Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium
Danish
Admission

Jazz/Pop Choir Directing – KARK (MA)

The 2-year graduate programme develops your personal and professional competencies as an innovative jazz/pop choir director at an international level.

120 ECTS – full-time study

From August 2025 this programme is based in Aarhus. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Professor Jim Daus Hjernøe at [email protected]

Content

How do you make vocal music sound just ‘right’ in styles such as pop, rock, jazz, gospel, world, improvisation, and vocal painting? Many choirs and a cappella groups face this challenge in rehearsal and performances featuring these musical styles.

The studies answer this challenge, where choir directors worldwide attend as students to be educated by a renowned team of world-class teachers, ensuring the highest pedagogical and artistic level.

Curriculum

International touch

In some cases, students can participate in the weekly classes online. This option adds to the program’s modern and international quality.

Teachers

The teacher team references Bobby McFerrin, The Real Group, Touché, and Vocal Line, and it is assisted by top guest teachers, such as beatboxing and concert design.

Tuition includes the minor subjects ear training, theory of improvisation, rhythm and coordination, vocal studies, piano, voice theory, arranging, entrepreneurship, pedagogy, ensemble singing, RAMA Voices (as a singer), and an elective flex subject.

Structure

Eight boot camps per academic year are mandatory for all students to attend in person on campus Aarhus (Monday to Friday). Three boot camps will be held in the fall and five in the spring. These are supplemented by weekly classes, which can be attended via video conference. See dates for boot camps here.

In addition, live coaching sessions via Zoom are offered four times per academic year per student, during which students bring their teacher and fellow students to watch and supervise a choir rehearsal, no matter where they live.

Admission

Find a detailed description here.

The admission test provides a complete picture of the applicant’s musical background and teaching skills. Part of the teaching takes place via videoconferencing, where students and teachers meet from different countries. This is why the admission test can naturally be conducted remotely via a video recording of the choir rehearsal and a Zoom meeting for the interview. This is optional.

The admission test consists of 2 different parts:

1) Choir leading (30 minutes). The applicant works with a mid/upper-level vocal ensemble consisting of 12 singers (or more) and a minimum of 4 voice parts. It is optional to show up in person on campus with your vocal ensemble or conduct the admission test via a video recording. The applicant demonstrates attention to detail on already learned material, as well as prepares a given assignment set by RAMA in advance.

2) Interview and voice and piano test (30 minutes). In connection with the interview, a piano and singing test will be conducted.

Important dates

  • Apply no later than March 17, 2025, here.
  • An information meeting for applicants who have signed up takes place via videoconferencing on March 20 at 16h on Zoom. Here, we give advice and guidance, and there will be an opportunity to ask questions.
  • The applicants must submit their thoughts concerning the planning and content of the admission test (description of the choir and chosen repertoire) to the study administration no later than March 24. A copy of the material (scores, lyrics, etc.) for the admission test must be submitted as a PDF.
  • The set assignment will be available on March 28, if you conduct the admission test online. Then, you have a week to record a 30-minute video that includes all admission test requirements regarding choir leading (not the voice and piano test). The deadline for submitting the video is April 6.
  • If you conduct the entrance exam on campus in person, the set assignment will be available one week in advance. You must bring your vocal ensemble for the admission test that will take place on April 11.
  • The interview, voice, and piano test will take place on April 11. Attending the event in person on campus or via Zoom is optional.

Contact

If you have any questions about the procedure for signing up and the audition, please get in touch with Professor Jim Daus Hjernøe at [email protected]

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