Music Conducting, Wind (Master's) at Michigan State University

Programme overview

The Master of Music in Conducting (Wind) is a graduate wind conducting degree in the Michigan State University College of Music. Applicants are screened by video of rehearsal and performance, and invited applicants audition live with the conducting faculty, usually in February.

Faculty: College of Music | Study mode: full-time | Location: East Lansing, MI, United States

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate Application and College of Music Supplemental Application, both due December 1. Priority deadline December 1; complete files are reviewed in January, first-round decisions from February, and applications completed after January 15 are considered on a rolling basis until the programme is filled. Prescreening video of rehearsal and performance (no longer than 20 minutes); live audition by invitation (usually February). Unofficial transcripts and diplomas for all post-secondary study; resume of previous experience and musical training; personal statement of 300-500 words; three letters of recommendation (submitted through the Graduate Application). International applicants whose native language is not English (College of Music minimums for collaborative piano, composition, conducting, jazz, performance and piano pedagogy): TOEFL iBT 80 (no subscore below 19, writing at least 22; for tests taken after January 21, 2026: 4.5 overall, none below 4, writing at least 4.5), IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0), PTE Academic 53, Duolingo 110 (temporarily accepted). Applicants to performance degrees, including conducting, with a degree from a U.S. accredited university may be exempt.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Graduate applicants can start in fall (late August), spring (January) or summer (May) in the MPH programme; intake terms for other graduate programmes are set by each department or program.

The graduate application fee is $75 for domestic and international applicants, with one fee per application; applicants may submit up to two applications to different graduate majors per semester. Applications are reviewed by the department or program, which sets its own deadlines.

MPH application deadlines (SOPHAS completion): fall May 18, spring October 18, summer February 15; MSU supplemental application: fall June 1, spring November 1, summer March 1.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.msu.edu/apply/graduate-students

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