Instrumental Conducting Opportunities at Indiana University

Graduate conducting students have a wide range of conducting opportunities at IU.

Conductors' Orchestra:

In Spring semester, graduate conducting students work with a thirty piece conductors' orchestra. This ensemble is made up of paid musicians and meets three times per week.

School of Music Orchestras:

Students are assigned as assistant conductors for every orchestral performance, giving them the opportunity to work with the large number of guest and faculty conductors who visit each semester. IU has six major orchestras: (click each for more information)

Philharmonic Orchestra
Concert Orchestra
Symphonic Orchestra
University Orchestra
Chamber Orchestra
New Music Ensemble

Student Conductor Concerts:

Each semester one major ensemble performs a Student Conductor Concert, with three or four graduate conductors assigned to the performance.

Chamber Operas:

Each semester, student conductors serve as music directors for a number of fully-staged chamber operas.

Campus Orchestra:

In addition to the six major orchestras, IU also has a non-major campus orchestra, conducted by a graduate student conductor. Click for More Information

Ad Hoc Orchestras:

Each semester has eight "Ad Hoc" performances. Performances take place on Sunday afternoons, conducted by graduate students.

Orchestral Readings:

Occasionally, readings are scheduled in which conducting students rehearse major ensembles. Readings for the 2004-2005 school year included Beethoven - 7th Symphony, Brahms - 3rd Symphony, Tchaikovsky - 4th Symphony, Debussy - "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun"

Graduate Recital:

Each graduate conducting student will perform a graduate conducting recital, scheduled with a major university ensemble.

Graduate Conducting Associate Instructors:

The instrumental conducting department maintains two graduate assistantships. Both pay full tuition plus a stipend:
G570/New Music Ensemble - One student instructs the G570 course (Graduate Instrumental Conducting for Non-Conducting Majors) and serves as the assistant conductor for the New Music Ensemble.
Opera Assistant - Each year one student is given an associate instructorship as the Assistant Conductor for the Indiana University Opera Theater. 

Other Conducting Opportunities:

With a school as large as Indiana University, conducting opportunities are numerous. Conductors often work with composers and instrumentalists, performing in their recitals as well.