DMA Admission and Financial Support
DMA Application and Deadlines
Complete and submit the online application available at the Graduate School under "Graduate School Degree Seeking" section.
The application is a three-step process for all students:
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Prospective students must send a pre-screening audition DVD and/or web links by February 1, 2013 to Janet Rudasics, 248 Malloy Hall, Notre Dame IN 46556; phone: 574-631-5349 or emailed to sacredmusic@nd.edu.
Please see below for repertory requirements established by the faculty. -
Prospective students must complete the online graduate school application by February 1, 2013 (fee $75.00).
When applying online, please complete the "Graduate School Degree Seeking" section. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for DMA applicants. - Selected students will be invited to campus for interviews and audition on Friday, March 1, 2013; a small number of these will be admitted to the program. *Please note that those applicants who are invited for auditions will be given a basic musicianship and piano sight-reading (4-part hymn) exam in addition to an audition in the concentration. There will be assistance with transportation and accomodations.
Prerequisites & Application Requirements
Students applying to the Sacred Music DMA Program should have the following:
1) A Master of Music degree (MM) or a Master of Sacred Music (MSM) degree with majors or concentrations in organ or choral conducting
- from a program approved by National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
- or from a program that meets the standards of the Master of Music or Master of Sacred Music degree as prescribed by NASM
2) Application Requirements must include:
- a curriculum vitae documenting all areas of musical, artistic and academic training, including languages
- a statement of intent describing professional and artistic goals
- all applicable transcripts of previous degrees and course work
- three letters of recommendation from music professionals
- no GRE general test required
- a DVD and/or links to YouTube or alternative website with a 15-20 minute long compilation of excerpts performed by the applicant (see below). It is recommended that these excerpts show a variety of repertoire. DVD's and/or list of web links must be sent directly by mail to Sacred Music at Notre Dame, 248 Malloy Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556 or by email to sacredmusic@nd.edu
Guidelines for Audition Materials
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.
B. Conducting concentration: Two or more selections of choral repertoire in any ensemble formation (for SSA, SAB, SATB, etc.) from contrasting styles (ca. 1500-present) and repertoires of choral art music. The repertoire must feature musical variety and complexity suitable for a concert program. The applicant must display familiarity with beat patterns, cueing, cutoffs, phrasing, expression, and other techniques necessary for conducting and rehearsal. The compilation should include both performance and rehearsal situations. The compilation should have a duration between 15 and 20 minutes.
Once the admissions committee has reviewed all of the application materials, successful applicants will be invited to a daylong visit to the campus of the University of Notre Dame for a live audition Friday, March 1, 2013. There will be assistance with transportation and accommodations.
Here they will meet with the faculty and students, and proceed through the following audition activities:
1. Diagnostic exam in musical skills. The applicants will be asked to harmonize a simple melody at the piano or organ, sightread an excerpt either by singing (conductors) or playing (organists), take aural dictation and analyze elements in a score, such as instrumentation and formal procedures (conductors).
2. Interview. The applicants will meet with the faculty to discuss their background and their artistic and career goals.
3. (For conductors only) Written diagnostic exam in music history and analysis. The applicants will answer general questions about Western European and American art and sacred music history, including identification of musical styles and formal analysis of musical excerpts.
4. (For conductors only) Rehearsing and conducting the Master Singers. Applicants will submit two choices of repertoire to be rehearsed and conducted for 10-15 minutes with the Master Singers. The faculty at Notre Dame will indicate if either or both pieces can be conducted.
5. (For organists only) Audition in person in front of the organ faculty with previously agreed repertoire.
Financial Support
All DMA students will be provided with full tuition scholarships for three years; internships in local churches carry generous stpiends for all DMA students.
For further information regarding the Doctor of Musical Arts Program, contact Janet Rudasics at the Sacred Music Office at jrudasic@nd.edu or by phone (574-631-5349).
