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.
The application takes place online via the muvac platform. You can find all the information about the procedure on our Application page.
The entrance examination consists of the following two parts:
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.
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:
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:
Cologne’s many churches have instruments of all types which are available for use outside of the University.
In particular: