Orchestral Studies Program
Professional Diploma (post-masters)
Chicago College of Performing Arts offers an Orchestral Studies Program to train orchestral performers to the highest professional standards. CCPA is uniquely positioned to offer this program, having more than 25 members of the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera orchestras on the faculty (half of whom are principals).
Admission
Admission to the Orchestral Studies major is based on the audition. Students should apply for the Performance major, but indicate their interest in the Orchestral Studies program on the application. Because of the selective nature of the Orchestral Studies program, students not admitted to Orchestral Studies will automatically be considered for the Performance program as well. Applicants must present excerpts in addition to the requirements for Performance degree program. Admission into the Orchestral Studies program is limited to woodwind, brass, and percussion students.
Technical Development
Studio
Students receive a one hour studio session each week. Additionally, students receive lessons devoted to the study of orchestral excerpts.
Performance Classes
All students perform regularly for their peers in performance classes. These classes include solo and chamber music repertoire, as well as discussions of relevant issues and practica designed for the individual instruments. From time to time, performance classes are given for combinations of woodwinds, brass, percussion and strings.
Master Classes
All students are required to participate in a series of master classes presented by distinguished visiting soloists, chamber, and orchestral musicians. Recent master classes included members of the London Philharmonic, and the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra.
Juries and Recitals
Each undergraduate student is required to present a repertoire jury each semester, with the exception of the very first semester. In addition to juries, all students from the junior level up are expected to perform annually in recital: Juniors must perform a 30 minute recital; seniors and graduate students must perform a 60 minute recital.Graduate students present juries each semester, and a recital each spring.
Repertoire Development
It is a goal of the program that all students develop a broad familiarity with, and understanding of, the musical context in which they will build their professional lives. To achieve these goals, students take a number of important courses, including musicianship and general musical history courses, as well as the following specific studies in repertoire and literature:
Orchestral Literature and Repertoire
Master's and Professional Diploma students who have not had the equivalent of these courses will be required to take them as remedial work. In addition to these courses, the Orchestral Studies Program places an emphasis on building students' practical familiarity with a broad range of orchestral repertoire through reading (including sight-reading) rehearsals and repertoire classes.
Excerpts
Based on excerpt lists from the major orchestras and opera companies in America, all students in the Orchestral Studies Program take an additional % hour per week excerpts lesson in addition to their private study, on a schedule specified in their degree or diploma requirements. Students taking excerpt lessons are also required to present a special excerpts jury.
Orchestra
Guest Conductors, Soloists and Orchestra Musicians
Orchestral majors' experience and training are enhanced by the presence of distinguished guest conductors and soloists who rehearse and perform with the CCPA Symphony Orchestra. Recent guest conductors (2005-06) includes Jane Glover (Music of the Baroque), Joseph Silverstein and Jay Friedman (Chicago Symphony Orchestra). In 2006-07, CCPA welcomes Andrew Grams and Rossen Milanov.
Performances
The CCPA Symphony Orchestra presents many performances each season, including symphony, choral, opera and musical theatre concerts. Each year the orchestra performs in the world famous Auditorium Theatre, a 3,700 seat space designed by Adler and Sullivan.
Chamber Orchestra
The Symphony Orchestra is configured from time to time to form the Chamber Orchestra, so that students will have the fullest possible training experience, including baroque and new music.
Other Performance Activities
All students participate in chamber music; graduate and diploma students are required to take a minimum of two semesters. In all cases, students with an interest in early or contemporary music may substitute Collegium Musicum or New Music Ensemble for Chamber Music.
Concerto Competition
There is a concerto competition each year, open to all students. Winners appear in concert with the orchestra.
Wind Ensemble
The CCPA Wind Ensemble performs a broad range of repertoire for winds and percussion, including commissioned works and other premiers.
Professional Life
It is a goal of the Orchestral Studies Program that students will develop a broad familiarity with the expectations of a professional life in music.
Orchestral studies students participate in a series of seminars presented by faculty and visiting artists. These cover a wide variety of topics of importance to professional life, including etiquette, ethics, orchestral life (committees, contracts, etc.), physical and psychological aspects of injury prevention, and career promotion. The newest addition to the seminar faculty is recently retired President of the Chicago Symphony, Henry Fogel.
Professional Diploma in Orchestral Studies (subject to change)
Year One
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Applied 451 | 4 | Fall | |
| PERF 411 | Orchestral Excerpts I | 2 | Fall |
| PERF 405 | Orchestral Audition Jury | 2 | Fall |
| ENS 402 | Symphony Orchestra | 1 | Fall |
| PERF 423 | Orchestral Seminar I | 1 | Fall |
| Major Applied 452 | 4 | Spring | |
| PERF 412 | Orchestral Excerpts II | 2 | Spring |
| PERF 405 | Orchestral Audition Jury | 2 | Spring |
| ENS 402 | Symphony Orchestra | 1 | Spring |
| PERF 424 | Orchestral Seminar II | 1 | Spring |
Year Two
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Applied 453 | 4 | Fall | |
| PERF 413 | Orchestral Excerpts III | 2 | Fall |
| PERF 405 | Orchestral Audition Jury | 2 | Fall |
| ENS 402 | Symphony Orchestra | 1 | Fall |
| Major Applied 454 | 4 | Spring | |
| PERF 414 | Orchestral Excerpts IV | 2 | Spring |
| PERF 418 | Recital | 2 | Spring |
| ENS 402 | Symphony Orchestra | 1 | Spring |
All information is for illustrative purposes only. Please see the Associate Dean of the Music Conservatory for actual degree plans.