MA Specialised Performance | Wind Orchestra Conducting

Basel Academy of Music

Would you like to conduct a wind orchestra? Learn how to face the challenge of dealing with orchestral musicians, whether professionals or amateurs, both psychologically and methodologically? Then this is a degree programme that opens up exciting perspectives both artistically and educationally.

Factsheet

Degree: Master of Arts FHNW in Spezialisierter Musikalischer Performance, Studienrichtung Blasorchesterdirektion
Study mode: Full-time
Learning mode: Onsite
ECTS credits: 120
Next start: 14.9.2026
Duration: 4 semesters
Stay abroad: Possible
Application fee: 200 CHF
Semester fee: 750 CHF (CH) | 1000 CHF (EU/EFTA) | 1250 CHF (Not-EU/Not-EFTA)

At a glance

Consolidating skills on an instrument and in ensemble work
Building up a conducting repertoire
Instrumentation and Score Studies

Why study this?

The programme prepares students for the challenging role of leading wind orchestras, both professional and amateur. Students acquire a comprehensive grounding in the art of conducting and its related disciplines, with a particular focus on honing their ability to communicate with clarity and precision to the performers their interpretation of the score.

Acquiring the art of musical leadership

When learning to conduct, hands-on training with an orchestra is an imperative. The FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance with a Wind Orchestra Conducting Minor provides students with thorough instruction in the psychologically and technically challenging art of musical leadership, and opens up many different and exciting career opportunities to them in the fields of musical performance and education.

Holders of a Master Diploma in Wind Orchestra Conducting are qualified to lead wind orchestras, brass bands and wind ensembles, whether amateur, semi-professional or professional.

This Study Course is aimed at students who wish to pursue a career as a wind orchestra, wind ensemble or brass band conductor. To be eligible for this graduate programme, prospective students must have previous instrument training.

Study variant available

The combined master's programme – Wind Orchestra Conducting and education in music pedagogy

MA Music Pedagogy | instrument / voice | Wind Orchestra Conducting

Structure and programme contents

The FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance, Wind Orchestra Conducting builds on the knowledge students have already acquired in their previous music pedagogy or music performance studies at Master’s level. Students will leverage their existing instrumental proficiency and experience of ensemble work to expand their conducting repertoire and hone their instrument-playing and score-reading abilities.

Modules and Reglements

The BA and MA degree programmes at the Basel Academy of Music are based on modules.

The legally binding structure provides an initial guide to the content and weighting of the subjects on the degree programme.
The detailed content and modalities of the individual subjects can be found in the module descriptions.
The study regulations come into force together with the study and examination regulations of the Basel Academy of Music FHNW and form the legal framework.

Structure

Module descriptions

Study Regulations

Lecturers

Bjørn Sagstad

More details

Institut Klassik

HSM_Klassik_Dozierende_Hände_auf_Klavier_mit_Orchester25_Susanna-Drescher.jpg

All Lecturers

Requirements, admission, entrance exam

In order to enter the FHNW Master of Arts in Specialised Music Performance programme with a Wind Orchestra Conducting Major, applicants must be awarded a Bachelor in Music or Music and Movement or equivalent as well as they have to have passed the entrance exam and were offered a free place at the Academy (limited places). Applicants who have submitted all the necessary registration documents in time and have passed the first round of the entrance exam will be invited to play a live audition.
For further information on the admission criteria, please see the Study regulations of the Master of Arts FHNW in Specialised Music Performance.

We recommend having sufficient German language skills.

Note: Experience shows that non-native German speakers applying for jobs in German-speaking countries are required to have at least a B1 certificate in German.

General Registration Procedure All about Studying in Basel