Master of Music (MM) in Choral/Instrumental Conducting

Submission of the following:

    1. CV
    2. 10-minute choral/instrumental rehearsal excerpt
    3. 10-minute choral/instrumental performance excerpt
    4. 1-2 page statement on why you would like to pursue graduate studies in conducting.

Submit via Google drive link to Dr. Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng at bscheng@up.edu.ph (cc: conducting.upd@up.edu.ph) by April 24, 2026.

Upon a successful evaluation of the applicant’s graduate placement exam and submitted materials, the Chair of the Department will email the applicant to prepare for an interview and presentation of analysis of a major choral/instrumental work.

Master of Music in Instrumental Performance (Piano) and Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy

Admission and Audition Requirements

AY 2025-2026

Contact: Asst. Prof. Mita Antonia Fernandez Chair, Keyboard Department (keyboard.upd@up.edu.ph)

Audition Requirements and Guidelines for Applicants to the MM in Instrumental Performance (Piano) and MM in Piano Pedagogy programs

1. The Keyboard Department is encouraging the applicants who will pass the Graduate Placement Exam to do the face-to-face live audition. Applicants who could not come to the face-to-face live audition due to valid reasons have to do a live-streamed audition. Both modes of audition will be done on May 16, 2025 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM in Room 109- A.


2. The detailed schedule of the audition and the details of the live-streamed audition will be sent per e-mail on May 5, 2025.


3. The following shall be sent per e-mail to Asst. Prof. Mita Antonia Fernandez (msfernandez3@up.edu.ph) on May 6, 2025
   
   1) audition repertoire in Word file with the following details:
   a) complete name of the applicant,
   b) program applied for,
   c) composer and complete title of each work and duration of each piece (for applicants in both programs ); and
   
   2) a link to the video demonstration of piano teaching of at least fifteen (15) minutes in length (for MM in Piano Pedagogy applicants only).
   The audition repertoire should have a total duration of 60 minutes for MM in Instrumental Performance (Piano) and 15-30 minutes for MM in Piano Pedagogy.
   
4. All pieces shall be played from memory.


5. The order of performance of pieces shall be at the discretion of the applicant.

Repertoire Requirements for MM in Instrumental Performance (Piano) program

Entrance requirements for the MM in Instrumental Performance (Piano) program consist of the following: a Baroque work, a complete Classical work, a Romantic work and Impressionistic/20th-21st century work. The audition repertoire should be equivalent to the BM level.

Admission and Repertoire Requirements for MM in Piano Pedagogy program

Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy

The University of the Philippines College of Music is pleased to announce the institution of the Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy degree program. Upon the approval and endorsement of the UP Diliman University Council at its 176th meeting on March 20, 2023, the new degree program was approved by the Board of Regents at its 1379th meeting on April 3, 2023. “The Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy is a two-year graduate program that focuses on teaching. It intends to train teachers in piano instruction for three levels of piano students: beginning, intermediate, and early advanced or pre-college levels. Its capstone requirement is a lecture-recital that focuses on elements, chosen pedagogical concerns and approaches to interpretation and performance of chosen works”. (Appendix F Page 4_Approved Institution of the MM in Piano Pedagogy Program)

Admission Requirements

1. The program is open to applicants who hold a Bachelor of Music degree from reputable institution of higher learning or one duly recognized by the University of the Philippines College of Music. It is preferable that the applicant has had at least one year of piano teaching experience.


2. The applicant must submit the following:
   
   1) A completed application document;
   2) Undergraduate academic records with a general weighted average (GWA) of 2.0 or better;
   3) A video demonstration of piano teaching of at least fifteen (15) minutes in length. Individual and/or group lessons at any level are acceptable;
   4) The applicant must play an audition repertoire consisting of at least:
      i)    A two-part Invention by Johann Sebastian Bach;
      ii)    A fast movement of a Classical sonata;
      iii)    An étude from Czerny op. 299;
      iv)    A choice of an early advanced piece from the Romantic period, from the 20 th -21 st century or a Filipino work.
   5) All pieces must be performed from memory. The audition should reflect the highest possible level of playing of the applicant.


3. Additional evaluations
   
   1) The Graduate Studies Program Coordinator will evaluate the applicant’s previous educational background, accomplishments and other required documents to determine that qualifications are met prior to getting the Diagnostic Examinations.
   
   2) Diagnostic Examinations in Theory and Music History are administered to determine whether the applicant demonstrates an acceptable level of musicianship and knowledge of Western and Philippine music. The purpose of these examinations is to determine weaknesses in undergraduate preparation. Depending on the examination results, students may be required to take one or more remedial courses. In these instances, the courses will receive a grade of No Credit.
   
   3) Upon acceptance into the program, the student in collaboration with the Program Advisor and the Graduate Studies Program Coordinator shall complete a Program of Study Form, in which the student’s academic program is outlined, including any and all required enrichment and/or remedial courses as well as transferable credits.

Master Of Music (MM) in Voice

   1. For UP BM-Voice graduates continuing to the MM program:

   a. An average grade of 1.5 or higher in the MuP 190 (BM5 program) or MuP 170 (BM4 program) level obtained within the last two years shall not require an audition.
   b. Recommendation/endorsement from the applicant’s voice teacher during the undergraduate level is required.

   2. For UP BM-Voice graduates returning more than two years after graduating, OR whose MuP 190 (BM5) / MuP 170 (BM4) grade is lower than a 1.5, an audition is required.

   3. For For BM graduates of universities other than UP, an audition is required.

For the audition, the applicant must prepare a diverse program*, including:

   a. One art song in English
   b. One art song in Filipino
   c. One art song in German
   d. One art song in French
   e. One aria from an oratorio
   f. One aria from an opera

*The applicant is required to write program notes for his/her audition repertoire. Three sets of program notes must be provided for the panelists during the audition.

The audition must be performed from memory. All auditions are done onsite/f2f only.

Audition date is May 4, 2026.
For questions and inquiries, please email vmtd.upd@up.edu.ph