Choral Conducting at YSM

The choral conducting program prepares students for careers across the full spectrum of the choral field by helping them build and refine the core skills required of a conductor and further develop their individual musical voice. Our graduates lead professional, community, church, symphonic, and youth ensembles, as well as ensembles within academia and other educational settings.

Choral conductors take individual lessons with the choral conducting faculty and have lessons during regular supervised conducting sessions with the Repertory and Recital choruses. Students are required to attend a weekly seminar and conduct a recital each year. First-year students conduct the Repertory Chorus in two shared performances, while graduating students present a degree recital with the Recital Chorus. First-year and graduating students conduct works with chorus and orchestra. Choral conducting students are also required to study voice as a secondary instrument for two terms. Some choral conducting students may serve as assistant conductor for one of the faculty-led choirs or as conductor of one of the University's chapel choirs.

To apply for the choral conducting program, prospective students must submit applications to both the Yale School of Music and the Institute of Sacred Music.