Entrance examinations for ensemble conducting

You can choose to take the audition at the master's level of the Academy. You must choose either a) ensemble conducting or b) choral conducting.

The entrance examination consists of two parts: an exam in general subjects (singing, piano and aural training) and a principal study examination. 

The exam in general subjects must be passed in order to proceed to the principal study examination. The two parts of the examination will be placed on two different days.

1. General subjects (singing, piano and aural training)

A. Self-chosen assignments

  1. One self-chosen piano piece from sheet music (maximum 5 minutes)
  2. One self-chosen song/aria/lied. If the applicant wishes and brings piano sheet music, the subject examiner may provide accompaniment. 

B. Set task(choir conducting applicants only)

  1. One choral part is sung while the remaining parts are played on the piano (Of a difficulty level comparable to Benjamin Britten: Sacred and Profane nr. 4, The long night.)

C. Seconda vista

  1. Performance of a short piano piece
  2. Score playing assignment: 
  • For ensemble conductors: a melody noted in either alto or tenor clef and a melody noted for B-flat or A transposing instruments are performed on the piano.
  • For choir conductors: a four-part choral score notated on four staves is performed on the piano. 

D. Prima vista

  1. Two to three rhythm exercises which may include changing time signatures, irregular time signatures and polyrhythmic figures.
  2. Two to three short melodic passages of varying character are sung. These may be either tonal or atonal. 

E. Aural analysis

  1. Harmonic analysis of a short played chord progression (chorale). 

The assigned assignment for choir conductors (B) is e-mailed to the applicant one week before the examination. For the two seconda vista assignments (C) 45 minutes of preparation in a room with a piano are provided.

The examination is assessed by the principal study teacher and two internal censors. 
The total duration of the examination, including assessment, is 45 minutes. 
The examination is assessed on a pass/fail basis. 
 

2. Principal study

a) The entrance examination in ensemble conducting consists of two parts.

First, the applicant conducts three very short pieces of contrasting character with which the ensemble is already familiar. One of these pieces will be a Bach chorale.

During this part of the examination, the censors will to some extent interact with the applicant and may, for example, ask to hear a passage again in a different tempo or with a different character.

In the second part of the examination, the applicant works with a somewhat longer piece (3-5 minutes) which the ensemble has previously read through.

This part of the examination provides an opportunity to demonstrate different aspects of the role of conductor and instructor, and, where appropriate, to work with issues such as sound, phrasing, balance and intonation.

It will be natural to conclude this part with a complete run-through of the piece.

A small ensemble (5-8 musicians at conservatoire level) will be provided for the examination.

The assignments are e-mailed to the applicant one week before the examination. 

 

b) At the entrance examination in choir conducting, the applicant works with two pieces.

One piece is very familiar to the choir. The task is to refine details during a short rehearsal and subsequently conduct the piece as a concert-ready work. A tuning fork is used for giving the starting pitch.

Example repertoire: Felix Mendelssohn: Es fiel ein Reif, Op. 41 or Thomas Tallis: If Ye Love Me.

Particular emphasis is placed on the applicant’s ability to conclude a rehearsal process and conduct the resulting performance. Maximum duration: 5 minutes.

The second piece is a rehearsal assignment with which the choir has some prior familiarity. The task is to demonstrate as many aspects of choral instruction as possible and to work with, for example, sound, phrasing, text work, balance, intonation and vocal expression. The piano is used during the rehearsal process.

Example repertoire: Johannes Brahms: Nachtwache II, Op. 104 or Francis Poulenc: Salve Regina.

Particular emphasis is placed on the applicant’s ability to create progression during the rehearsal process, both with and without piano. Maximum duration: 10 minutes.

The assignments are e-mailed to the applicant one week before the examination. 

Both examinations are supplemented by a short interview which may take its point of departure in the examination.

The duration of the examination is 30 minutes (45 minutes including assessment and interview).

The examination is assessed by two internal censors and a grade is awarded according to the Danish 7-point grading scale. 

