Graduate Assistantships in Bands

Duties:

Graduate Assistantships in Band require an approximate load of 20 hours per week as assigned by the Director of Bands. Graduate Assistants will serve as the conductor of the Men’s Basketball Band and assist with the Women’s Basketball Band or serve as the conductor of the Women’s Basketball Band and assist with the Men’s Basketball Band. Duties also include:
1. Supervision of the School of Music instrument inventory
2. Performance participation in the nationally renowned Symphonic Wind Ensemble on his/her principal instrument
3. Performance participation in the Concert Band on his/her secondary instrument
4. Conducting of bands and chamber ensembles commensurate with conducting skills and experience
5. Serve as administrative assistant to the Director of Bands

Qualifications:

1. BM or BME
2. Public school teaching experience desirable but not required
3. Graduate performance level on principal instrument
4. Conducting ability, skills, and experience enabling the applicant to conduct university ensembles

Financial Package:

Total financial package is $10,400 per school year – including a tuition remission of up to $2,400 and a stipend of $8,000 per academic year. This stipend is pro-rated over nine months, with the first payment given in mid-September. Graduate assistants are entitled to in-state tuition privileges. Stipend and tuition remission are subject to legislative approval. Receiving an additional stipend is possible by performing with a basketball band when not conducting a band at a game.

Admission:

Admission and assistantship applications may be obtained by contacting Mark Foley, Coordinator of Graduate Music Studies, School of Music, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS 67260-0053. All international applicants must pass the (SPEAK) Institutional Test for Spoken English with a score of 50 or better. Applicants may not be considered until admission to the Graduate School has been secured.

Conducting and Instrument Audition:

A conducting audition, performance audition on the principal instrument, and an interview are required of all candidates. To make audition arrangements and to schedule a campus visit, contact by mail Dr. Victor Markovich, Director of Bands, School of Music, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS 67260-0053. Arrangements also can be made by phone – (316) 978-6424 – or by e-mail.

Instrumental Conducting Degrees:
Wind Ensemble/Band Emphasis

Application, Interview and Audition Information

Master of Music in Instrumental Conducing Concentration
Master of Music Education - Instrumental Conducting Emphasis Option

The degrees of Master of Music in Instrumental Conducing Concentration and the Master of Music Education - Instrumental Conducting Emphasis Options each require at least one academic year in residence. Conducting experiences include rehearsal and performance responsibilities with the Concert Band, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, possibly the Symphony Orchestra, and additionally significant conducting with chamber ensembles. As a result of these concentrated experiences the degree program is limited to a few carefully selected candidates. The process of selecting these candidates will be aided significantly by each applicant providing the following information with their application:

I. General requirements:
1. Admission to the Graduate School
2. An audition, to be arranged, on the applicants principal instrument is required
3. A conducting audition, to be arranged, with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble.

II. Written requirements to be submitted to the Director of Bands:
1. A professional resume
2. A repertoire list covering the following literature:
    a. Works prepared and conducted
    b. Works studied and ready to conduct
    c. Significant wind works performed as an instrumentalist in an ensemble

III. On-campus Audition/Interview requirements:
1. Perform a representative work on your principal instrument with competence for the applied faculty member of your instrument.
2. Conduct the WSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble: Gustav Holst - Second Suite in F, all movements.
3. Prepare a formal analysis and be prepared to discuss with the Director of Bands, in a private interview, the Gustav Holst - Second Suite in F, all movements. Address the following aspects of the work: Composer, Composition, Historical Perspective, Technical Considerations, Stylistic Considerations, Musical Elements, Form and Structure.
4. Personal interview by the Wind Conducting faculty, applied instrument faculty member, graduate coordinator, instrumental music education specialist.
5. Perspective candidates should plan to be on campus for a full day for a campus visitation, interviews, meetings and lunch with current band/wind ensemble conducting majors, and auditions.

Candidates for the M.M.E.- Instrumental Conducting Emphasis (Option) and the M.M. Instrumental Conducting degrees are expected to participate in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Concert Band each semester in residence in addition to enrolling in applied lessons on their instrument each semester.

Dr. Victor A. Markovich
Coordinator and Advisor
Graduate Instrumental Wind Ensemble/Band Conducting Programs
Professor of Music
Director of Bands
Director of Winds and Percussion Studies
316 - 978 6424
victor.markovich@wichita.edu