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Bachelor of Music Church Music (Catholic)

Bachelor of Music - Church Music (Catholic)

The Bachelor of Music in Catholic Church Music thoroughly prepares students for the various challenges they will face in a career in church music.

The degree program is distinguished by the large number of subjects it offers (prescribed by the Church), thus ensuring that the degree program has an interdisciplinary focus from the beginning.

The program develops the artistic personality of students and bestows them with the wide range of skills necessary for conducting ensembles and playing the organ. The program also focuses on teaching extensive instrument and voice skills as well as a firm grasp of theology, music theory, and musicology.

General Information

  • Academic degree: Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.)
  • Duration of degree program: 8 semesters (4 years)
  • Start of program: Winter semester
  • Degree requirements: 240 ECTS credits
  • Major: Church Music (Catholic)
  • Graduate program: Master of Music Church Music

The application takes place online via the muvac platform. You can find all the information about the procedure on our Application page.

Admission Requirements

  • A general certificate of secondary education or other comparable higher education entrance qualification.
  • For non-German-speaking applications, proof of a language certificate at DaF level 3 is also required.
  • Successful completion of the entrance examination.

Entrance examination

The entrance examination consists of the following two parts:

  1. Practical performance test in choral direction, singing and speaking, organ literature, organ improvisation and piano performance (total duration approx. 60 minutes);
  2. Written test (duration: 60 minutes) and oral test (duration: approx. 15 minutes), both assessing aural training.

Detailed information can be found in the Entrance Examination Regulations, particularly in section 5: Content Requirements and Examination Format (§5 Inhaltliche Anforderungen und Durchführung der Prüfung).

Applications for this degree programme can be made to start in either the winter or summer semester. The deadline for applications is either 01/03 (to begin in the winter semester) or 01/10 (to begin in the summer semester) of each year. 

Downloads

The degree program is divided into a basic program (first and second year) comprising a large number of obligatory modules and an advanced program (third and fourth year) which consists of different courses for different specializations.

The degree map comprises 7 main modules:

  1. Core module
  2. Artistic practical context
  3. Education
  4. Music appreciation
  5. Career development
  6. Bachelor/interdisciplinary capstone Project
  7. Supplementary studies

Downloads

Organ
Wolfgang Abendroth (Improv.)
Domorganist Prof. Dr. Winfried Bönig
Prof. Margareta Hürholz
Otto Maria Krämer (Improv.)
Prof. Thierry Mechler

Choir and Orchestra Conducting
Prof. Reiner Schuhenn (Chor- und Orchesterleitung)
Fabio Mancini (Orchesterleitung)

Children's Choir Director – Singen mit Kindern (Singing with Children)
Prof. Robert Göstl  

Gregorianik/Scholaleitung
Maria Jonas
Marius Horstschäfer

Kirchenliedgechichte/Hymnologie - Deutscher Liturgiegesang
Prof. Richard Mailänder

Liturgik/Theologie
Pfr. Dr. Marius Linnenborn

Orgelbaukunde
Ansgar Wallenhorst

Early Music
Prof. Gerald Hambitzer

Popular Music
Christoph Eisenburger

The following organs are used at the University for practice and instructional sessions:

  • Klais/Thomas III/47
  • Schuke – III/38
  • Ahrend – II/19
  • Cavaille Coll/Mutin – II/12
  • Eule – III/6 (various windchests)
  • Rohlf – II/5

Cologne’s many churches have instruments of all types which are available for use outside of the University.

In particular:

  • St. Kunibert, Kuhn – III/42
  • Trinitatiskirches, Klais – III/44, consecrated in January 2010
  • Cathedral, Klais – IV/89 and III/53 (students of the University regularly play at the Cathedral’s weekday prayer sessions at midday)

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