Music

Department website: http://music.umsl.edu

General Information

Degrees and Areas of Concentration

The Department of Music offers programs of study leading to the B.M. degrees in Jazz Studies; Music Education (and state teaching certification in grades K-12); Music Performance; Music Composition; Music Theory; Music with Elective Studies in Business; and the B.A. degree in Music.

Music Minors

Minors in music and jazz studies are available.

Faculty

Music faculty members have received recognition for distinguished achievements in conducting, composition, performance, and teaching. The faculty is also recognized for high-profile research in musicology, music theory, and music education.

Applied instruction in piano, organ, voice, jazz/classical guitar and all band and orchestral instruments is provided by full-time and adjunct faculty, all of whom are actively performing and/or recording musicians in the St. Louis region and beyond. Faculty recitals are regularly scheduled and are free for students to attend.

Facilities

The Department has teaching, rehearsal, classroom, practice, and study spaces in the Music Building, the Arts Administration Building, and the nationally-renowned Touhill Performing Arts Center.

Ensembles

Membership in Music Department performing ensembles (choral, orchestral, concert band, pep band, jazz, chamber) is open to UMSL students in all majors and minors. Admission to most ensembles is by audition (contact the individual ensemble’s director for more information about participation guidelines).

EN PER 1410	The University Singers (MOTR PERF 102C)	1
EN PER 1500	University Orchestra (MOTR PERF 102O)	1
EN PER 1520	University Symphonic Band (MOTR PERF 102B)	1
EN PER 1530	University Wind Ensemble	1
EN PER 1541	Chamber Ensemble Brass	1
EN PER 1542	Jazz Combo	1
EN PER 1543	Chamber Ensemble Percussion	1
EN PER 1544	Chamber Ensemble Strings	1
EN PER 1545	Chamber Ensemble Voice	1
EN PER 1546	Chamber Ensemble Woodwinds	1
EN PER 1550	Jazz Orchestra	1
EN PER 1560	Opera Workshop	1

Career Outlook

A degree in music prepares students for careers in a wide range of specialties such as professional performance, teaching in public schools, holding positions in the music industry (e.g. recording, publishing, radio programming, manufacturing), or working as a musical entrepreneur carving out your own niche in the field. Additionally, employers in many fields outside of music take notice of applicants with music degrees because they understand that self-discipline, collaboration, creativity, and adaptability to new and unfamiliar scenarios are central to the work of musicians, and these skills transfer to non-musical areas in beneficial ways.   

UMSL music graduates are highly sought-after in the job market, particularly in K-12 school music programs in Missouri and Illinois. Many others develop busy careers as professional performers and composers. Those graduates who choose to seek further study in music have been readily accepted into many of the nation’s top graduate programs. Others still are applying what they learned in their musical studies at UMSL in careers outside of music. 

Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Department of Music: (314) 516-5980.

The Department of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.

Degrees

Music BA

Music BM

• Elective Studies in Business Emphasis
• Jazz Studies Emphasis 
• Performance Emphasis
• Music Education Emphasis
• Music Theory
• Music Composition Emphasis

Music Education MME

Minors

Jazz Studies Minor

Music Minor

Courses

Courses offered by the department can be found at the links below:

Applied Music (AP MUS)

Ensemble Performance (EN PER)

Music Education (MUS ED)

Music History (M H L T)

Pedagogy (PDGOGY)

Practicum (PRACTM)

Theory and Composition (THRY COM)

Joanna Mendoza
Chair, Professor and Member, Ariana String Quartet
M.M., Julliard School of Music

Michael V. Smith
E. Desmond Lee Endowed Professor of Music
Ph.D., University of Minnesota

Kurt S. Baldwin
Professor and Member, Arianna String Quartet
M.M., New England Conservatory of Music

J. Andy Goodman
Professor
Ed.D., University of Illinois - Champaign/Urbana
Music Education

John McGrosso
Professor and Member, Arianna String Quartet
M.M., Julliard School of Music

Joanna Mendoza
Professor and Member, Arianna String Quartet
M.M., Julliard School of Music

Zachary Cairns
Associate Professor and Coordinator of Theory
Ph.D., University of Rochester, Eastman School of Music

James Henry
Associate Professor and Director of Choral Studies
Ph.D., Washington University

Julia Sakharova
Associate Professor and Member, Arianna String Quartet
M.M., Julliard School of Music

Alla Voskoboynikova
Teaching Professor and Director of Keyboard Studies
M.M., Gnessins Academy of Music-Moscow, Russia

Matthew Henry
Associate Teaching Professor of Percussion
M.M., Webster University

Adaron Jackson
Assistant Teaching Professor for Jazz Studies
M.M. , Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

David Wacyk
Assistant Teaching Professor of Music
D.M.A., University of Maryland

Aurelia Hartenberger
Adjunct Associate Professor of Music Education
Ed.D., Washington University

Donita Bauer
Adjunct Instructor of Applied Bassoon
M.M., Saint Louis Conservatory

Lisa Blackmore
Adjunct Instructor of Applied Trumpet
D.M.A., University of Illinois-Urbana

Mark Blackmore
Adjunct Instructor of Applied Trumpet
M.M., University of Missouri-Columbia

Shelly Monier
Adjunct Instructor of Applied Flute
D.M.A., University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Neil Ostercamp
Adjunct Instructor of Applied Saxophone
D.M.A., University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Alan Rosenkoetter
Adjunct Instructor of Applied Classical Guitar
B.S., Washington University

Jeanine York-Garesche
Adjunct Instructor of Applied Clarinet
M.M., St. Louis Conservatory of Music

Whitney Cairns
Adjunct Instructor of Aural Training
M.M., Eastman School of Music

Travis Lewis
Adjunct Instructor of Applied Jazz Guitar
D.M.A., University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana

Mieko Hironaka-Bergt
Specialist and Accompanist
M.M., Toho Academy of Music

John Hylton
Dean Emeritus and Professor Emeritus
D.Ed., Penn State University

Kenneth E. Miller
Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Northwestern University

Evelyn Mitchell
Professor Emeritus

Arnold Perris
Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., Northwestern University

Robert J. Ray
Professor Emeritus
B.M., Northwestern University

James Richards
Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., University of Rochester, Eastman School of Music

Diane Touliatos
Professor Emeritus
Ph.D., The Ohio State University

Robert Nordman
E. Desmond Lee and Professor Emeritus
M.M., St. Louis Conservatory of Music

Douglas Turpin
E. Desmond Lee and Professor Emeritus
D.Ed., Washington University