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Department of Conducting

The Department of Conducting is one of the nation’s most highly-ranked and esteemed graduate conducting programs. The faculty lead a diverse list of band, choral, and orchestral ensembles in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD), and throughout the University. The MM and DMA degree programs offer students the opportunity to study band/wind, choral, and orchestral conducting in a challenging, collaborative, and engaging environment. Mentored by world-class conductors and surrounded by supportive and talented colleagues, students gain first-hand experience leading a wide-range of ensembles. Department alumni are known for their comprehensive training and consummate professionalism, and can be found leading acclaimed ensembles around the globe.

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Faculty

The members of the world-renowned University of Michigan conducting faculty are in frequent demand as guest conductors both nationally and internationally, clinicians for masterclasses and residencies, and as adjudicators for competitions. As active practitioners of their craft and celebrated pedagogues, they offer weekly private lessons and seminars to all their students.


Jason Fettig

Professor of Music and Director of Bands
Bands, Conducting

Jayce Ogren

Assistant Professor of Music and Associate Director of Orchestras

John Pasquale

Donald R. Shepherd Clinical Professor of Conducting; Director of Michigan Marching and Athletic Bands; Associate Director of Bands; Faculty Associate, African Studies Center, LSA International Institute; and Chief Marshal to the University

Eugene Rogers

Associate Professor of Music and Director of University Choirs

Courtney Snyder

Associate Professor of Music and Associate Director of Bands

Performance Opportunities

From large ensembles in celebrated concert halls to chamber groups in intimate recital spaces, performance opportunities across all disciplines abound, with nearly 900 student performances each academic year. Whether your focus is on early, classical, or contemporary music, whether your passion is for jazz, electronic, or world music, there is an ensemble—or in many cases, multiple ensembles—to suit your interests.

smtd performance opportunities
Symphony Band

Symphony Band
Jason Fettig, conductor

The historic U-M Symphony Band is a leading ensemble in the American wind band movement. With performances in prestigious venues such as New York’s Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Beijing’s National Center for the Performing Arts, and Milan’s La Scala, the U-M Symphony Band is widely known for the professional quality of its performances and recordings. Giving up to ten regular performances each year, the Symphony Band often collaborates with world-class artists and plays an ambitious role in commissioning new works for winds. The Symphony Band splits into chamber ensembles for concerts each term and can form both a wind ensemble and a full symphonic band equipped to perform any repertoire written for the wind medium.

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Alumni Notes

More Alumni Notes
Joseph Kemper (DMA ’21, choral conducting) was recently appointed as an associate professor of music at St. Olaf College in Minnesota, beginning in the fall of 2025. His appointment will include conducting the St. Olaf Chapel Choir and Viking Chorus and serving on the artistic committee of the St. Olaf Christmas Festival.
Brandon Straub (MM ’10, conducting; MM ’11, harpsichord) is director of music at St. Paul’s Choir School, Harvard Square, in Cambridge, Massachusetts; resident conductor for the Harvard Glee Club; and a pianist for the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. (Fall 2025)
Composer Rodrigo Ruiz (MM ’14, orchestral conducting) announces the release of Venus & Adonis, the first song cycle entirely based on Shakespeare texts and the first ever by a Mexican composer. Released by Signum Records on September 27, 2024, the work earned the Melómano de Oro and critical praise, reaching No. 2 on iTunes US Classical.

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