02.12.01 Orchestral Studies Program in Strings
Admissions Process
Students will be admitted to the Orchestral Studies Program by application and by audition. Auditions will involve relevant members of the Eastman faculty and a second orchestral excerpt audition for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) audition committee. The admission process will include the standard ESM Admissions Office procedures with the addition of the RPO committee's recommendations regarding OSD applicants.
Participant Qualifications
- the program is for string instrumentalists;
- admission to the Orchestral Studies Diploma in Strings depends upon successful completion of an undergraduate degree at a college or music school of good standing;
- typical participants will concurrently be enrolled in an MM or DMA program at the Eastman School, will have completed a MM at ESM, or will have completed a Bachelors degree at ESM.
- various requirements in the certificate program are redundant with the MM PRL, such that the MM PRL, with an Orchestral Studies Diploma can be completed in 2-3 years of total study.
Musicians' Union
An important feature of this program is that all students will be provided the opportunity to perform, for a minimum of one orchestra season, selected Philharmonic Series concerts as a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. However, at no time will a participating student take the place of an RPO union musician who has secured a job as either a B contract or sub-list player. Students in this program will be used strictly in an augmentation role that is above and beyond contract mandated requirements. In consideration of the above, students in the program will join Rochester Musicians' Association, A.F.M. Local #66, and remain members in good standing for the duration of their participation in the RPO Practicum. All dues and fees associated with Union membership will be the responsibility of the participating students.
Basic Structure of the Program
- a 2-4 semester diploma program available to Eastman students who are completing, or have completed, a BM, MM, or DMA.
- a minimum of 2 semesters of performance opportunity ("Performance Practicum") in the RPO or some other professional orchestra;
- a maximum of 10 weeks per year of services (4 rehearsals + 2 performances) with the RPO on classical program concerts for Orchestral Studies Fellows;
- students participating in the RPO will receive no compensation from the Orchestra.
- Students will be considered for graduate awards based on the quality of their audition and application materials (above and beyond any other Eastman scholarship or fellowship) that may be used to defray the cost of tuition and fees while studying at the Eastman School.
- Orchestral Studies Fellows must also complete courses in an Orchestral Studies Diploma curriculum which will include performance in the large ensemble; orchestral repertoire classes; a Management Internship in the RPO in educational programming, fundraising, personnel management, etc.; a range of Orchestral Studies required electives.
| Curriculum | Credits |
| ORC 420 RPO Practicum (3-6 weeks per semester) (2 cr. hrs. per semester) | 4 |
| Management Internships (5 hours per week)
|
0 |
| Possible Internships: personnel management, educational outreach, Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, fundraising, operations, board relations, promotion, etc. | |
| Large ensemble (ENS 400) 3-4 concerts per semester (1 cr. hr. per semester) | 2 |
| Orchestral Repertoire (2 cr. hr. per semester) | 4 |
| Orchestral Studies required elective | 6 |
| A minimum of 3 elective credits must come from the Arts Leadership Curriculum, and OSD students are required to take "Realities of Orchestral Life" (1 credit) and "How to Win and Orchestral Audition" (2 credits). (Courses may vary from half-semester ALP type seminars to typical three-credit hour academic courses.) Two credit hours of Chamber Music may be applied to the 6-hour elective requirement. | |
| Studio Lessons (460A) (beyond MM) | 8 |
| Total | 24 |
| Additional non-credit requirement: Final Jury Examination (mock orchestral audition). Student must be enrolled in lessons at the time of the Jury, and must have completed at least one semester of Orchestral Repertoire Class. | |
Credits earned at another institution may not be transferred and applied towards the Orchestral Studies Diploma. Orchestral Studies Elective credits received at ESM before admittance to the OSD program may still be applied towards the elective requirement, with permission of the Graduate Dean and the Orchestral Studies Diploma Director. (rev. 7/31/08)
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