Master of Music - Orchestral Conducting
Enhance your abilities as an effective music educator and conductor with Messiah University’s M.M. in conducting orchestral degree track. Through intensive study in the areas of orchestral literature, pedagogy, diction and applied conducting, students grow as conductors, increase musicianship and competence and gain sophistication on the podium.
Orchestral Conducting overview
Messiah University’s orchestral conducting track is designed for those aspiring to become better conductors, whether they are working in elementary or secondary school orchestral programs, community orchestras or chamber ensembles. Orchestral conducting students will hone their abilities as teaching musicians through score study, rehearsal techniques and repertoire selection.
- 30-33 credits – Students will have the opportunity to test-out of a three-credit course (MUTH 504, Music Theory Concepts) through completing a Graduate Theory Placement Exam after enrollment.
- Coursework tailored to conducting specialty
- Combination of 8-week, 16-week and 1-week summer intensive courses
- Three summer and two-year completion
- Designed to fit schedule of teachers and other working professionals
- Coursework designed to be instantly applicable to everyday work settings
- Rolling admission for Fall and Spring start dates
- Fulfillment of Act 48 credits in Pennsylvania
- Deferred payment option available
- Premier facilities—On-campus coursework is conducted in the acoustically stunning Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts
- Faculty are experienced, trained music educators and conductors with extensive college and public-school teaching experience.
- No-fee tuition
- No application fee
- Orchestral conductor for school, church and civic orchestras and chamber ensembles.
- Music director
- Music educator
Messiah University’s Master of Music in Conducting and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
Messiah University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education. It is the highest accrediting authority recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for degree-granting colleges and universities located in Pennsylvania, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and several other locations internationally.
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Programs related to Orchestral Conducting
Orchestral Conducting tuition cost
No-fee tuition
Know what you are paying for with Messiah’s no-fee tuition. With our graduate programs, the cost per credit is what you pay – there are no hidden fees for labs, courses, services or technology. We put the true cost of your program upfront so that you can accurately compare and plan for your graduate education.
Deferred billing
Deferred billing is available for students with employer reimbursement. For more information contact Student Financial Services at gradfinancialserv@messiah.edu.
2025-2026
No-fee tuition per graduate credit hour: $800
Tuition cost for the entire program at the 2025-2026 rate: ranges from $24,000 (30 credits) - $26,400 (33 credits).
Graduate students are eligible to apply for federal financial aid.
Next steps for admissions
Applying for admission to a graduate program at Messiah University is the first step to making your personal and professional goals a reality.
Julia Varela
Assistant Director of Enrollment, Graduate & Professional Studies
717-796-1800 Ext. 2622
Messiah University has the largest NASM-accredited graduate program in music in the U.S. and has been successfully educating music conductors and educators online for more than 10 years.
Academic excellence
Messiah University is a nationally ranked Christian university and provides all music conducting and education students quality academic offerings online and in a state-of the-art facility. The High Center for Worship and Performing Arts provides each graduate student the opportunity to refine their skills in a performance hall that has no equal. The facility boasts one of the most highly technologically advanced learning environments on the east coast. (Watch the video tour.)
Reputation
Messiah University has the largest NASM-accredited Master of Music in conducting program in the United States and the only accredited online Master of Music in conducting program in Pennsylvania. An innovator in online conducting technology and instruction, Messiah has been successfully educating graduate-level music conductors and educators online for more than 10 years.
Practical approach
Messiah University offers degrees that provide applicable knowledge in each course offered. As you progress through coursework, you’ll acquire knowledge that can be taken and used immediately in your own classroom, allowing you to become a better teacher and musician.
Faculty
Messiah’s music faculty are an engaged group of educators who are very experienced in public and private school education. Many of our faculty throughout their careers spent time teaching in the public/private schools. In addition, our faculty are currently active in schools providing services such as guest conducting, clinics and adjudication. As a graduate student, you will be studying podium effectiveness and music pedagogy from educators who work in public schools every week.
Flexibility
Due to advancements in technology, Messiah has been able to erase geographical boundaries that, until recently, prohibited teachers from studying music conducting and education in online environments. We are now able to offer degrees that allow students to continue to teach while studying. That opens the door to many who, until recently, did not have the abilities of leaving jobs to go back to school full time.