MMus in Choral Studies

Newly expanded course from 2018

M.Mus. in Choral Studies

The Pathways The University of Cambridge and its world-famous collegiate choirs provide an exceptional environment for aspiring musicians to develop the practical skills and scholarly expertise valuable for a professional career. Students on this newly expanded and restructured tenmonth course will be admitted to study on one of three Pathways focusing on conducting, singing or organ playing, and will receive tuition from leading Cambridge performers and academics, as well as from an impressive roster of internationally-acclaimed visiting artists.

Conducting Pathway

Vocal Pathway

Ideal for those wishing to study choral conducting in connection with a liturgical environment

Ideal for those looking for a flexible post-graduate vocal training covering both ensemble and solo performance

Tuition is provided in masterclass, seminar and one-to-one format, covering a wide variety of topics such as gesture, technique, interpretation, score preparation, working with boys’ and girls’ voices, rehearsal skills. Students work weekly with a dedicated MMus choir under professional guidance, and observe all the principal Cambridge choirs at work. The Pathway leaders are Stephen Layton, Graham Ross and Geoffrey Webber (Co-ordinator), and Tutors also include Timothy Brown, Stephen Cleobury, Sarah MacDonald, Andrew Nethsingha, Ben Parry and Christopher Robinson.

Individual weekly vocal tuition, regular song classes covering performance practice, vocal technique, interpretation, repertoire, singing in foreign languages and vocal pedagogy, ensemble classes covering interpretation, technique, directing a vocal ensemble, professional development, and classes in plainsong and reading from early sources.

The Pathway leaders are Lynette Alcántara (Co-ordinator), David Lowe and David Skinner, and Voces8 is the Associate Ensemble. Visiting Tutors for ensemble coaching include David Hurley, Paul McCreesh and Simon Halsey, and for solo masterclasses Brindley Sherratt, Dame Emma Kirkby and Dame Sarah Connolly.

© Andy Staples

© Kevin Leighton

Š Peter Warren

Organ Pathway Ideal for those looking for a flexible post-graduate training closely linked to the Anglican choral tradition, covering a variety of keyboard skills Tuition is provided in masterclass, seminar and one-to-one format, using the rich and varied resources of the Cambridge Chapel organs. The repertoire covered will range from the 16th century to the present day, including both solo performance and organ accompaniment in most major European traditions, with specialist classes in particular skills such as continuo playing and Psalm accompaniment. The Pathway leaders are Andrew Arthur, Anne Page and Richard Pinel (Co-ordinator), and further tuition can be arranged with one of the several leading organ teachers who regularly visit Cambridge.

Further opportunities are available via the Cambridge Organ Scholars’ Forum and the Cambridge Academy of Organ Studies which both invite many leading European organists to teach in Cambridge such as Guy Bovet, Pieter Dirksen and Jennifer Bate.

All Pathways Weekly seminars are provided for all MMus students as the foundation for the more academic component of the course. These will include topics such as Words and Music, the History of the Anglican Choral Tradition, the study of Vocal Health and undertaking Outreach and Community work. Tutors include Jeremy Begbie, Malcolm Guite, Roger Bowers, David Skinner, Lynette AlcĂĄntara and Suzi Digby. Students may choose to develop specialist skills in the editing of early music and the art of musical arrangement, and to benefit from aspects of the teaching provided for all pathways, as well as from some undergraduate courses such as aural training. All students are invited to apply for membership of a College choir as singer or organist, and benefit from the rich library resources of the University of Cambridge.

Images: Opposite left to right: Stephen Cleobury; Voces8.

Above, left to right: Dame Sarah Connolly; Richard Pinel.

The course will last ten months, from 1 October to 31 July, and it is expected that students will be resident in Cambridge throughout University terms.

Applications The deadline for applications depends on whether the applicant is applying for funding, ranging from October for USA Gates Fellowships to May for selffunded places.

Applications are made online and should include a video recording of the applicant performing in their chosen Pathway discipline, and a sample essay on any musical topic. The video should be approximately 10–15 minutes in length.

Enquiries For more information on the M.Mus. in Choral Studies course, visit www.mus.cam.ac.uk/applicants/mmus Faculty of Music University of Cambridge West Road Cambridge CB3 9DP Email: Website:

dcmusic@mus.cam.ac.uk www.mus.cam.ac.uk