Program Description:
This program teaches the skills, repertory, and professional strategies needed to become a successful vocal performer. The Voice Performance studios are purposely small to ensure maximum time in performance and for highly individualized instruction. Performance masters’ students have an array of performing opportunities including with NAU Opera, master classes, Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, the National Association of Teachers of Singing Young Artist Awards Auditions, and with Flagstaff in Fidenza, an internationally recognized summer training program for aspiring opera singers.
Learning Objectives:
Upon graduation from the Master of Music in Vocal Performance students will be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge of appropriate musical literature in an historical context
- understand the fundamentals of musical performance
- sing and perform with competency and artistry
- be well prepared for admission to any doctoral program in vocal performance in the U.S.
Career Opportunities:
Masters in Music in Vocal Performance graduates are well prepared to audition for professional artist apprenticeship programs, performance certificate programs and professional choruses. Other career opportunities include professional singing engagements in dinner theater or theater companies. Students in this program are also well prepared for doctoral level work.
Why Study Music at NAU’s School of Music?
At NAU, performance opportunities abound in a wide variety of venues. Students have the opportunity to sing with a large symphony orchestra, chamber ensembles, and with NAU Opera, which annually performs fully staged works in the original language. At the conclusion of the masters program, each performance student must present a recital that demonstrates successful achievement of performance objectives. NAU School of Music Masters students also have numerous opportunities to teach, both at the undergraduate and community school levels.
The Flagstaff in Fidenza program is a special summer opera training program that provides young singers the opportunity to be exposed to and be seen/heard by international agents.
The close individualized attention students receive in NAU’s School of Music prepares one well for a successful professional career as well as for further graduate study.
Faculty Expertise:
The School of Music faculty are well-renown in their chosen fields. Students have the opportunity to work very closely with a number of faculty to build their particular area of expertise. Link to faculty pages.
Admission Requirements
Students must have completed a Baccalaureate degree in vocal music* with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA and be admitted to Northern Arizona University’s Graduate College. Please see the required forms and further information at www.nau.edu/gradcol. Audition and evaluation material that has been approved by the appropriate School of Music faculty.
*completion of specific recital deficiencies and/or other classes may be required if the baccalaureate music degree was a curriculum other than performance.
Application Procedures:
Step 1. Go online and apply to the NAU Graduate College at nau.edu/gradcol. The Graduate College application will require your undergraduate transcripts.
Step 2. Contact Dr. Krista Rodin, the NAU School of Music graduate coordinator; Krista.Rodin@nau.edu
Step 3. Contact Dr. Judith Cloud, Director of Vocal Studies; Judith.Cloud@nau.edu.
Step 4. Send Dr. Cloud two letters of recommendation, a current curriculum vita, a one page narrative describing your career goals and musical interests, and a 30 minute DVD recording of your singing with representation from contrasting styles, including opera, oratorio and art song. Included in the DVD there must be at least one piece composed since 1950 and the must include selections in German, French, Italian and English; other foreign languages are optional. The mailing address is: Dr. Judith Cloud, NAU Box 6040, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6040.
After reviewing application materials from the Graduate College, letters of recommendations and the rehearsal tape, selected applicants will be invited to NAU for an on-campus interview/audition in February or March. The audition committee will choose repertoire from the DVD program and contact applicants with the specific pieces to be presented at the on-campus audition. Candidates may also be asked to demonstrate sight-singing and ear-retention skills as well as basic piano skills.
Graduate Assistantship
Graduate Assistantships may be available for students in the Masters in Music –Vocal Performance. For further information on these Assistantships, please contact Dr. Cloud.
Program of Study Requirements
To see a the specific courses required for the MM degree in vocal performance, please click on the following link:
MM_Vocal Performance PoS 09-10.docx