NCCO9 Conductor Fellowship Program

Call for Participation

OBJECTIVES

To encourage and support graduate students who are on the cusp of a career in conducting choral music
To provide an opportunity to strengthen conducting technique, score preparation skills, and rehearsal methods through participation in a conducting masterclass with NCCO Featured Artist Dr. Anton Armstrong of St. Olaf College, and members of the Morehouse College Glee Club
To provide networking opportunities with fellow collegiate choral conductors with the intent to develop mentor/mentee relationships that continue beyond the conference
To encourage graduate student activity at the NCCO National Conference

APPLICANT CRITERIA

Applicant must hold an active NCCO student membership at the time of application. Two-year student memberships are $50. (Click here to join)
Applicant must be actively pursuing a master's or doctoral degree in choral conducting or a related area (e.g., conducting, music education)
Applicant must submit a complete application; incomplete applications will not be considered
All accepted fellows are expected to attend the NCCO 9th Biennial Conference at Morehouse College, January 20-22, 2022, and attend all Fellowship-related events. (The nature of the conference, whether in-person or virtual, will be declared by October 15th.)

NEW THIS YEAR

To ensure greater access for student conductor fellowship applicants, we have eliminated the $25 application fee for all applicants.
Everyone who applies for the Fellowship program will receive a 30-minute mentoring session with an NCCO faculty member & conductor. This change will allow for meaningful engagement for all applicants -- not just those accepted into the program -- to further our goal of "encouraging and supporting graduate students who are on the cusp of a career in conducting choral music." These sessions will be arranged in December and January, in advance of the NCCO9 conference.

SUMMARY

Below is a summary of activities the Conducting Fellows will participate in during and after the NCCO National Conference:

Participation in the Conducting Masterclass on Friday January 21, 2022 with members of the Morehouse College Glee Club and Featured Artist, Dr. Anton Armstrong
If in-person, a meal with NCCO9 Featured Artists and other fellows
If in-person, an evening mixer event with current choral faculty and other choral leaders; if virtual, a Zoom meet and greet.
$500 stipend + student conference registration fee waived

APPLICATION MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS

The Application Period has closed. We will announce the results by November 15th.

Completed online application, available through [link to application]
C.V./resume highlighting the applicant's academic & teaching experience, and their work with both collegiate-level and other choral ensembles
Video selections, approximately 12-15 minutes, of the applicant conducting in recent rehearsal(s) and/or performance(s)
- Video footage should demonstrate the applicant’s strongest work in leading choral ensembles
- Videos must be submitted as either public or unlisted YouTube/Vimeo links (not private videos)
- If an applicant wishes to submit an excerpt from a longer piece of video footage, they must provide a link to the exact portion of the video they wish for the adjudicators to review
- Footage should ideally provide clear images of the front of the conductor; verbal instructions given by conductor must be clearly audible
- Given the nature of the Covid pandemic, applicants may submit footage of themselves conducting a pianist, solo singer, or a vocal chamber ensemble; it is of course understood that students may have to submit pandemic adjusted footage (i.e. distanced, in masks, etc.) and an application will not be unduly considered in these circumstances.
- Adjudicators reviewing applications will be considering the following when evaluating the videos (equally weighted):
  - Effective and nuanced conducting gesture
  - Effective and confident rehearsal technique
  - Clarity of verbal communication
  - Musicianship and musicality, as evidenced by their interpretation of the music on the recording
One letter of recommendation from a current or recent faculty member or professional in the choral field who can speak to any or all of the following about the applicant:
- Conducting skills and comfort in working with collegiate-level students
- Potential for success in teaching and conducting
- Progress in their academic degree
- Leadership style
- Collegiality

The candidate’s letter of recommendation must be emailed as a PDF by the reference/letter-writer (not the applicant) to Dr. Andrew Morgan, Hendrix College: [email protected]

Letters must be received by November 1 for the application to be considered complete.

The Application Period has closed. We will announce the results by November 15th.