 

Supplementary requirements

Applicants must also document completion of a course in elementary conducting technique at conservatoire level. The course may be included in the qualifying programme or taken as a supplementary course.

As documentation of elementary conducting technique, applicants are requested to submit a video demonstrating their skills in working with an ensemble or orchestra. 

The entrance examination for the Master's programme is online. It consists of three rounds. Applicants must pass the first round to proceed to the second, and the second round to proceed to the third—these rounds are sequential and prohibitive.

  1. Audition recording and online aural training test
  2. Set task
  3. Interview

All three parts of the entrance exam must be passed. 

1st round - Audition recording and online aural training exam
A recording of the audition repertoire.  Requiremets for the repertoire and the recording are listed below.

An online aural training exam. Find the description of the exam below.

2nd round - Set task
RDAM will provide applicants with a set task 7 days before the application deadline. 

The set task must be uploaded together with the rest of the application before the deadline. The aim of the set task is to assess how far an applicant can progress with a piece they likely have not encountered before. It is important to underline that there are no formal requirements to the quality of the recording of the proposed task. I.e. using a smartphone on the music stand is perfectly fine.

The set task will be available here 3 March 2026.

3rd round - Interview
The conversation will assess language skills and general communication and reflection abilities in English. The submitted letter of motivation and repertoire list will form the basis for the interview, but many different subjects may be addressed. 

Based on the above, RDAM will decide if the applicant is recommended for admission.

Repertoire requirements for the audition recording

Principal study

Duration: 10-25 minutes

  • A video recording of you conducting an ensemble of at least five musicians - preferably an orchestra. The recording must be of a previously prepared piece of a 5-10 minutes duration without interruptions - preferably from a concert. The conductor must be seen from the front.
  • A video recording from a rehearsal with an ensemble of at least five musicians - preferably an orchestra. The recording must be of you working with and instructing the ensemble. The recording must be of duration of at least 5 minutes. If at all possible, the rehearsal should be held in English. If it is not possible, your online interview (part of the language requirements) will be a longer interview, where you will have the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to participate actively in a conversation on a level sufficient to instruct an ensemble. 

Piano

Duration: maximum 10 minutes

  • a classic piano piece of your choice is performed
  • a set task

The set task will be available here 3 March 2026.

Requirements for the audition recording

  • The audition recording must be unedited except between performances (i.e. between pieces), and the audition must be recorded within six months of submitting your application.
  • Check that the recording submitted is accessible and that all recordings have been submitted successfully.
  • Accepted formats: mp4, mp3, webm and mpeg.
  • The maximum size of a file that can be submitted in the online application is 1GB. Therefore, it might be necessary to divide your audition recording into individual pieces (please remember not to edit within a piece of music).  

For extra guidelines on video recording, please watch our video. If YouTube is not available in your country, the video can also be accessed here.

Online aural training exam

Applicants for the Master's programme in Ensemble conducting will be called for an online aural training exam.

Rhythm

A rhythm task that can contain polyrhythms as well as irregular and mixed time signatures. The rhythm task is unison and must be performed with an appropriate conducting pattern. 

Melody

A melodic task which can be either an accompanied romantic song or a freetonal or atonal unaccompanied melody. The melody is sung, preferably with lyrics. If it is an accompanied song, the accompaniment is played by the subject examiner. 

Chord hearing

Aural harmonic analysis of a short homophonic piece.

Score play

  • For ensemble conductors: a melody noted in alto or tenor clef is played on piano
  • For ensemble conductors: a melody noted for Bb or A transposing instruments is played on piano at its sounding pitch 
  • For choir conductors: an excerpt of a choral piece is played on piano  

30 minutes of preparation are given. The duration of the entrance examination is 15 minutes including assessment.


Supporting information to be prepared when applying

Repertoire list: Applicants must submit a repertoire list with works/pieces/studies they have previously worked on in their application. 

Ensemble and/or orchestra playing: Applicants should describe their experiences in playing in orchestra/choir or smaller ensembles i.e. which kind of orchestra/ensemble, duration, repertoire.