News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Andrews University

Department of Music

Visit Web Site
TwitterCollege Twitter FacebookCollege Facebook InstagramCollege Instagram

8822 University Boulevard
Berrien Springs,Michigan 49103
269.471.3555
enroll@andrews.edu

DEGREES OFFERED

Bachelor of Arts in Music

Bachelor of Music in Music Performance

Bachelor of Music in Music Education (Instrumental, Vocal, Keyboard emphases)

Minor in Music

Bachelor of Science in Music

Master of Arts in Music

Master of Music in Conducting

Master of Music in Music Education

Music of Music in Music Ministry

Master of Music in Music Performance


If you're a musician, you know the thrill of stepping on stage and delivering a sensational performance. You also know the number of hours it took preparing for that performance, perhaps years of training in theory, interpretation, and technique. But more than that, you probably know that making music is as spiritual as it is technical or mental. Indeed, this is what separates a truly great musician from a merely mechanical one. At Andrews University, you'll have all the tools you need to excel in the technical aspects of making music. But you'll also find a musical environment filled with vitality, where music flourishes. You'll study under professors who temper their musical expertise with an emphasis on spiritual growth and character development. You'll discover endless opportunities to serve others through music. In the end, you'll gain the skills and vision necessary to live successfully, whether you plan on becoming the next Mozart or opt to practice music as a hobby. Read on to discover some of the ways a music degree from Andrews can benefit you for the rest of your life. Philosophy Our philosophy is expressed in two pillars that provide the foundation for all we do in the Department of Music. Modeled by faculty, these form the undergirding upon which we individually and collectively build all our artistic, academic, and inter-personal endeavors. Pillar 1: Excellence in music performance and academics. We believe in creating an environment and expectation in which students are stimulated and encouraged to learn and excel as they strive after the standards of excellence modeled by world-class musicians, performers, and scholars. Pillar 2: Character development. Mentoring: We believe in practicing the biblical concept of shepherding in interactions with students, modeling an attitude of acceptance and encouragement. We interact with students with a desire to shape, mold, and care for them within the relationship of master to pupil. Character building: We believe in helping students grow in character and mature as human beings. Spiritual development: We believe in encouraging students to be aware that they can grow spiritually. We provide opportunities in which students are invited to participate. Service to others: We believe in fostering an attitude of service that is manifested in acts of service. Vision Our vision is to provide a vibrant musical and learning environment in which students excel artistically and academically, grow in character and spirituality, and engage in acts of service. Mission To mentor students in artistic, intellectual, and character development. Outstanding Faculty Anyone who grew up taking music lessons will tell you that the teacher makes all the difference. That's why we consider our stellar music faculty to be the greatest asset of the department. Just attend a faculty recital if you need proof that our professors have the expertise to provide the very best technical and academic training. The faculty is loaded with active performers who travel the world as concert artists and clinicians. Additionally, our history and theory professors publish and present at conferences in the U.S. and abroad. But they are not simply touring performers and scholars-they are first and foremost teachers, mentors who are deeply committed not only to their students' musical development, but to their social and spiritual development as well. It is the emphasis on character building that truly places the Andrews University Department of Music faculty in a league of their own. Why Study At Andrews? Dynamic Atmosphere One of the first things you'll notice as a student in the Andrews Department of Music is that the department is truly alive with music. The school year is literally packed end-to-end with concerts and tours by our world-class ensembles, including annual trips to places like Brazil, England and South Africa. Add to these the regular recitals, master classes, special events, and endless opportunities to participate in praise services and special music, and the performance options are unlimited. As a music student, you'll not only practice and perform, but also have plenty of opportunities to make friends and socialize with your peers and professors. You can start the week off with a hot drink at the Monday Morning Warmup, or participate in Department Vespers and other social activities. With such an intimate family-like atmosphere, it never takes long for students to feel right at home in the Andrews Department of Music. Excellent Employment Record One thing that's undeniable about the music program at Andrews: our students get jobs. While our music students have the opportunity to move on to graduate school after receiving a BA or BM, most choose to accept high school and college level teaching positions. Given the top quality music education that Andrews offers, the department is well known for producing excellent music educators. Needless to say, if you'd like to become a music teacher, a music degree from Andrews will ensure that you'll have no trouble finding a job. Facilities Andrews University has an enormous collection of music resources that equals or surpasses that of universities many times its size. Music majors have access to a comprehensive music library with over 20,000 books, scores, and recordings, and a music technology lab filled with keyboards, computers, and notation, sequencing, and ear training equipment. The department maintains close to 20 practice rooms and students also have access to various keyboard instruments, including grand pianos, harpsichords, pipe organs, and the 4,400-pipe Casavant organ in Pioneer Memorial Church. Music has the capacity to feed the soul unlike anything else, and for this reason, music is simply an essential part of life for any musician. It's not a question of choice. Musicians can't help but make music. It's in their blood. You might choose to work as an accountant, doctor, or lawyer, but you will always be a musician. And not only is musical expression one of the best personal therapies, it constitutes one of the most important forms of service. By studying music, you'll be equipped with a unique vision and ability to serve others and your Creator. It's easy to see why music is one of the most fulfilling degrees you can choose. A Trusty Ally While a music degree by itself can prepare you for a wide range of careers, a music degree paired with another major makes a truly potent combination. Choose your primary major to suit your professional goals or to reflect your personal interests, with a music degree as a sort of ally. This will provide you the well-rounded formation that graduate and professional programs such as medicine and law seek in their applicants. A degree in music shows that you have the dedication, drive, and skill necessary to master the complexities of music-making that you've polished abilities which only come through a lot of hard work. It also sets you apart from the crowd, by showing that you possess the creativity and artistic vision which have become increasingly rare in today's workforce. Versatility If you're a musician, you know that making music involves so much more than simply moving a bow back and forth or pressing a couple of keys. Successful music making comes as a result of the complex interaction of mental, physical, and spiritual processes. It's no surprise, then, that in studying how to successfully make music, students don't simply learn how to sing or play an instrument. On the contrary, as a music student, you'll hone a unique set of skills that you can apply to any job you choose. The same communication skills that allow students to function as a single unit in a string quartet allow them to work effectively with others at home and in the office. The same ability that allows students to memorize a Bach fugue enables them to ace an anatomy exam. The same critical thinking that allows students to analyze and interpret the intricacies of harmonic and melodic lines helps them to pick apart and understand a work of literature or a calculus problem. The same composure that allows students to perform for a large audience allows them to perform under pressure at the workplace. It is clear, whether you plan to perform on stage, or in the office, the classroom, or the clinic, that music is one of the best career moves you can make!

