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Department of Music

 

At Birmingham-Southern, you can explore music through performing a range of pieces and understanding its history. From the department’s beginnings as the Birmingham Conservatory of Music in the city's early years, music at BSC has focused on excellence.

It features an extraordinary faculty of nationally and internationally recognized artists and teachers, including performers, composers, conductors, music historians, and music educators.

Equally impressive is our record of student achievement. With three different degrees offered in the department, music students can find the concentration that fits their educational and career goals. Our graduates go on to rich, varied careers from the performance stage to the classroom to the executive suite. Regardless of the path they choose, they take with them an inspired love of music.

Interested? Fill out the form to the right and an admissions representative will follow up with you to start your Hilltop journey.

Chart your course with
BSC Music!



Auditions for music scholarships will be November 5, 2022 and February 11, 2023. Click here to sign up for an in-person or virtual audition time.

 




 

Why study Music at BSC?

  • Private instruction. Students can take lessons in voice, piano, organ, guitar, and orchestral instruments from faculty members active in the world of professional music, not by graduate assistants.
  • Performance opportunities. BSC is home to a range of choral and instrumental ensembles as well as a weekly Recital Class for student performers and composers. Students also have access to visiting performances on campus and music throughout Birmingham. Our city boasts a major orchestra, professional opera companies, ballet organizations, theatres, and a rich jazz legacy.
  • Experienced faculty. In the music department, our professors are working musicians with deep roots in the community and connections to the region’s musical world. The music program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and was honored with a National Association of Teachers of Singing Award for Vocal Excellence.
  • Top-notch facilities. The Hill Music Building’s facilities include: twin Steinway concert grand pianos, a 53-rank, tracker-action recital organ plus practice organs; a state-of-the-art studio offering recording facilities and diagnostic tools for students; three technology-based studios and a musical technology classroom; and a 280-seat recital hall.

Accreditation. Birmingham-Southern College is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

National Association of Schools of Music11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21Reston, VA 20190-5248(703) 437-0700 Phone(703) 437-6312 Fax[email protected]

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    Learning Outcomes

    Students who seek a degree in music must audition in their principal instrument and demonstrate sufficient competency to undertake work at the college level. Once accepted, students must achieve a proficiency level appropriate for their degree and must advance towards that degree at a rate acceptable to the music faculty. Following two years of study, a committee of music faculty will interview students. The committee will advise students concerning their degree plans and expectations.

    Upon completion of the music major, students will be able to:

    • Hear, identify, and work with musical elements – rhythm, pitch, harmony, structure, timbre, and texture
    • Read and apply musical notation through performance
    • Recognize and articulate an understanding of compositional process and musical style with reference to artists, technologies, events, and cultural forces through the major periods of history
    • Use research tools and analysis to develop, defend judgments, and write about music
    • Demonstrate a trajectory of continuing growth in applying skills and musical performance
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    Degrees Offered

    Bachelor of Arts (BA) with a major in Music
    This degree is designed for students who wish to study music in a broad liberal arts context. In addition to a rigorous liberal arts education, students study an instrument or voice as well as take courses in musicianship, music theory, and music history. The major culminates in a ½ hour degree recital and/or in a written capstone project. The BA has a track of courses emphasizing songwriting as a special program within the degree.

    Disciplinary Honors in Music
    This degree offers students the benefits of a Bachelor of the Arts degree in music, but who have earned the distinction Disciplinarily Honors. Students in this degree must maintain an acceptably high GPA overall as well as in music courses, take additional upper-level courses in music, including a more intensive focus on applied music (lessons) in their music studies, as well as a junior half recital in addition to the senior full recital in the primary instrument.

    Bachelor of Music Education (BME)
    This music degree leads to certification for teaching music at the K-12 level. Students choose one of two tracks, a vocal/choral track emphasizing working with the voice and choral ensembles, or an instrumental track appropriate for conductors of instrumental ensembles such as bands and orchestras.

    Bachelor of Musical Arts (BMA)
    This is an interdisciplinary music-intensive degree that is designed for students who wish to connect their musical studies with another academic area. Previous student projects include interdisciplinary work in music and psychology, music and business, American music, and music and history. We also offer two additional guided tracks in Sound and Media, and Voice, Drama, and Multimedia.

    Minor in Music
    This music is designed for students who wish to study music as a secondary area in addition to their major. 

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    Performance Opportunities

    American Choral Directors Association (ACDA): BSC has an active student chapter of the ACDA, open to all students interested in choral music. Students attend regional and national conventions and participate in local activities.

    Recital Class: Students sign up on their own to perform in weekly classes, which are attended by faculty, students, and friends. No grade is given. This is a great way to try new pieces or get used to public performance.

    Stephens Competition: This piano competition provides a cash prize, a public performance, and the opportunity to be adjudicated by outstanding pianists from around the nation.

    Whittington Competition: This annual competition provides students with the opportunity to perform as soloists with orchestra, in arias, or concerti.

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    Choral and Instrumental Ensembles

    Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra (ASYO): The ASYO is an ensemble dedicated to giving young musicians the opportunity to learn and grow through the rehearsal and performance of great orchestral music in a highly professional setting. Members work regularly with the musicians and conductors of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and perform concerts spanning from standard orchestral repertoire to pops and chamber music.

    Athletic Pep Band: “The Pride” has established itself as an ensemble comprised of leaders, and it continues to generate students of remarkable character. The Athletic Pep Band supports athletics at home football games and select basketball games. Scholarships are available.

    Concert Choir: This mixed ensemble is open to students by audition. The Concert Choir tours extensively across the nation and performs major works with members of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. They also perform for various campus events and ceremonies. Auditions are held each May for the following year.

