USC offers the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting, both choral and instrumental. Conducting students enhance skills and achieve a great command of orchestral forces, choral ensembles, and the entire range of our band program.
The program prepares students to master the art of leading choirs, orchestras, bands
and other ensembles in performance.
Instruction in score analysis and arranging, rehearsal and performance leadership, music coaching, arrangement and performance planning, ensemble operations management, and applications to specific school or professional ensembles will ensure a well-rounded mastery of the art of conducting.
Cormac Cannon is director of bands and associate professor of music. He conducts the USC Wind Ensemble, guides the graduate wind conducting program, and oversees all aspects of the band program. His appointment as director of bands follows four years as associate director of bands and director of athletic bands.
Alicia W. Walker is director of choral studies and conducts the USC Concert Choir. She oversees the graduate choral conducting program and teaches courses in conducting and choral literature. She is in frequent demand as a conductor and lecturer in the US, UK, Taiwan and South Africa.
Scott Weiss is director of orchestras and conductor of the USC Symphony Orchestra. In constant demand as a guest conductor and conducting pedagogue, Dr. Weiss overseas the graduate orchestral conducting program at UofSC. Former students hold major conducting posts around the world and include winners of several international conducting competitions.
Jay Jacobs is Associate Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at the University of South Carolina, where he is the director of The Carolina Band, conducts the Symphonic Winds and teaches courses within the School of Music.