Graduate Degrees

Our graduate degrees in choral conducting provide a comprehensive scholastic background centered in inspirational leadership through sound vocal pedagogy, effective rehearsal and conducting techniques, and repertoire from broad historical and global perspectives. There are opportunities for hands-on experience with our five choral ensembles, along with assisting/leading classes within the greater Challey School of Music. Teaching Assistantships and tuition waivers are available.

• Degree professors – Dr. Dwight Jilek
• Audition Information

Our instrumental conducting degrees prepare you for all aspects of leading an ensemble. In addition to rigorous academic classes, our instrumental ensembles include Jazz bands, concert bands, a marching band and wind ensemble, providing you with ample time on the podium. Our instructors adhere to the philosophy that experience is the best teacher, and our graduate assistants share fully in the day to day responsibilities of our ensembles.

• Degree professors – Dr. Daniel Lee
• Audition Information

You’re a working professional. The NDSU Challey School of Music is an institution that is as passionate about music education as you are. When you’re ready to update and augment your skills, our program fits into your schedule as a working professional through a combination of online and summer classes. The curriculum is designed to both increase your effectiveness in the classroom and enhance your personal growth as a musician. This combination of commitment, quality and flexibility have made NDSU’s graduate programs in music the most popular in the region.

• Faculty – Dr. Nicki Bakko Toliver | Dr. Daniel Lee | Dr. Dwight Jilek
• Learn more about the Master of Music in Music Education program here.

When you’re ready to take your playing to the next level, our faculty are dedicated to your development as both a performer and a pedagogue of your instrument.

• Degree professors – Dr. Jeremy Brekke | Dr. Mark DeMull | Dr. Cassie Keogh | Dr. Matthew Patnode | Dr. Will Sutton | Connor Challey | Dr. Laura Kellogg | Dr. Martin Van Klompenberg
• Audition Information

Learn about NDSU’s Piano Programs in this video!

Few instruments offer as individualized a medium for expression as the piano, and your success as a pianist depends on individualized instruction. Our piano faculty are at the top of their field as performers and teachers; and take into account each student’s needs, aptitudes, background and goals to create a unique plan for success. Our curriculum includes a balance of applied lessons, academic courses and the study of pedagogy, in addition to opportunities for hands-on experience as a performer, teacher, and accompanist.

The NDSU Piano Performance Program will be facilitating live auditions as well as accepting video auditions for applicants wishing to audition. For those wishing to travel to Fargo, ND for a live audition: please contact Dr. Thiago Ferreira to discuss potential dates for your audition. For those submitting a video audition: please contact Dr. Thiago Ferreira to discuss submission of your audition video as well as to arrange an interview by Zoom or comparable platform.

Applicants to the NDSU Piano Performance M.M. and D.M.A. programs can prepare any substantial and varied audition program that showcases the pianistic strengths of the applicant. No specific repertoire guidelines are felt to be necessary.

Pianists in the M.M. and D.M.A. programs will also be invited to perform in the NDSU Chamber Music Festival upon recommendation from the faculty.

• Degree professors – Dr. Thiago Ferreira
• Audition Information

Learn about NDSU’s Piano Programs in this video!

The NDSU Collaborative Piano Performance M.M. and D.M.A. programs are designed for pianists who wish to specialize in collaborations with singers and instrumentalists. The M.M. program provides guidance in both instrumental and vocal collaborations, while the D.M.A offers the flexibility to focus on instrumental or vocal studies, or a combination thereof. The instrumental focus offers specialization in repertoire for woodwinds, brass, and/or strings, while the vocal specialty involves vocal coaching of art song and opera with specific training in language and diction. In addition to a thorough grounding in such areas as harpsichord, figured bass realization, orchestral reductions, and sight and score reading, the Collaborative Piano Performance degrees include a component of applied piano study.

Collaborative pianists in NDSU’s M.M. and D.M.A. programs will be regularly partnered in performance with professional vocalists and instrumentalists, and will be invited to perform in the NDSU Chamber Music Festival upon recommendation from the faculty.

• Degree Professors – Dr. Thiago Ferreira
• Audition Information

Your voice and your technique are still growing and changing. In order to build a successful performing and teaching career you need personalized and careful instruction. Our faculty have extensive experience as both performers and voice teachers. Together we collaborate on creating an educational and performance plan to provide you with a lifelong foundation of vocal expertise. Our program is small enough to offer each student plentiful opportunities for performance. We produce one fully staged opera each year, in addition to opera scenes and concerts throughout the year. Students also find performance opportunities within the community, including professional experience with the Fargo-Moorhead Opera.

• Degree professors – Dr. Kelly W. Burns
• Audition Information