NCCO8 Conductor Fellowship

Objectives

1. To encourage and support graduate students who are on the cusp of a career in academia.
2. To provide an opportunity to sharpen conducting technique, score preparation skills, and rehearsal methods in a conducting masterclass with Members of the UMD Chamber Singers and one of the NCCO8 Featured Artists.
3. To provide networking opportunities with fellow collegiate choral conductors with the intent to develop mentor/mentee relationships that continue beyond the conference.
4. To encourage graduate student activity at the NCCO National Conference.

Applicant Criteria

1. Applicant must hold an active NCCO student membership.
2. Applicant must be actively pursuing a master's or doctoral degree in choral conducting or a related area and should indicate where they are in their degree program, including their anticipated date of graduation.
3. Applicant must submit a complete application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
4. All accepted fellows are expected to attend the NCCO 8th Biennial Conference at the University of Maryland, November 7--9, 2019, and attend all Fellowship-related events.

Application Material Requirements

(Due September 15, 11:59PM; September 30 notification)

1. C.V. highlighting the applicant's academic/teaching experience, if any, and their work with both collegiate-level and other ensembles
2. Video, no longer than 15 minutes, of the applicant conducting in rehearsal and performance. Submissions must be uploaded to YouTube. Video footage ideally provides clear images of the front of the conductor during rehearsal and performance; verbal instructions given by conductor must be clearly audible. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide the selection committee with the correct URL for accessing the video footage.
3. Two letters of recommendation: one from a current primary faculty member and one from another person (either faculty member or professional in the choral field). Both letters should speak to any or all of the following about the applicant:
   1. Progress in their academic degree
   2. Conducting skill and comfort working with collegiate-level students
   3. Potential for success collegiate teaching and conducting
   4. Leadership attributes and potential
   5. Collegiality
4. All application materials are to be uploaded online to the MCP Conductor Fellowship application page. Applications will not be accepted via e-mail or by any other means.
5. $25 application fee (payable through online portal)

Summary

Below is a summary of what the MCP Fellows will experience during and after the 2019 NCCO National Conference:

1. Participation in the Conducting Masterclass with Members of the UMD Chamber Singers and Featured Artist, María Guinand
2. Lunch with both NCCO8 Featured Artists (María Guinand and Damien Sneed) and other fellows
3. Evening mixer event with current choral faculty and other choral leaders
4. Mentorship with a current choral faculty member, with the goal that this relationship will continue beyond the conference
5. $500 stipend + student conference registration fee waived

Note: Up to 5 (five) "MCP Fellows" will be selected