Faculty Info:

Karin Thompson (Acting Chair, Associate Professor of Music), Myrna Araujo-Constantine (Office Manager), Claudio Gonzalez (Professor of Music), Byron Graves (Assistant Professor of Music), Max Keller (Assistant Professor of Music; Theory and Composition Area Coordinator), Charles Reid (Associate Professor of Music; Voice Area Coordinator), Carla Trynchuk (Professor of Music; String Area Coordinator), Chi Yong Yun (Professor of Music; Keyboard Studies Area Coordinator), Stephen Zork (Professor of Music; Conductor, University Singers and Chorale), Carlos Flores (Professor Emeritus), Lilianne Doukhan (Professor Emerita)



Related Articles

InterHarmony Artists to Present A FLOWER BLOOMS IN SNOW At Carnegie Hall This Month
by Chloe Rabinowitz - January 10, 2024

InterHarmony Artists present 'A Flower Blooms in Snow' at Carnegie Hall on Jan 25. Experience a journey through centuries of artistic expression with virtuosic performances by emerging and seasoned artists.

Visual Arts Center of New Jersey Launches Summer Artist in Residence Program
by Stephi Wild - June 22, 2023

The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey (VACNJ) has announced the launch of its Summer Artist in Residence Program, to begin on Friday, July 7. More than 70 artists applied for the program and three artists were chosen to participate: Krystle Lemonais, Kirk Maynard, and MJ Tyson.

West Coast Premiere Of MEET ME AT DAWN Opens This Friday
by Stephi Wild - March 23, 2023

Two women wash up on a distant shore following a boating accident. Dazed by their experience, they look for a path home. But they discover that this unfamiliar land is not what it seems – and that, though they may be together, they have never been further apart. Meet Me at Dawn is a modern fable exploring the mystery of grief and the triumph of everyday love.

