearsal (approx. 30 minutes); also as a teaching situation.

The works will be announced at least four weeks before the examination date.

The candidate should demonstrate,

• that he/she already has a solid rehearsal technique,
• that he/she can communicate gesturally to the choir,
• that he/she has an accurate sense of musical hearing.