Amherst College

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220 South Pleasant Street
Amherst,Massachusetts 01002
413.542.2000
admission@amherst.edu

DEGREES OFFERED

Bachelor of Arts in Music

The goal of the music major at Amherst College is to provide you with a solid grounding in music theory and the fundamentals of composition, to teach you to think and write critically about music, and to help you achieve a level of sophisticated command in at least one of the following areas: performance; composition; music scholarship (music history, theory, ethnomusicology, and jazz and popular music studies), and music drama and opera studies. By graduation a major will have the following: 1) knowledge of and appreciation for the craft involved in creating and performing tonal music; 2) knowledge of one or more major time periods in Western music history; 3) the ability to think and write critically about music; and 4) a high level of achievement in at least one major area of musical study (performance; scholarship on a Western or non-Western topic; or composition), knowledge of at least two specialized areas, or knowledge of one specialized area combined with a broad base of knowledge. We strive as a department to support the widest possible range of musical styles in our course offerings and performance activities. We encourage all students interested in making music a part of their lives and their liberal arts education to acquire a strong mastery of the fundamentals of musicianship.

Acceptance Rate:

Amherst College, known for its selectivity, has an overall acceptance rate of 9.8%

Faculty Info:

Arianne G. Abela (Director of the Choral Music Program and Lecturer in Music), Mallorie Chernin (Senior Lecturer in Music), Amy M. Coddington (Assistant Professor of Music), Bruce P. Diehl (Senior Lecturer in Music and Director of Jazz Performance), Jeffers L. Engelhardt (Professor of Music), Darryl Harper (Associate Professor of Music; Director of the Center for Humanistic Inquiry), Klara Moricz (Professor of Music Professor of Music), Katherine A. Pukinskis (Joseph E. and Grace W. Valentine Visiting Assistant Professor of Music), Jason Robinson (Associate Professor of Music; Chair of Music), Eric W. Sawyer (Professor of Music ), David E. Schneider (Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Music Dean of the Class of 2021), Mark L. Swanson (Senior Lecturer in Music and Director of Instrumental Music), Noah D. Horn (Visiting Director of the Choral Music Program), Junko Oba (Five College Visiting Associate Professor of Music) Olabode F. Omojola (Five College Professor of Music), Jenny L. Kallick (Professor of Music, Emerita), Suzette M. Farnham (Academic Department Coordinator), Edmund M. Keyes (Concert, Production, and Building Coordinator), Ann R. Maggs (Music Library Specialist), Alisa C. Pearson (Manager of Concert Programming, Production & Publicity).

BroadwayWorld Classifieds 11/13/2025; Jobs In Education, Finance, and More
by - November 13, 2025

This Week's New Classified Listings on BroadwayWorld for 11/13/2025 include new jobs for those looking to work in the theatre industry.

Lone Star College-CyFair's Music Department to Present Holiday Performances
by Chloe Rabinowitz - November 10, 2025

The holidays are just around the corner and the Lone Star College-CyFair's Music Department is wrapping up its fall semester with three festive and inspiring musical performances.

LSC-CyFair's Choirs to Celebrate Music And Beauty At Choral Performance in October
by Chloe Rabinowitz - October 17, 2025

The Lone Star College-CyFair Music Department fall season will get underway with 'Music, Beauty is Life' choral concert. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets!

BWW Q&A: Valentina Shelton Talks BULL DURHAM at Paper Mill Playhouse
by Joshua Wright - October 16, 2025

Bull Durham brings the classic 1988 film to the stage. Veteran catcher “Crash” Davis is tasked with mentoring hotshot rookie pitcher “Nuke” LaLoosh, while baseball muse Annie must choose her seasonal protégé.

Dramatists Guild Foundation Names Madeline Myers as 2025 Stephen Schwartz Award Recipient
by Chloe Rabinowitz - October 07, 2025

Dramatists Guild Foundation has named musical theater composer and lyricist Madeline Myers as the 2025 recipient of the Stephen Schwartz Award. Learn more here!

The Music Department of Hofstra University to Present the American Chamber Ensemble
by Chloe Rabinowitz - September 22, 2025

The Music Department of Hofstra University will present the American Chamber Ensemble, celebrating their 60th Anniversary with performances of music for various combinations of voice, piano, clarinet and strings. Learn more!

The Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts to Present Spring Instrumental Concert
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 14, 2025

The Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts (Charter Arts) Spring Instrumental Concert will feature the Charter Arts Wind Ensemble and Orchestra, fresh off of their triumphant Virginia tour, plus more. learn more!

American Chamber Ensemble to Present MULTICULTURAL LANDSCAPE in March
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 04, 2025

The critically-acclaimed American Chamber Ensemble, celebrating its 59th Anniversary, will perform Multicultural Landscape, a concert in march. Learn more!

Harlem School Of The Arts Rolls Out New Dizzy Gillespie Jazz Academy
by Chloe Rabinowitz - February 17, 2025

On February 20th, as part of the month-long Black History celebration, the Harlem School of the Arts will launch an important new, FREE music program, the Dizzy Gillespie Jazz Academy. Learn more!

Review: SCHMIGADOON at Kennedy Center
by Elliot Lanes - February 04, 2025

During the pandemic, musical theatre lovers were hit with withdrawal. Apple TV took us out of our funk when Schmigadoon hit the air in July of 2021. The series took an original story line and based it around a specific genre of musical theatre. The result had us laughing and singing along for two seasons. The first season was more of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic variety of musical while season two had more of a Chicago/Pippin vibe. For whatever reason, the third season was written but Apple TV elected not to go into production with it.

SFCM Will Host Winner of 2024 International Naumburg Cello Competition
by Stephi Wild - January 23, 2025

The San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Walter W. Naumburg Foundation will present a concert with the Foundation's newest winner, Jonathan Swensen, as part of the ongoing series “Naumburg at SFCM.”

Lehigh Valley Charter High School For The Arts Will Perform Winter Concert Series
by Stephi Wild - December 11, 2024

The music department of the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts (Charter Arts) will hold its popular Winter Concert Series next week with performances featuring the school's various choirs and ensembles.

Alumni Return as Judges at the National Youth Music Competition
by Stephi Wild - November 08, 2024

Two former contestants and an internationally awarded oboist are among the adjudicators of the 2024 National Youth Music Competition (NYMC). Learn more about the event here!

LADIES, HOW DARE YOU! to be Presented at The Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts
by Chloe Rabinowitz - November 05, 2024

The Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts will present the world premiere of LADIES, HOW DARE YOU!, a musical comedy set in 1913 during the Women's Suffrage Movement. Learn how to purchase tickets.

American Chamber Ensemble to Present LINEAGE AND LEGACY Concert at Hofstra University
by Chloe Rabinowitz - October 25, 2024

The American Chamber Ensemble will perform 'Lineage and Legacy' at Hofstra University featuring works by composers like Nancy Bloomer Deussen and Clara Schumann, with special guest Tammy Hensrud. Learn how to purchase tickets.

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