Irvine,
CA,
United States
Type
Public
Degrees offered
Bachelor's Degree
MFA in Music Direction in Irvine United States | University of California Irvine
University of California Irvine
|
Irvine United States
Visit institution website
for more information
Qualification
Masters Degree
Languages
English
Delivery Mode
On-Campus
Tuition (2025)
USD
26,802
Attendance
Full-time
Full-time Duration
36 months
The UC Irvine Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Music Direction equips artists for professional success in the performing arts. This unique, cross-disciplinary program operates within the Department of Drama at the Claire Trevor School of the Arts in scenic Southern California. Participants collaborate with both faculty and industry experts, gaining specialized training in: Composition, Orchestration and Arranging, Conducting, Script and Score Analysis, Vocal Pedagogy and Coaching, Music Production and Sound Design. The program offers practical learning opportunities through internships, with recent placements at Sacramento Music Circus and South Coast Repertory Theater. Ideal candidates typically possess prior experience in musical theater direction and seek to enhance their expertise in conducting, vocal preparation, rehearsal methods, composition, arrangement, and production. Applicants should demonstrate strong piano proficiency (including sight-reading, transposition, and improvisation), fundamental orchestral score-reading and conducting abilities, and a deep appreciation for musical theater. During this three-year program, students engage in meaningful collaborations with MFA Drama peers specializing in acting, directing, design, stage management, and dramaturgy, forming creative teams for various theatrical productions. Participants develop skills as music directors, lyricists, and composers under the guidance of the Music Theatre faculty. Thesis projects center on serving as Music Director for main stage productions and creating original theatrical compositions.
Destination of Study
Subjects of Study
Language Requirements
English
IELTS 7.0
Qualification Requirements
Applicants are asked to send a resum plus weblinks (ex. youtube, vimeo) to video clips that show:
keyboard skills in a variety of styles
coaching or rehearsing a singer in musical theatre repertoire from the keyboard
basic conducting skills.
All graduate applications are submitted electronically and must be supported by appropriate academic transcripts from each college/university attended, three letters of recommendation, and resume. Unofficial transcripts must be submitted online with the graduate application. Official transcripts must be provided only after a candidate has been accepted by the program and formally admitted to the university. All letters of recommendation must be submitted online. Music Direction resumes should be uploaded to the electronic application.
Applicants invited for an interview/audition will be asked to:
1. Prepare a musical theatre song accompaniment, and a contrasting excerpt from a piano/vocal score: a musical theatre overture or instrumental interlude. Choices should indicate piano skills and understanding of styles.
2. Sight-read a song accompaniment from a piano/vocal score of a musical theatre work of the faculty's choosing, and then coach a singer on the song, based on the applicant's assessment of the student's needs.
3. Demonstrate basic conducting skills, reading from a score of the faculty's choice.
4. Q&A
For those international applicants that are required to take the TOEFL test to measure English language proficiency, a minimum score of 80 is considered passing. To be eligible to receive a teaching assistantship, a minimum score on the speaking portion of 26 is required.
TOEFL iBT minimum score of 80
IELTS - An overall minimum score of 7.0 for admission, with a score of no less than 6.0 on any individual module.
Hold a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from a recognized academic institution with degree standards equivalent to those of the University of California
Have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
GRE exam is not required.
keyboard skills in a variety of styles
coaching or rehearsing a singer in musical theatre repertoire from the keyboard
basic conducting skills.
All graduate applications are submitted electronically and must be supported by appropriate academic transcripts from each college/university attended, three letters of recommendation, and resume. Unofficial transcripts must be submitted online with the graduate application. Official transcripts must be provided only after a candidate has been accepted by the program and formally admitted to the university. All letters of recommendation must be submitted online. Music Direction resumes should be uploaded to the electronic application.
Applicants invited for an interview/audition will be asked to:
1. Prepare a musical theatre song accompaniment, and a contrasting excerpt from a piano/vocal score: a musical theatre overture or instrumental interlude. Choices should indicate piano skills and understanding of styles.
2. Sight-read a song accompaniment from a piano/vocal score of a musical theatre work of the faculty's choosing, and then coach a singer on the song, based on the applicant's assessment of the student's needs.
3. Demonstrate basic conducting skills, reading from a score of the faculty's choice.
4. Q&A
For those international applicants that are required to take the TOEFL test to measure English language proficiency, a minimum score of 80 is considered passing. To be eligible to receive a teaching assistantship, a minimum score on the speaking portion of 26 is required.
TOEFL iBT minimum score of 80
IELTS - An overall minimum score of 7.0 for admission, with a score of no less than 6.0 on any individual module.
Hold a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from a recognized academic institution with degree standards equivalent to those of the University of California
Have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
GRE exam is not required.
Tuition
USD
26,802