MA IEMA CoMP: Contemporary Music Performance
Course content
The IEMA Master at a glance
- A one-year Master's programme with approx. 14 working phases (start: winter semester) with members of the Ensemble Modern as lecturers, renowned guest conductors and composers as well as professors of the HfMDK
- Development of solo works, chamber music and conducted repertoire, ranging from classical modernism to staged productions and world premiere projects
- Presentation of the developed works in approximately 30 concerts at home and abroad
- Intensification of theoretical approaches as well as knowledge in the field of music education
The one-year Master's programme IEMA CoMP is a specialisation offer for already trained instrumentalists, conductors, composers and sound directors, i.e. it explicitly builds on a first professionally qualifying university degree in the fields of instrumental playing, conducting, composition, sound engineer/sound direction (or a comparable university degree). Above all, the respective technical ability and artistic understanding are necessary foundations for the training that follows here in the context of a contemporary music ensemble.
Learning and working in a directly professional environment
The central feature of this degree programme is its location in the immediate professional field through specific projects in national and international professional contexts. This location is achieved, among other things, through the proximity to one of the world's leading ensembles for New Music: the HfDMK conducts this course of study in close cooperation with the Frankfurt-based Ensemble Modern. This cooperation enables students to learn and work in a directly professional environment and to experience specific professional fields - in this case, that of an independent ensemble operating on the market, that of the freelance artist, the need to clearly develop a profile in order to position oneself on the free market, working in international and interdisciplinary contexts.
The central aim of the programme is the training of artists specialised in the field of contemporary music in the disciplines of instrumental playing, conducting, composition and sound direction in the context of an ensemble structure, as this represents a central possibility of a professional field. The immediate connection to the professional field takes place through the realisation of projects in already professional contexts.
The aim of the training is accordingly the approximation to the ideal of a comprehensively and versatilely qualified artist, also beyond the occupational profile specifically named here.
Study and examination regulations
The Study and Examination Regulations (SPO) set out the framework conditions and regulations for your studies. They apply together with the General Regulations (for Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes) or the SPoL (for teacher training degree programmes). All versions of the SPO for your degree programme (including earlier versions for students of previous academic years) can be found at Examinations.
Study and Examination Regulations for the Master’s Degree International Ensemble Modern Academy – Contemporary Music Performance
[99/2021, 12.04.2021]
Lesefassung: Eignungsprüfungsordnung der HfMDK Frankfurt
Nicht-amtliche Lesefassung. Stand: 23.12.2021
Studien- und Prüfungsordnung für den Masterstudiengang Internationale Ensemble Modern Akademie - Contemporary Music Performance (MA IEMA CoMP) (2021)
[99/2021, 12.04.2021]
Requirements
Admission to the Master's programme requires a completed university degree at a conservatory or a comparable institution of higher education in Germany or abroad with an instrumental main subject (Bachelor's degree, diploma, church music examination or state examination for the teaching profession in music) or a comparable degree.
Sufficient knowledge of English or German is required for admission to this Master's programme. If English or German are not native languages, proof must be provided by one of the following language certificates:
German language skills:
a) TestDaF level 3 or
b) Certificate B1 (GER) or
c) DSH exam, level I or
d) German Language Diploma of the KMK, 1st level.
English language skills:
a) Certificate B1
b) IELTS exam 3.5-4.5
c) Cambridge exam: PET
d) TOEIC:
- Listening 275-399
- Reading 275-384
- Speaking 120-159
- Writing 120-149
e) TOEFL iBT: 57
f) UNICERT: I
All students are strongly advised to acquire at least a basic knowledge of German, as information material, e-mails and similar texts are predominantly written in German
Dates & Deadlines
Application deadline IEMA (Conducting, Composition, Sound direction) for the winter semester 2022/23
Save date to calendarApplication deadline IEMA (instrumental playing) for the winter semester 2022/23
Announcement for the winter semester 22/23
Announcement IEMA CoMP for the winter semester 22/23
Aptitude test
In the announcement for the study programme, the instruments are named for which an application is possible in the respective implementation of the study programme with the focus on instrumental playing. The application for admission to the Master's programme must be accompanied by an audio and, if applicable, visual recording (cf. below) showing the applicant's current level of performance. The technical format of the sound and, if applicable, image recording is defined in the announcement of the study programme and must be observed.
Only those who pass the first round will be invited to the second round in the form of personal auditions/presentations.
Depending on the focus chosen, the following specific exam content and regulations will apply:
What do I need for the online application?
Proof of German language skills
Here you will find a list of required German language skills for all degree programs. Please check which of these requirements apply to your degree program.
