Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice
Major code: D730
- Bass-Baritone, Area Chair
- Vocal Coach, Diction
- Soprano
- Tenor
- Soprano
- Baritone, Vocal Pedagogy
- Vocal Coach, Diction, Vocal Literature
- Artistic Director of Opera
- Soprano
| Concentration and Code (click for Coursework Requirements) |
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Application Deadline
DMA voice applications are due by December 1 for admission in the fall of the following year.
Submit the online application (see Graduate Admissions page). Following admission to the graduate school, supply the additional prescreening recording described below by December 1.
The deadline to apply for the Benton-Schmidt competition is typically in mid January (around a month after graduate applications are due). See the Benton-Schmidt information at the bottom of this page for more information.
Assistantships
There is no separate application for assistantship. Unless the applicant indicates otherwise, we assume that all applicants are interested in being considered for assistantships. Please note that assistantships are usually awarded for the Fall and Spring semesters together. We very seldom have assistantships available for anyone entering in a Spring semester. We do not award assistantships for Summer sessions.
Application Procedure
All applicants must complete the online application to the OU graduate college (see the Graduate Admissions page). The following items should be submitted along with the online application.
Application materials required for all graduate degrees
These items must be submitted to the online graduate application system.
- Resume
- Submitted to the online application under the Resume tab.
- Submitted to the online application under the Resume tab.
- Personal Statement
- Submitted to the online application under the Statement of Purpose tab
- What aspects of the program attract you to OU? Additionally, please answer one of the following prompts:
- Why do you want to pursue this degree?
- How would you describe your professional path to this point and your aspirations going forward?
- What skills, expertise and experience do you bring to the degree, and how will you use your degree, post-graduation?
- What is important to you musically, artistically, pedagogically, and intellectually?
- Three letters of reference
- Submitted to the online application under Recommendations tab
- Your three reference letters should include:
- At least one letter from: your studio professor, ensemble conductor, chamber coach, etc., or a person who has considerable knowledge about your abilities as a performer or composer.
- At least one letter from: a person who can speak to your abilities as a scholar of music.
Scholarly writing requirement
This degree requires you to submit a sample of your scholarly writing.
- Submitted to the online application under the Supporting Documents tab
- Preferably not more than 3 years old.
- Should be recently revised.
- Should be a minimum of 5 pages of double-spaced text, not counting bibliography.
- Should represent your best writing and researching skills.
- Should present a complete argument supporting a clear thesis.
- Should feature a consistent method for citations and should contain a bibliography.
- Please contact the Graduate Music Office (gradmusic@ou.edu) or the area chair for your program with any questions about meeting these requirements.
Prescreening application materials required for this degree
For DMA Applicants, a pre-screening video recording is required (also due by December 1). The video should include a mixture of arias and arts songs, similar to what might be presented in a Master's recital. The video should contain a performance of at least 30 minutes of solo vocal repertoire in at least the 4 major languages: English, Italian, German, and French. Your pre-screening can include more if you desire, but must include the 4 major languages.
- Video files or links to online video recordings may be submitted to the online application under Digital Portfolio > Upload Media.
Audition Procedure
Applicants hoping to enter graduate voice programs are strongly encouraged to participate in the Benton-Schmidt Competition for Vocal Scholarships. Recipients of these scholarships must be graduate voice students entering the University of Oklahoma in the following Fall semester.
| Graduate Voice / Benton-Schmidt Competition Date |
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| Saturday, February 11, 2023 |
For DMA Applicants, the Benton Schmidt Competition will serve as your audition for the School of Music and DMA program. Full acceptance is pending upon review and acceptance from the School of Music Graduate Studies Committee, with a thorough review of the writing sample. Any prize money awarded from the Benton Schmidt is pending full admittance into the School of Music and Graduate College.
Applicants who do not participate in the Benton-Schmidt Competition should contact Professor Mark McCrory by email at mmccrory@ou.edu to schedule an audition and with any questions concerning audition repertoire.
Participants in the Benton-Schmidt Competition are required to present 6 selections covering all major languages (French, German, Italian, and English). The selections must include 2 opera or oratorio arias, 2 art songs, and 2 arias or songs of your choice.
Benton-Schmidt Voice Competition
Voice
The annual Benton-Schmidt Graduate Voice Competition provides scholarship awards up to $25,000 to promising incoming graduate students. Awards will be given based on excellence in vocal performance and versatility as revealed through the performance audition. Scholarship prizes are for the academic year beginning the following Fall semester.
Funds for these scholarships were made possible through the bequest of Joseph H. Benton, internationally-acclaimed tenor, long-time teacher and devoted supporter of vocal art, in honor of his much-revered voice teacher at the University of Oklahoma, William George Frederick Schmidt.
View the page linked below for repertoire requirements, dates and deadlines, and the online application form.