West Coast Premiere Of MEET ME AT DAWN Comes to the Radial Theater Project Next Month
by Stephi Wild - February 02, 2023

Radial Theater Project has announced that tickets are now on sale for the twice-postponed West Coast Premiere of Meet Me at Dawn by Zinnie Harris, running March 24 - April 8, 2023 at 18th & Union in Seattle's Central District.

TEMPUS FUGIT: TROY AND US Comes to Edinburgh Fringe This Month
by Stephi Wild - August 11, 2022

The mighty hero on the battlefield and the passive woman who wrings her hands at home – Tempus Fugit: Troy and Us is set to challenge our deeply ingrained images of war. 

Tickets For OVER LUNAN, A Major Live Commission in the Dunes Of Lunan Bay, Are Available Today
by Stephi Wild - June 30, 2021

As darkness falls, audience members become immersed in one of Scotland's most stunning coastal locations; in an unusual work that draws on the fragility of the natural world and ancient flood mythologies.

Naudline Pierre Now Represented By James Cohan
by Stephi Wild - March 17, 2021

James Cohan welcomes New York-based artist Naudline Pierre to the gallery.  Pierre is known for her paintings that draw from fantasy and iconography to conjure alternate worlds. Swirling with jewel-toned texture, her works center ecstasy, devotion, and tenderness in epic scenes that generate space for rescue and healing.

Radio 4 Commissions New Series From Blind Comedian Jamie MacDonald
by Stephi Wild - August 11, 2020

Jamie MacDonald has been commissioned to write a brand new comedy series for BBC Radio 4. The series will be produced by Richard Melvin for Dabster Productions whose Radio 4 credits include Rosie Jones - Box Ticker, Suggs Love Letters To London, Fred At The Stand and Terry Alderton's Whole Half Hour.

THE WOMAN IN BLACK, Chicago's Hit Theater Production, Offers New Holiday Ticket And Drink Package
by A.A. Cristi - December 19, 2018

Just in time for the holiday season, THE WOMAN IN BLACK is inviting guests to try something new this year with a holiday ticket package. For those looking to bond over a spine-tingling live theater performance, THE WOMAN IN BLACK will include a drink from the bar with the purchase of a ticket using the code HOLIDAY through January 6, 2019. An experience surely not to miss, the production has been called "Spectacular" by the Chicago Sun-Times, and "Brilliant" by Chicago Theater Review, receiving rave reviews from critics across the board. 

Susan Hill's THE WOMAN IN BLACK To Kick Off Season At Cleveland Play House
by Julie Musbach - August 27, 2018

Cleveland Play House (CPH) kicks off its 2018-2019 Season with the spine tingling tale of Susan Hill's The Woman in Black.  Hill's gothic ghost story, adapted for the stage by Stephen Mallatratt, will star Bradley Armacost as Arthur Kipps and Adam Wesley Brown as the Actor in the show that Daily Mail called, "A nerve-shredding experience."  Director Robin Herford will recreate his original staging from the London West End.  The American premiere of the West End Production is produced by PW Productions and Pemberley Productions.  Previews begin on September 15th, with press opening on September 21st at the Allen Theatre in Playhouse Square. 

London's Thriller THE WOMAN IN BLACK Takes the Stage at the Royal George Theatre this Fall
by Julie Musbach - June 28, 2018

Over eight million people have lived to tell the tale of one of the most successful - and terrifying - theatre events ever staged, and it's coming to shock audiences in Chicago this fall. The Woman in Black - London's long-running West End play -  will open at Chicago's Royal George Theatre in November with all the stage thrills that have led audiences in London to shriek in fear for 30 years.



Past Student Productions

SHOW THEATER
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS in Broadway LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
(4/11/19 - 4/14/19)
ST ANDREWS UNIVERSITY
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
(2/17/16 - 2/21/16)
ANDREWS UNIVERSITY
BroadwayWorld Student Center
Program Guide Show Calendar Find a Scholarship

Videos


TICKET CENTRAL

Recommended For You