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Overview
Students who major in music at The College of Wooster get the best of both worlds: intensive music training in a small setting with expert faculty who mentor undergraduate students combine with non-music courses that give students a global perspective and engage critical thinking skills. Music courses make up a majority of the curriculum for a music major, but students also take the required First-Year Seminar in Critical Inquiry and a course called Writing intensive early in their time at Wooster. Courses in arts and humanities, history and social sciences, math and natural sciences, social justice or religious studies round out liberal arts requirements for graduation. Our graduates move on to work in a variety of settings as performers, teachers and more.
Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts in Music at The College of Wooster
Wooster offers four programs related to music.
The Bachelor of Arts in Music degree is for students seeking an emphasis on music within a strong liberal arts education. Students may choose to focus on performance, music theory, or musicology.
The Bachelor of Music degree is intended for students planning to attend graduate school and then to enter a professional career in music. Students may choose a major in performance or composition.
The College of Wooster also offers music as a minor and gives students the option to double major in music and another field of interest. The multidisciplinary nature of courses at The College of Wooster gives students the ability to develop critical-thinking and research skills that help graduates succeed well beyond the classroom. Every student at The College of Wooster completes an independent study under the guidance of a faculty mentor, culminating in a thesis delivered in the spring of a student’s senior year. For music students, this often means a performance or delivery of a body of work and is a highlight of each student’s college experience.
Music Scholarship Auditions
Music Scholarships are awarded in music performance and music composition to incoming students on the basis of music performance skills demonstrated at the audition or compositional skills evidenced by written scores. You must audition as an incoming first-year student (transfers are not eligible), and scholarships are available for $2,000-$8,000 per year. Recipients may major in any academic area offered at Wooster. Those auditioning must perform in areas in which the College offers instruction.
Beginning with the first semester of the first year and continuing for as long as the music scholarship is held, recipients must:
- Enroll in private lessons on the instrument or voice in which the scholarship was awarded or in composition lessons if the scholarship was awarded for composition.
- Participate in the Wooster Singers, Wooster Chorus, Wooster Symphony Orchestra, Scot Band, or Wooster Jazz Ensemble, as assigned by the ensemble directors. (Depending upon need, pianists might be asked to enroll in Accompanying instead of a large ensemble during some semesters.)
- Must earn a satisfactory grade (C- or higher) or a satisfactory audit in the required lessons and ensembles each semester in order to maintain the scholarship.
Degree Auditions
Audition details for Bachelor of Music in Music Performance
To gain admission to the B.Mus. in Music Performance, a student must pass an entrance audition before a faculty jury of three, to be appointed by the chairperson. The audition will occur near the end of the second semester of college and must demonstrate the student’s ability to perform well challenging repertoire representing several historical periods and styles. A student wishing to perform an entrance audition must notify the chairperson in writing at least three weeks prior to the audition. Only after passing the entrance audition may the student declare as a major the B.Mus. in Music Performance. A prospective candidate for the B.Mus. in Performance may declare a major in Music prior to the semesters stated above but will be listed as a candidate for the B.A. Music until they pass the audition. A student who does not pass the entrance audition in the second semester may have a second opportunity in the third semester.
Auditions are held for those wishing to focus on vocal performance and the following instruments: bagpipe, <bassoon, cello, clarinet, electric bass, euphonium, flute, French horn, guitar, oboe/English Horn, organ, percussion, piano, saxophone, string bass, trombone, trumpet, tuba, violin, viola.
Audition details for Bachelor of Music in Music Composition
To gain admission to the Bachelor of Music in Composition, a student must, near the end of the third semester of college, submit to the chairperson a portfolio of two or more completed original scores. These compositions must be accompanied by a letter stating the student’s wish to seek the Bachelor of Music in Composition. The chairperson will appoint a faculty committee of three to review the portfolio. Only after receiving the committee’s approval of the submitted works may the student declare as a major the Bachelor of Music in Composition. A prospective candidate for the Bachelor of Music in Composition may declare a major in Music prior to the semesters stated above but will be listed as a candidate for the B.A. Music until they pass the portfolio review. A student who does not pass the portfolio review in the third semester may have a second opportunity in the fourth semester.
Am I required to audition in order to register for music classes?
No. However, auditions are required for several of our large ensembles (Wooster Chorus, Wooster Symphony Orchestra, Wooster Jazz Ensemble, and Scot Symphonic Band) or if you wish to pursue a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Performance, Music Theory/Composition, Music Education in Public School Teaching, or Music Therapy. In addition, several performance-based courses require permission of the instructor. In those cases, you can contact the instructor via email to set up an initial meeting.
No audition is necessary for the Bachelor of Arts in Music degree.
Faculty
Carrie Culver
Associate Professor of Music, Voice, Vocal Pedagogy, Opera & Lyric Theatre Workshop
Jeffrey Lindberg
Professor of Music, Wooster Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Trombone, Jazz History and Improvisation
Peter Mowrey
Professor of Music - Music Theory, Composition, Piano and Electronic Music
Greg Slawson
Adjunct Instructor of Music, Jazz Piano, Improvisation, Music Technology
Lisa Wong
Associate Professor and Department Co-Chair of Music, Wooster Chorus, Music Education, Conducting
Thomas Wood
Professor of Music, Violin, Chamber Music, String Methods, Music History and Literature
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Major
Bachelor of Arts in Music
Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, this major is for students seeking an emphasis on music within a strong liberal arts education. Required courses include music theory and lessons, along with courses in history and literature. All students at The College of Wooster complete independent study in their senior year under the guidance of a faculty mentor, and bachelor of arts in music students complete independent study projects in their junior and senior years.
Bachelor of Music
Students who pursue a Bachelor of Music degree select either music performance or music composition as their focus during their four years. This major is the most musically complete program in the study of music and is intended for students planning to attend graduate school and then to enter a professional career in music.
Minor
A minor in music requires completion of six courses: two courses in music theory, two courses in music history and literature, and two music electives.
Independent Study
All students at The College of Wooster complete independent study under the guidance of a faculty mentor and deliver a performance or thesis in spring of their senior year. Students earning a bachelor of arts in music or a bachelor of music degree are encouraged to explore an area of music that inspires them.
Search the I.S. Database
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Ensembles
Music majors and interested non-majors at The College participate in a full range of musical ensembles. Please contact the ensemble directors for information regarding auditions.
Choral and Vocal Ensembles
Instrumental Ensembles