School of MusicCollege of the Arts

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“The School of Music at Kennesaw State is an incredibly dynamic place, boasting state-of-the-art facilities and opportunities to produce and study music in a creative atmosphere that encourages our students to be ahead of the curve for what it means to be a musician in the 21st century. Our engaging professors are dedicated, vibrant, working professionals who are completely devoted to teaching, performing, scholarship, and serving our community.

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, the School of Music offers three degrees:

• Bachelor of Arts in Music• Bachelor of Music in Performance• Bachelor of Music in Music Education

The School of Music hosts over 150 events each year, showcasing the talents of our students, faculty, and visiting artists from around the world. Attend a concert, meet our faculty, and feel the energy and excitement. Music moves us, too.

Music moves you.

Let’s get started...

KSU is ahead of the curve for what it means to be a musician in the 21st century. - Michael Alexander, Interim Director School of Music

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The ensemble opportunities in the School of Music are extensive, offering students the ability to experience a wide range of performances. The majority of concerts each year feature student performances in large ensembles, small ensembles, and opera productions.

The School of Music is home to seven large major ensembles, including Chamber Singers, Chorale, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, University Philharmonic Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble. We also offer a diverse set of small ensembles such as the classical guitar ensemble, jazz guitar ensemble, jazz combos, string quartets, wind chamber groups, percussion ensemble, mixed chamber groups, gospel choir, and a men’s and women’s chorus.

Participation in any of these ensembles offers our students (majors, minors, and non-majors) frequent performance opportunities both on- and off-campus. Our Guest Artist Series also allows students the opportunity to perform with and learn from top national and international artists.

Ensembles

“ “I love the students here at KSU – especially in the School of Music. The music program is constantly growing; it’s an amazing transformation to experience. - Harrison Ude, student

Students interested in jazz can take advantage of our instrumental jazz concentration as part of the Bachelor of Music in Performance degree program.

The jazz concentration is comprehensive and includes courses specific to the jazz idiom in history, theory, arranging, improvisation, performing, and pedagogy.

Our jazz majors and faculty are active in the Metro Atlanta jazz scene and mix university experience with real-world performing opportunities and training. The KSU Jazz Ensembles and Jazz Combos develop general jazz performance and improvisational skills, giving students the flexibility to meet the varying demands of today’s musical world. Recent performances have included programs of Brazilian and Latin jazz, swing concerts, music from musical theatre, jazz rock, and retrospectives of such composers as Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, Count Basie, and others.

Jazz

“ “I was attracted to KSU because the School of Music has so many great faculty members and great programs. It’s just very alive. - Jordan Sellers, student

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Pianists in the School of Music can choose to pursue any of our three degree programs: a Bachelor of Arts in Music, a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (Band, Choral, General, or Orchestral focus), or a Bachelor of Music in Performance.

Students work with our exceptional piano faculty, all of whom are active performers and teachers. Having the opportunity for frequent recital performances both on- and off-campus, many of our students successfully compete in local, state, and national competitions and are regularly accepted into noted graduate music schools.

Certified as an All-Steinway School, the School of Music offers our students many accompanying and collaborative piano opportunities. In addition, students receive rigorous training in written theory and aural skills, music history, conducting, piano pedagogy and piano literature. Recent and upcoming guests include Jeremy Denk, Shai Wosner, Simone Dinnerstein, and Orion Weiss.

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“KSU has offered me great opportunities in the piano program, namely master classes... - Steven Melin, student

The School of Music strings program offers applied concentrations in violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, and classical guitar.

Students perform in a full symphony orchestra that recently toured China and hosted the National Conference of the College Orchestra Directors Association. There is a vibrant chamber music program and the faculty perform and collaborate with the top performance organizations in the region.

Our string majors have enjoyed recent master classes with several outstanding artists, including the Aspen String Trio, Jennifer Koh, Stefan Jackiw, the Ying Quartet, and the Pacifica Quartet.

Strings

“ “What I really like about the music program is they put you in a lot of different musical situations to develop your skill set. All of the professors are incredibly helpful. It isn’t just a job to them; they really care. - Katelyn King, student

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Vocal students at KSU receive rigorous training in classical vocal pedagogy, and study art song, operatic, and oratorio literature with master teachers. Our exceptional voice faculty are all experienced professional performers and many of our students are award-winning vocalists.

Students have numerous opportunities to perform in opera and musical theater productions, as well as a wide variety of choral ensembles. Our choral ensembles have performed at the National American Choral Directors Association Conference and regularly perform at the Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service.

The School offers a curriculum that emphasizes balanced training allowing students to be prepared for performing, teaching, and studying voice in diverse genres. The breadth of the music program provides numerous opportunities for collaboration and growth.

Voice

“ “Students here have the experience of being on stage more often. Students are able to perform more, and to form better relationships with their teachers. - Natalie Gough, student

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At the School of Music, students who play wind or percussion instruments may choose from applied concentrations in bassoon, clarinet, euphonium, flute, French horn, oboe, percussion, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, and tuba.

Our Wind Ensemble hosted the Southeast Regional College Band Directors Association/National Band Association Conference and performs a wide variety of classic and new works for winds. Students regularly have opportunities to perform chamber music and work with faculty that perform in the top professional ensembles across the region.

Collaborations have included residencies with several guest composers, So Percussion, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet, eighth blackbird, Boston Brass, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

Winds and Percussion

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From the students and faculty who are challenging and encouraging, to the opportunity to collaborate with different people all of the time, the variety of talented influences in the School of Music have helped me grow as a musician. - Robert Boone, student

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) can choose from four concentrations: Musicology, Ethnomusicology, Composition, and Theory. BA faculty members are recognized teachers, scholars, composers, and performers.

While at KSU, students can choose from a wide variety of activities in addition to applied lessons and ensembles. These include premieres of original compositions, presentations and publications of scholarly research, and enrollment in a broad range of courses.

Recent KSU graduates have advanced to prestigious graduate schools and have used skills gained in their degree study to succeed in a broad range of careers.

Bachelor of Arts Degree

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We are so fortunate to have such wonderful faculty here, both greatly experienced and enriched with a knowledge and passion for music. Our colleagues, as students, also have proven to be extremely supportive of one another, which can be rare to find elsewhere in such a competitive field. - Julie Mitchell, student

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Before you audition, we invite you to attend a performance, meet with an advisor, or even sit in on a class.

Learn more about us and plan your visit at KSUMusic.com.

Let music move you into becoming a student at the School of Music at Kennesaw State University.

College of the Arts Admissions Office 770-423-6614 | KSUMusic.com

Apply today.

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