MMus Brass Band Conducting

Deepen your understanding of conducting with our master’s course that will give you all the knowledge and experience necessary to thrive in an ever-changing arts industry.

Here, you’ll take your abilities to an advanced level where technical proficiency and musical artistry are combined, allowing you to approach any brass band conducting role with confidence.

In a mix of one-to-one tuition and group classes, you’ll train with some of the industry’s best conductors in a city with a thriving network of local brass bands. Throughout your course, you’ll rub shoulders with working professionals, from your tutors and the international roster of visiting artists to the specialist mentor who will help you shape your project work.

As part of your course, you’ll have opportunities to create and curate your own performance projects. You can also conduct self-promoted student performances and direct College ensembles, rehearsals and productions. You’ll have the chance to observe and interact with conductors within professional settings, too.

With our flexible course structure, you can tailor your study to suit your career ambitions. And we offer a selection of professional development support, as well as classes in score-reading, aural training and broader repertoire studies, giving you a solid foundation for a lasting, successful career in conducting.

• Our impressive list of tutors includes renowned instrumental soloists and chamber musicians, distinguished coaches, prominent composers, conductors and creative artists in a range of genres – plus principal players in major orchestras and ensembles. They offer you not only first-rate teaching, but mentorship and networking opportunities as well.
  
• Our programme of study doesn’t use a one-size-fits-all approach, allowing you to shape your core modules to match with your skills and ambitions. And with some modules, you’ll receive a certain degree of flexibility in the assessment format, so you can test your knowledge in a way that suits you.
• You’ll have additional masterclass sessions with guest conductors, where you can take part or observe, depending on the focus of the session.
• We’ve partnered with renowned arts organisations here and abroad, which means you’ll be able to develop a network of industry contacts and observe conductors within a professional setting – such as in rehearsal with the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales, and Welsh National Opera orchestra. You can also observe visiting orchestras and choirs as part of the St David’s Hall International Concert Series.
• During your course, you’ll also create and curate your own conducting projects, allowing you to conduct more detailed research into areas that align with your interests, skills and career goals.
• You’ll get a high level of one-to-one teaching, but you’ll also have myriad opportunities to collaborate with your fellow conducting students and those studying on our drama courses too. Not only does it give you a chance to create exciting new work, but it allows you to form creative partnerships that will last long after you graduate.
• Whenever the schedule allows, you’ll also be invited to rehearse our brass band in preparation for concerts – often leading performances of a work on the programme.
• Cardiff is home to an active community of local brass bands, with Cory Band as its brass band in residence. So you can take advantage of opportunities to observe and even conduct a range of ensembles.
• To help you become an innovative, employable musician, half of your second year delves into creating professional projects. Areas you can focus on include research, teaching, community music, collaborative creative practice, composition and digital artistry.
• As part of this, you’ll regularly meet with specialist mentors, allowing you to build a solid network of contacts.
• Aside from your practical training, you can take part in seminars that examine key elements of developing and sustaining a successful career – such as networking, social media presence, tax and finance, funding applications and establishing yourself as an independent artist.