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Master of Music Church Music (catholic)

Master of Music - Church Music (catholic)

The Master’s Degree Programme in Catholic Church Music at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln

The Master’s programme takes four semesters and offers the opportunity to expand on the general degree programme. The course serves to enhance students’ knowledge of the most important disciplines in church music and follows on from the Bachelor of Music programme in Church Music.

Completing the Master of Music in Catholic Church Music qualifies students to take advanced positions as musicians in churches (formally an “A” level position in the German qualification system for church musicians). Additionally, the comprehensive qualification offered by the programme opens up a great many job opportunities for professional musicians.

General Information

  • Academic degree: Master of Music
  • Duration of degree program: 4 semesters (2 years)
  • Start of program: Winter and summer semester
  • Degree requirements: 120 ECTS credits
  • Major: Church Music (catholic)

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 Bachelor’s Degree in Church Music or other comparable degree from a traditional, undergraduate academic programme (e.g. a Diploma in Church Music) is required.
  • Students who have not graduated from a German-speaking institution must prove that they have sufficient knowledge of the German language (a minimum of A2 level, based on the European Reference Framework for Languages).
  • Successful completion of the entrance examination.

Entrance examination

The entrance examination is a practical performance test lasting approximately 20 minutes. The candidate is expected to demonstrate their ability on the organ, in chordal conducting, in improvisation and as a vocalist. Detailed information can be found in the Entrance Examination Regulations, particularly in section 5: Content Requirements and Examination Format.

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

As a postgraduate course, the Master of Music in Sacred Music expands on the knowledge acquired in a Bachelor’s Degree (or diploma). In the 3rd and 4th semesters of the programme, students are able to further deepen their knowledge of the material covered in one of the core modules, including choral conducting, orchestral conducting, conducting for children’s choirs, organ performance or liturgical organ playing.

Downloads

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

Chor- und Orchesterleitung
Prof. Reiner Schuhenn (Chor- und Orchesterleitung)
Fabio Mancini (Orchesterleitung)

Kinderchorleitung – Singen mit Kindern
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

Alte Musik
Prof. Gerald Hambitzer

Populäre Musik
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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