Creative Music Project
New Master’s Program in Contemporary Music Practice in Weimar
Starting in the 2025–26 winter semester, the Department of New Music and Jazz at the FRANZ LISZT University of Music in Weimar will be introducing new initiatives with the “Creative Music Project” Master’s program. This innovative program focuses on the creative and productive development of initial ideas and their consistent refinement into students’ own band and ensemble projects. In doing so, the program fills a crucial gap: While the Bachelor’s program in jazz typically emphasizes instrumental perfection, the new Master’s program centers on project work, band leadership, and all associated practical skills.
As early as the entrance exam, applicants present excerpts from their band or solo projects. This project is generally continued throughout the entire duration of four semesters—even soloists develop their own ensemble project during this time.
Supervision is flexible and tailored to individual needs by the department’s top-notch faculty. Students receive intensive guidance in all core areas of project development:
* Composition and arrangement
* Band concept and instrumental execution
* Professional studio production
* Music marketing and positioning
Thanks to the high concentration of creative faculty members, the project benefits from interdisciplinary synergies. For example, an electric guitarist might receive crucial inspiration for her own band concept directly from the professor of jazz piano. This stylistic openness allows Master’s students to develop freely and transcend boundaries between jazz, creative pop/rock/soul, contemporary classical music, and world music.
A key milestone of the program is the students’ own studio production. The university has several highly professional recording studios with excellent-sounding recording rooms. Here, each production can be individually tailored to the sonic and technical recording needs of the respective ensemble.
The program culminates in a public graduation concert. This usually takes place as part of the university’s own institute festival at established concert venues in the cultural region of Jena, Weimar, and Erfurt.
Additionally, further collaborations with concert promoters and agencies are in the works.
Renowned figures from the international music scene teach in the Jazz program at the Department of New Music and Jazz:
* Prof. Jeff Cascaro (vocals, band coaching, production)
* Prof. Achim Kaufmann (piano, band coaching, production)
* Prof. Frank Möbus (electric guitar, band coaching, production)
* Prof. Christian Lillinger (Adjunct Professor of Drums, Band Coaching, Production)
* Friedrich Störmer (Associate Sound Engineer at the Department of Music)
The core team is supported by a large number of highly specialized lecturers who serve as mentors to students on their path to professional music practice.
Application materials and information for the master's program are available in the Study Finder.
Click here to go directly to the online application portal.
[14 October 2026]