Post-Baccalaureate Artist Residency

The Post-Baccalaureate Artist Residency in Performance program aspires to attract the most gifted and accomplished post-baccalaureate music students to the College of Charleston and mentor their development as professionals in performance. Public performance and musical growth, both in technique and artistry, are the focus of the program. The program will bridge training into a career as a professional artist or acceptance into graduate study in performance. It will also provide performance opportunities that foster and illustrate the integration of musicianship and performance practices, and will assist in identifying opportunities and preparations for competitions, graduate study, professional work, and other outlets for musical artists.

The College of Charleston's Post-Baccalaureate Artist Residency in Performance is a two-year, non-degree, post-baccalaureate program of study that addresses the needs of musicians who have completed their musical training at the undergraduate level but desire to continue their studies while preparing for professional performance careers or graduate school. Study is available in the following areas: piano, voice, violin, cello, jazz, and composition.

Flexibility within the curriculum addresses the musical needs of each individual. The Post-Baccalaureate Artist Residency in Performance program requirements, however, insure a consistency of subject matter that enables students to demonstrate individual growth in artistry and technical performance.

Artist Residency candidates are expected to complete at least two years in full-time residence/participation in the program, which is offered as a continuing education program and is non-credit. With emphasis on individual instruction, ensemble participation and performance, this post-baccalaureate program provides young artists with the opportunity to devote their full time to concentrated study and practice while assisting them in preparing for major competitions, auditions, and performances. After completing the program, certificate students are expected to establish a professional career in music or continue study in graduate school. They will able to prepare technically and musically complex repertoire of contrasting periods and styles and perform these in a recital format at a professional public concert standard.

Program Requirements

Each semester during a standard two-year, full-time residency, Artist Residency students are required to follow a discipline-focused curriculum. As a capstone experience, Artist Residency students are required to present a final juried recital of varied repertoire. In addition, a major performance is required each semester as are jury exams for each of the semesters leading to the final recital. Semester major performances may include performance on a recital, an opera/oratorio role, participation in a major competition, or performing a concerto with an orchestra. All students in the program are expected to perform for College of Charleston recitals, ensemble performances, concerts, and functions as required by their instructors.

Curriculum

Program Title: Post-Baccalaureate Artist Residency in Performance
Number of Years to Complete the Program: 2

Course Title Units
Individual Performance Instruction/Recital Preparation (CEAC 400) 12
Ensemble Performance (CEAC 300) 24
Total 36

CEAC 400: Individual Performance Instruction/Recital Preparation
Individual lessons in voice or instrumental music for students enrolled in the Post-Baccalaureate Artist Residency program. Private lessons are one hour per week with an additional weekly contact hour with instructor in repertoire class. Included in this course will be both on campus and off campus recital or major work performance obligations, as set forth in a performance contract between the students and the instructor. (3 CEUs).

CEAC: 300 Ensemble Performance
The study and performance of ensemble literature for students enrolled in the Post-Baccalaureate Artist Residency Program. Requires at least four contact hours per week in ensemble or repertory settings supervised by Artist Residency faculty. Various combinations of voices and/or instruments are acceptable. However, permission of the instructor is required. (6 CEUs)

Although both course titles in the curriculum--individual performance instruction/recital preparation and ensemble performance--remain the same for each of the four semesters, the repertoire studied and performed in the two courses changes progressively each semester. Over a two-year period, a total of eight performances are graded pass/fail by members of the Artist Residency faculty and the student’s instructor/mentor.

The Post-Baccalaureate Artist Residency in Performance program is offered as a continuing education program of supervised self-directed learning, and as such, units are awarded according to contact hours. One continuing education unit (CEU) is defined as the following: 10 contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction by the faculty.

Each semester, students participating in the program are enrolled in two courses for a total of nine units. The 9 units (90 total contact hours) per 15-week semester represent 6 contact hours per week (6 X 15 = 90) with instructors. Two of these weekly hours are contact hours with the student’s instructor/mentor in individual lessons and repertoire class. The other 4 hours per week occur in ensemble or repertory settings supervised by certificate faculty.

Over a two-year period, Artist Residency students receive a total of eight grades for individual performance instruction by members of the Artist Residency faculty and the student’s instructor/mentor; included in these eight grades are four by the ensemble directors and their instructor/mentor for their participation in each semester of ensemble performance. All grades are assigned on a pass/fail basis. Receiving a failing grade on any jury exam, any semester of ensemble performance, or on the final recital will result in reevaluation of continuance in the program or awarding the certificate, as determined by the Artist Residency faculty. Excessive absences and missed lessons may also jeopardize continuation in the program.

General outcomes of the certificate program include: improving technical ability, enhancing performing artistry, and expanding repertoire. Specific outcomes are the following:

  1. Students will develop advanced technical and musicianship skills as well as repertoire adequate for auditioning for graduate study, participating in performance competitions, or starting a career as a professional artist.
  2. Students will develop advanced skills and technique for working within an ensemble at a proficiency level sufficient for acceptance into graduate study or starting a career as a professional artist.

Both outcomes are assessed via successful completion of required course work in each student’s applied area and successfully meeting or surpassing the standards established by the applied area faculty for end of semester juries, four semesters of ensemble work, and the final recital. Students receive pass/fail grades for all enrolled coursework. They receive written comments from applied area faculty for work presented in juries. Transcripts, consisting of weekly contact hour logs and final grades, are maintained in ACEware by the registrar for continuing education for each student’s progress through each semester of the curriculum. Written comments from the faculty on performance evaluations are kept on file in the music unit office. Each certificate student meets with his/her instructor/mentor at the close of each semester to discuss written comments and address concerns with progress.

Admission Requirements

Students participating in the program will have completed a bachelor's degree. Equivalent advanced study or professional experience is acceptable, as determined by the Artist Residency faculty. All applicants will be required to demonstrate exceptional performing ability as observed by the program faculty. All applicants will be required to audition for admission. Acceptance is dependent upon the availability and at the discrection of the area professor. If an applicant wishes to take courses for credit, he or she will be required to meet all admissions requirements of the College of Charleston for its undergraduate/graduate programs.

Audition Requirements

Applicants from North America will be requested to audition for admission to the program in person at the College of Charleston. All other applicants will be able to audition by videotape, but those persons will be required to audition in person during the first week of the semester in order to confirm their acceptance.

Audition repertoire will consist of a full recital program of approximately sixty minutes of music which reflects the applicant's knowledge of successful programming and includes a variety of stylistic periods. The recital program must be performed from memory, and a demonstration of sight-reading ability may be required of the applicant.

Costs

Students admitted into the Post-Baccalaureate Artist Residency in Performance program will receive private lessons and mentorship in exchange for their participation in ensembles and performances at College of Charleston functions. Candidates will be responsible for covering all costs associated with any for-credit courses in which they enroll. The costs for such courses will be based on the College of Charleston's current fee schedule. Applicants and candidates will be responsible for covering all costs associated with travel to and from Charleston, housing, board, and other personal expenses.

Conduct

During participation in the program, students shall be expected to conform their conduct to the College of Charleston Honor Code and the Code of Conduct that are otherwise applicable to enrolled students of the College and to comply with all other College policies and procedures. Please see the following:

Length of Program

The program shall be completed in two academic years (four semesters). Two years is the minimum time to complete the program. On rare occasions, due to unforeseen problems and with support of the major professor, Artist Residency students may petition the Artist Residency Committee for an extension. The petition must occur each year of desired extension. All decisions regarding the acceptability of the extension shall be made in the sole and absolute discretion of the Artist Residency Committee.

Application

Apply To the Post-Baccalaureate Artist Residency Program