About the DepartmentDepartment of Music
The Department of Music at Gustavus Adolphus College provides opportunities for students to study music in the context of a liberal arts education. Over a third of the students at Gustavus choose to study music through courses in theory, history, appreciation, pedagogy, and performance. Students interested in majoring in music will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree with a Major in Music or Music Education. The core of the curriculum for the major emphasizes theoretical concepts and applications, historical perspective, aural and analytical skills, and performance techniques. In addition to the completion of the major, students may choose Departmental Honors in Performance, Composition, History-Literature, and Conducting.
Advising information is available for students with special interests in music, including Church Music, Music-Business, Composition, Music-Theatre, and Music Therapy. Gustavus also offers a minor in Arts Administration for students seeking internships within the arts community.
The musical year at Gustavus is highlighted by several events. The annual presentation of Christmas in Christ Chapel involves over 350 student musicians. Several ensembles, including the Gustavus Choir, the Choir of Christ Chapel, the Gustavus Wind Orchestra, the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra, and the Gustavus Jazz Ensemble take concert tours each year. Each year the Gustavus Artist Series and Colloquium Series brings outstanding ensembles and recitalists to campus. In addition, music faculty, individual student performers, student ensembles, and faculty ensembles present more than 240 concerts and recitals each year. These events offer rich and varied musical opportunities for both the campus and the greater Gustavus community.
Statement of Mission
Rooted in a rich Lutheran musical tradition with a commitment to innovation, the Gustavus Adolphus College Department of Music prepares students to lead lives grounded in the musical arts. The Music Department demonstrates nationally recognized excellence in teaching, research, and performance with a continual expectation for growth and improvement. By weaving diverse experiences and engaged learning practices, the department prepares our students for a lifetime commitment to the arts through vocation and avocation.