Orchestral conducting

The structure of the study responds to the current needs of the artistic environment and is based on the trends in teaching orchestral conducting in the Czech Republic and abroad. It takes full advantage of the possibilities of artistic practice offered by leading artistic institutions in Moravia and the Czech Republic.

Part of the major is taught in the form of group lessons, which allow students to confront their interpretive views under the guidance of a teacher. The other part is designed as individual tuition with a chosen teacher. A specific feature of our study is its organization exclusively within the Master’s programme.

Unlike many universities, the specialisation Orchestra Conducting is taught separately from Choral Conducting, which allows the deepest possible insight into the individual issues. This allows students to fully engage with the practice orchestra and other ensembles, to take courses focused on the discipline, and thus to cover a wider range of orchestral, operatic, and vocal-instrumental repertoire. However, they also have the option of studying choral conducting for up to two years.

It is a five-year master’s degree. If graduates of bachelor’s degree programmes from other schools are interested in studying, they can apply for entrance examinations, take differential examinations and, after successfully passing them, proceed directly to the fourth year at JAMU.

The teaching of orchestral conducting at the Faculty of Music of JAMU emphasises the quality of the connection between theoretical education and artistic practice. Students continuously test their knowledge while working with a practice orchestra, in cooperation with professional ensembles and within faculty projects. An integral part of the studies is an inspiring contact with prominent personalities in the field of conducting and other areas of music. Part of the major takes the form of group instruction, allowing students to confront their own interpretative views and, under the guidance of the teacher, to seek their own distinctive, reasoned approach to a piece of music.

The Faculty has a Chamber Opera, which is located in the modernly equipped Orlí Theatre. There are also project studios for individual and group artistic work.

The faculty’s equipment includes a state-of-the-art recording studio that meets current professional standards. The conducting classroom is equipped with modern audio-visual technology, which allows both high-quality recording of teaching and remote connection with teachers and students around the world.

The teaching also includes the basics of marketing, law, economics and psychology. JAMU maintains an extensive network of partnerships with universities and arts institutions around the world. Thanks to this, students have the opportunity to make valuable international contacts, develop their skills in a different cultural environment and confront their artistic work with foreign teachers and colleagues. The faculty actively supports exchange stays within the Erasmus+ programme and other international projects, which open doors for students to professional growth on a global level.