Offered in: Chicago

The highly selective Professional Diploma in Orchestral Studies diploma is a two-year post-baccalaureate program open to highly-skilled students seeking successful orchestral careers in violin, viola, violoncello, double bass, harp, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, or percussion. The program possesses the distinctive feature of intensive focus on the preparation of orchestral repertory and excerpts through a proportion of applied lessons that includes one hour per week of focused work on orchestral excerpts and an additional half-hour on solo materials. There is also a weekly class devoted specifically to audition preparation.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Students must present an audition program that demonstrates significant competency in orchestral excerpts, in addition to presenting the solo audition requirements for their instrument as published on the CCPA Admission and Audition Information web page.

Grade Requirements

• Applied Lessons: B- is the minimum passing grade for applied study (FRHN 461 FRENCH HORN (APPLIED PD OS), TRPT 461 TRUMPET (APPLIED PD OS), TRBN 461 TROMBONE (APPLIED PD OS), or TUBA 461 TUBA (APPLIED PD OS)).
• Recitals: B- is the minimum passing grade for PERF 418 SOLO PERFORMANCE.

GPA Requirements

Course Requirement (Brass)

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Ensemble participation is a defining element of conservatory training and reflects the collaborative practices of professional musicians. Students in the Interdisciplinary Conservatory are expected to participate each semester in any ensembles to which they are assigned by the relevant instructor-of-record, in consultation with the Program Director and Academic Advisor. Students enrolled in ensembles as zero-credit participants (by assignment or with special permission) receive a grade and are expected to complete the same requirements as students enrolled for credit. Students enrolled in ensembles as zero-credit participants (by assignment or with special permission) receive a grade and are expected to complete the same requirements as students enrolled for credit. Ensemble assignments are made at the beginning of each semester following placement and seating auditions.

RECITAL REPERTOIRE

PERF 418 SOLO PERFORMANCE

Brass: 60 minutes of music is required. Chamber music may be included with the permission of the applied teacher. The recital will be graded by the applied instructor and at least one other faculty member.

JURY REPERTOIRE

Minimum of 10 minutes of music is presented. The repertoire should consist of a major work for the instrument, or an alternate piece presented with the permission of the applied professor. No repetition of repertoire from previous juries is allowed. Individual faculty members are encouraged to implement additional requirements for students in their studios, to which their students are bound.

Grade Requirements

• Applied Lessons: B- is the minimum passing grade for PER 461 PERCUSSION (APPLIED PD OS)
• Recitals: B- is the minimum passing grade for PERF 418 SOLO PERFORMANCE.

GPA Requirements

Course Requirements (Percussion)

¹

Ensemble participation is a defining element of conservatory training and reflects the collaborative practices of professional musicians. Students in the Interdisciplinary Conservatory are expected to participate each semester in any ensembles to which they are assigned by the relevant instructor-of-record, in consultation with the Program Director and Academic Advisor. Students enrolled in ensembles as zero-credit participants (by assignment or with special permission) receive a grade and are expected to complete the same requirements as students enrolled for credit. Students enrolled in ensembles as zero-credit participants (by assignment or with special permission) receive a grade and are expected to complete the same requirements as students enrolled for credit. Ensemble assignments are made at the beginning of each semester following placement and seating auditions.

RECITAL REPERTOIRE

PERF 418 SOLO PERFORMANCE

Percussion: 60 minutes of music, to be divided among marimba/vibraphone/xylophone, timpani and multi percussion/advanced snare drum solo suite. All recital repertory requirements are at the discretion of the applied instructor. Recitals are graded by the Program Director and one other faculty member.

N.B. Students may substitute a formal orchestral audition to be performed for a faculty panel composed of a minimum of two performance faculty members. The audition will consist of a full professional-level excerpt list on both timpani and percussion. The entire list will be performed for the panel and include 60 minutes of music. Students who wish for their final performance project to be satisfied by this formal orchestral audition must complete a Recital Exception Petition.

JURY REPERTOIRE

Students must present eight orchestral excerpts for the PERF 411 MM ORCHESTRAL EXCERPTS JURY, only two of which may be repeated from any previous semester. Additional repertoire requirements are determined at the discretion of the applied instructor. 

Grade Requirements

• Applied Lessons: B- is the minimum passing grade for applied study (BSSN 461 BASSOON (APPLIED PD OS), CLAR 461 CLARINET (APPLIED PD OS), FLT 461 FLUTE (APPLIED PD OS), or OBOE 461 OBOE (APPLIED PD OS)).
• Recitals: B- is the minimum passing grade for PERF 418 SOLO PERFORMANCE.

GPA Requirements

Course Requirements (Woodwinds)

¹

Ensemble participation is a defining element of conservatory training and reflects the collaborative practices of professional musicians. Students in the Interdisciplinary Conservatory are expected to participate each semester in any ensembles to which they are assigned by the relevant instructor-of-record, in consultation with the Program Director and Academic Advisor. Students enrolled in ensembles as zero-credit participants (by assignment or with special permission) receive a grade and are expected to complete the same requirements as students enrolled for credit. Students enrolled in ensembles as zero-credit participants (by assignment or with special permission) receive a grade and are expected to complete the same requirements as students enrolled for credit. Ensemble assignments are made at the beginning of each semester following placement and seating auditions.

RECITAL REPERTOIRE

PERF 418 SOLO PERFORMANCE

60 minutes of music is required. Chamber music may be included with the permission of the applied teacher. Students are required to perform their recital with piano, as applicable to their chosen repertoire and at the discretion of the primary applied instructor. Memorization requirements are at the discretion of the primary applied instructor, and the recital will be graded by the primary applied instructor.

JURY REPERTOIRE

15 minutes of music is required. Students are required to perform their jury with piano, as applicable to their chosen repertoire and at the discretion of the primary applied instructor. Memorization requirements are at the discretion of the primary applied instructor, and the recital will be graded by the primary applied instructor and at least one other faculty member.

This degree map charts a suggested pathway through all of your required courses. It is incumbent upon all students to fully comprehend curricular requirements and course schedules, and while it is feasible to chart an alternate pathway, it is highly recommended that you do so in close consultation with your academic advisor so as to determine a degree path appropriately tailored to your needs.

Degree Map (Brass)

This degree map charts a suggested pathway through all of your required courses. It is incumbent upon all students to fully comprehend curricular requirements and course schedules, and while it is feasible to chart an alternate pathway, it is highly recommended that you do so in close consultation with your academic advisor so as to determine a degree path appropriately tailored to your needs.

This degree map charts a suggested pathway through all of your required courses. It is incumbent upon all students to fully comprehend curricular requirements and course schedules, and while it is feasible to chart an alternate pathway, it is highly recommended that you do so in close consultation with your academic advisor so as to determine a degree path appropriately tailored to your needs.

Degree Map (Woodwinds)