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 the solo repertoire requirements published on the CCPA Admission and Audition Information web page.

Grade Requirements

• Applied Lessons: B- is the minimum passing grade for applied study (VLN 461 VIOLIN (APPLIED PD OS), VLA 461 VIOLA (APPLIED PD OS), or VCEL 461 VIOLONCELLO (APPLIED PD OS)).
• Recitals: B- is the minimum passing grade for PERF 418 SOLO PERFORMANCE.

GPA Requirements

Course Requirements (Violin, Viola, and Cello)

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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

60 minutes of music is required. Three complete works from three different stylistic periods (including one 20th/21st century work) must be performed. Graduate and diploma students may include one chamber work. The recital will be graded by the applied instructor. Memorization is required for solo Bach repertoire, showpieces, and concerti. Memorization is not required for sonatas, chamber music, or contemporary repertoire. Exceptions may be petitioned for under special circumstances and must be approved in advance by the Program Director of Strings and Guitar. 

JURY REPERTOIRE

Strings: Strings are required to prepare and perform two works for each jury, as outlined below.

Students will perform a solo piece at each jury.

• At one jury, a movement from a concerto (including cadenza), preferably with piano accompaniment, will be presented.
• At one jury, a sonata or short piece displaying a range of technical/musical style, preferably with piano accompaniment, will be presented.

Students will perform a movement from an unaccompanied work (e.g. Bach, Ysaye, Kodaly, étude) at each jury.

No repetition of repertoire from previous juries is allowed. Memorization is required for solo Bach repertoire, showpieces, and concerti. Memorization is not required for sonatas, chamber music, or contemporary repertoire. Exceptions may be petitioned for under special circumstances and must be approved in advance by the Program Director of Strings and Guitar.

All violinists are required to perform a movement from a Mozart Concerto in at least one jury during their degree study.

Individual faculty members are encouraged to implement additional requirements for students in their studios. Their students are bound by these requirements.

Grade Requirements

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

GPA Requirements

Course Requirements (String Bass)

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. Three complete works from three different stylistic periods (including one 20th/21st century work) must be performed. Graduate and diploma students may include one chamber work. The recital will be graded by the applied instructor. Memorization is required for solo Bach repertoire, showpieces, and concerti. Memorization is not required for sonatas, chamber music, or contemporary repertoire. Exceptions may be petitioned for under special circumstances and must be approved in advance by the Program Director of Strings and Guitar.

JURY REPERTOIRE

Strings: Strings are required to prepare and perform two works for each jury, as outlined below.

Students will perform a solo piece at each jury.

• At one jury, a movement from a concerto (including cadenza), preferably with piano accompaniment, will be presented.
• At one jury, a sonata or short piece displaying a range of technical/musical style, preferably with piano accompaniment, will be presented.

Students will perform a movement from an unaccompanied work (e.g. Bach, Ysaye, Kodaly, étude) at each jury.

No repetition of repertoire from previous juries is allowed. Memorization is required for solo Bach repertoire, showpieces, and concerti. Memorization is not required for sonatas, chamber music, or contemporary repertoire. Exceptions may be petitioned for under special circumstances and must be approved in advance by the Program Director of Strings and Guitar.

Individual faculty members are encouraged to implement additional requirements for students in their studios. Their students are bound by these requirements.

Grade Requirements

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

GPA Requirements

Course Requirements (Harp)

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. The recital will be graded by the applied instructor. Memorization is compulsory except for contemporary works and chamber music.

Students may substitute a formal orchestral audition in place of a recital 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 successfully petition the Program Director of Piano & Harp and the applied instructor.

JURY REPERTOIRE

PERF 452 DIPLOMA JURY | PERF 421 PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMA ORCHESTRAL EXCERPTS JURY

Harp: All jury requirements are at the discretion of the applied professor.

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 (Violin, Viola, and Cello)

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 (String Bass)

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 (Harp)