Master of Sacred Music

Admission and Financial Support

Application and Deadline

Complete and submit the online application available at the Graduate School.

The application deadline as a "Degree-seeking” student for Academic Year 2010-2011 to the M.S.M. degree program is February 1, 2010. When applying online, please complete the "Graduate School Degree Seeking" section.

Materials

Online applications to the M.S.M. program must include

  • a statement of intent
  • all applicable transcripts of degrees and course work
  • three letters of recommendation
  • GRE scores

Audition materials and guidelines

A. Organ concentration: a major work by J. S. Bach (a Prelude and Fugue; Concerto; Trio Sonata; Major Chorale Preludes from the Leipzig Chorales or the Clavierübung III) and two contrasting pieces of upper-division undergraduate repertoire.

Students are encouraged to submit materials as follows (in order of preference):  a live audition on campus; a DVD; a CD of live performances (the pieces do not have to be taken from the same performance); a CD. Auditions may be schedule directly with Prof. Cramer.

B. Choral/Vocal concentration: applicants should submit a DVD displaying their level of proficiency in three areas: voice, keyboard, and choral conducting. Repertoire selected should display a range of historical periods and styles.

Once the admissions committee has reviewed all of the application materials, successful applicants will be invited to campus for a live audition.

Examples of repertoire:

Voice (2-3 selections):

1a. Voice (undergraduate major): art songs, arias from oratorios and operas

1b. Voice (undergraduate secondary major or non-major): same as the above, or: hymns, responsorial psalms, communion antiphons, and other works that display your range, vocal ability, and vocal quality

Keyboard (2-3 selections):

2a. Piano (undergraduate major): preludes and fugues by Bach, sonatas by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and others; character pieces by Schumann, Brahms, and others; works by 20th-century composers.

2b. Piano (undergraduate minor or non-major): same as 2a. Students who have not achieved the level of proficiency suggested by the repertoire in 2a may play a selection of hymns, responsorial psalms, communion antiphons, accompaniments to solos and works for choir, etc. to demonstrate their keyboard ability.2c. Organ (undergraduate minor or non-major): Couperin organ masses (selected movements), Buxtehude chorale preludes or less difficult praeludia, Bach/Krebs “Eight Little Preludes and Fugues,” Bach chorale preludes from the Orgelbüchlein, Brahms chorale preludes, or pieces of similar difficulty. Students who have not achieved the level of proficiency suggested by this repertoire may play a selection of hymns, responsorial psalms, communion antiphons, accompaniments to anthems and other works for choir, etc. to demonstrate their ability on the organ.

3. Conducting (2-3 selections): choral works (for SSA, SAB, SATB, etc.) from various eras (ca. 1500-present) that display a familiarity with and mastery of: beat patterns, cueing, cutoffs, phrasing, expression, and other aspects of conducting.

Prerequisites

Students applying to the M.S.M. program should have the following:

1. A bachelor’s degree in music

  • from a program approved by National Association of Schools of Music(NASM)
  • that meets the standards of the bachelor of music degree as prescribed by NASM
  • OR should take instruction (without graduate credit) until the competencies assumed by (a) and (b) above are met

2. At least 6 hours of course work in theology or religious studies

3. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) .

Financial Support

The majority of all students admitted to the M.S.M. program will be provided with full-tuition scholarships for the duration of their program.

For additional information concerning the M.S.M. Program, please contact us.