Graduate Degree Information
The Master of Music Composition (M.M.) degree at UofL is a two year program of study designed to further the expertise and experience of students who have already completed an undergraduate degree in music composition (or its equivalent). The program requires a thesis composition, which is typically a work for large ensemble (usually orchestra, but wind ensemble will be considered). Bomhard Fellows are required to produce a thesis composition that features voice(s), which may be a work for soloist or soloists with large ensemble or a dramatic work such as a one-act opera or its equivalent. The finished thesis composition (copied and edited) is submitted near the end of the final semester of study (usually near the end of the second year of study). For more information about the thesis composition and the Graduate Oral Exam, please see below.
Thesis Guidelines PDF Document 
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(*If Music Theory is your preferred area of study, rather than composition, please contact Dr. Anne Marie de Zeeuw.)
Students without an undergraduate degree in music composition may be accepted in the M.M. composition program if they (1) demonstrate compositional skills and experience approximately equivalent to an undergraduate degree in composition, and (2) hold an undergraduate degree or its equivalent, preferably (but not necessarily) in some area of music.
Application Portfolio
To be admitted as a composition major, students must submit a
"portfolio" of compositions. This portfolio is the "audition" for the
composition major. The portfolio should contain three or four samples
of original compositions, along with recordings for the same works, if
possible. Evidence of experience using various instrumental and/or
vocal combinations is very important. Students who have questions about
what to submit in the portfolio should feel free to ask questions
before submitting. The goal should be to submit the best possible
audition portfolio, because a strong audition portfolio could result in
an offer of financial support. Excellent performance skills may also be valuable in obtaining financial support, through scholarships for performance in School of Music ensembles. For more information, please visit the School of Music financial aid information page.
Performance Opportunities for Compositions
There are many opportunities for performances of new compositions, and
students will be encouraged to present their work regularly. Currently,
in each semester, at least one Student Composer Concert is presented,
and often two or more of these concerts are presented in the Spring
semester. There are also other UofL sponsored opportunities for
performances. Frequently, students will have works performed on
recitals of performance majors, at school-wide assemblies (called
Convocations), or on concerts of student or faculty ensembles. There
are often other opportunities for performances in the broader
Louisville community.
Graduate Music Theory Entrance Exam
During the first days of the first semester of study, graduate students
take both a Graduate Music Theory Entrance Exam and a Music History
Entrance Exam. The topics of the Graduate Theory Exam include:
instrumentation, written harmonic analysis, both written and aural
structural analysis, written harmonization of a melody, and the aural
skills of melodic and harmonic error detection. The exam is divided
into Aural and Written components, each of which is assigned a separate
grade. Students whose test scores reflect either "rustiness" or a lack
of preparation will be required to register for Graduate Theory Review,
a course that is designed with one goal: passing the Graduate Theory
Exam. Please note that all M.M. students are required to pass both the
Aural and Written components of the exam before graduation. (For
information about the materials, topics, and expectations of the Music
History Entrance Exam, you may wish to contact Dr. Jean Christensen, Division Head of the Music History Department.)
Thesis Review and Graduate Oral Exam
The thesis composition is reviewed and must be approved by the
student's three person thesis committee of two composition faculty (one
of whom is the student's composition teacher) and one other School of
Music faculty member from outside the Theory/Composition Department.
Members of the student's thesis committee must also be members of the
UofL Graduate Faculty.
After approval by the thesis committee of the thesis composition, each student meets for about 30 minutes with the Graduate Committee of the School of Music, a six person committee that includes a representative of each School of Music department. This meeting, called the Graduate Oral Exam, is a free-ranging question and answer session in which the student is given the opportunity to demonstrate a broad base of knowledge about music. There may be some degree of focus on the following: orchestration, music history and literature (particularly as these relate to the thesis composition), and the subject matter of any music course taken while a M.M. student at UofL.
For More Information
If you have questions or would like to talk about anything related to
music composition at UofL, please contact Dr. Steve Rouse:
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(502) 852-0871 UofL office phone; with answering service.
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(502) 852-6907 School of Music office phone; a brief message will be forwarded.
