The master and doctoral degree programs in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Washington prepare aspiring conductors to attain the highest levels of excellence in leading large orchestra ensembles in professional, community, and educational settings.

Under the leadership of Chair of Orchestral Conducting and Director of Orchestral Activities David Alexander Rahbee, the program is a highly selective course of study offering participants personal coaching by highly qualified faculty mentors and abundant opportunities for podium time with dedicated orchestral ensembles. 

Performance Opportunities

Orchestral Conducting students participate in weekly podium time with Campus Philharmonia Orchestras (CPO), UW community ensembles managed and conducted by the students of the orchestral conducting program. The orchestras perform quarterly, with conducting students managing weekly rehearsals and performances of their own orchestras. 

Study with distinguished faculty

Conducting students meet weekly with Dr. Rahbee for lessons covering technique, score study/preparation, interpretation/performance practice, score reading, repertoire, and other topics. Students have access to select rehearsals of the Seattle Symphony and performance and master classes as determined by Dr. Rahbee and other affiliated faculty. Select performance opportunities with the UW Symphony, Modern Music Ensemble, and other groups both within and outside of the campus community are offered depending on programming, scheduling, and other factors. 

Teaching Assistantships

The highly selective program awards students in the MM or DMA programs fully funded teaching assistant positions, including tuition waver and monthly TA stipend.  

Teaching assistants are responsible for a range of duties and roles within the program, including: 

• Assistant conductor of UW Symphony
• Conductor, CPO
•  Personnel manager/set up for both UWSO and CPO
• Working with TAs from the band and choral conducting programs in non-major recruitment across campus.
• Managing and leading clinics for visiting high school groups (in coordination with band and choral conducting programs). 
• Assisting with the ordering, preparation (bowings etc), sorting, organizing and storage of orchestral materials (performance library duties) as assigned.
• Other orchestral related duties, as assigned.

Responsibilities shared between the TAs include organizational aspects for all UW orchestras (audition logistics, rehearsal setup, performance library duties, scheduling, and other activities as assigned. 

HOW TO APPLY

For more information, contact SoMadmit@uw.edu