    Guitar Ensemble: Students in this ensemble work on music written specifically for guitar as well as music of great composers who didn't write for the guitar. Previous study in classical guitar is required.

    Hilltop Singers: 16 members of the Concert Choir are selected as Hilltop Singers, an unaccompanied chamber vocal ensemble. They perform for schools, churches, and civic groups. Members receive scholarships. Auditions are held each May for the following year.

    Jazz Band: The Jazz Ensemble performs big band and combo literature from various areas of the jazz repertoire. Students have the opportunity to perform as soloists in several styles, including standard jazz charts, Latin music, funk, and several types of dance music. This group regularly performs off campus to represent the College in the Birmingham community. Enrollment is open to all BSC students with prior experience.

    Musical Theatre: BSC’s Department of Theatre hosts an intensive program in musical theatre. Roles are open to all students by audition. Past productions include: “Falsettos”; “RENT”; “Next to Normal”; and “Spring Awakening.”

    One-A-Chord Gospel Choir: This 20-member student and alumni group focuses on spiritual and cultural inspiration and fellowship. They perform at various campus events.

    Opera Ensemble: Opera students present a fully-staged opera with professional orchestra every other year as well as staged scenes twice each academic year. Past full productions include: “Die Fledermaus” (Strauss); “The Comedy on the Bridge” (Martinu); “The Impressario” (Mozart); “Hansel and Gretel” (Humperdinck); “The Consul” (Menotti); and “La Boheme” (Puccini).

    Red Mountain Chamber Orchestra (RMCO): The RMCO is open to BSC students on a space-available basis. The orchestra performs regularly on campus and throughout central Alabama and accompanies the winners of the Birmingham-Southern Whittington Competition.

    Southern Chorale: This mixed-voice ensemble performs each December at the annual Service of Lessons and Carols and presents a spring concert on campus. Auditions are held each term.

    Symphonic Band: The focus of BSC’s Symphonic Band is to increase students’ quality of performing on their instrument at a collegiate level. In the fall, the Symphonic Band spotlights individuals through the annual Prism Concert. In the spring, the ensemble prepares major works for winds and percussion to perform on tour, in local venues, or for special occasions. Scholarships are available.

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    Performance and Event Schedule

    Find more information about BSC’s Visual and Performing Arts season schedule as well as the BSC Art Alliance here.

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    The Conservatory Community Music School at Birmingham-Southern College

    The Conservatory Community Music School at Birmingham-Southern College, founded in 1895, is a non-profit community music school of Birmingham-Southern College that offers music lessons to students of all ages. No matter the experience level or musical interest, the Conservatory can pair students with the right teacher.

    Learn more about their current schedule and available lessons here

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    Scholarships

    Visual and Performing Arts Scholarships
    Each year, the Music Department participates in Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship Days to allow prospective students the opportunity to compete for the various financial awards offered by the division Auditions for incoming students for Fall 2021 will be November 14, 2020, February 27, 2021 and April 10, 2021. While music majors are encouraged to audition, students are not required to major in music to compete for or receive a Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of an audition and an interview.

    • Singers are expected to sing at least two songs from memory in contrasting style.
    • Instrumentalists should play two pieces or etudes in contrasting styles and 3 to 4 Major Scales 2 octaves when applicable.
    • Pianists are expected to play from memory two pieces of at least the difficulty of the Bach Inventions or the sonatas of Haydn or Mozart.
    • Organists are expected to play one of the easier Bach preludes and fugues or works of comparable difficulty. Organists are also expected to show competence on the piano.

    Students who accept scholarships will perform in a major ensemble and enroll in applied study appropriate to their instrument for each term they accept the awards. More information and registration forms can be found here.

    Hilltop Singers Scholarship
    Members of this distinctive vocal ensemble, an unaccompanied chamber group, receive a scholarships for participation. The Hilltop Singers are also members of the Concert Choir. An audition process is required. Contact Dr. Lester Seigel at [email protected] for more information.

    Honors Day Awards
    Pi Kappa Lambda membership, various cash awards, and outstanding student accomplishments are recognized at the end of each academic year during the Spring Honors Day program. Music faculty determine the awards based on academic achievement, leadership, exceptional performing, and remarkable scholarship.

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    On-Campus Facilities

    You can find the following facilities in the Hill Music Building:

    • Twin Steinway concert grand pianos
    • Taylor Digital Recording Studio, which provides state-of-the-art recording equipment and diagnostic tools for students
    • 36-rank, tracker-action recital organ by Casavant Fréres
    • Tracker and electro-pneumatic practice organs by Schantz, Möller, and Ruhland
    • Steinway, Yamaha, and Baldwin practice pianos and classroom instruments
    • Three technology-based studios including the state of the art Elebash Electroacoustic Studio featuring both Mac and PC platforms, a 10.2 audio system utilizing 12 Adam Speakers, KYMA Symbolic Sound design environment design, and digital design software including Max/Msp, Nuendo, Audition, Waves, and Sonar
    • Yamaha Disclavier pianos and internet access in classrooms
    • 280-seat Recital Hall
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    Music Handbook

    Find the BSC Department of Music Handbook here.

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    Faculty and Staff

    Full-Time Faculty

    Jeff Kensmoe, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Opera
    Opera, Applied Voice
    Email: [email protected]

    Joanna Pepple, Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Theory, Music History, Music of the World's Peoples
    Email: [email protected]

    Lester Seigel, Coordinator for Music Area, Joseph Hugh Thomas Professor of Music 
    Conducting, Theory, Music Literature, Concert Choir
    Email: [email protected]

    Conservatory of Fine and Performing Arts

    Dr. Virginia Dismukes ’82, Conservatory Faculty (Piano)
    Email: [email protected]

    Jodean Tingle, Conservatory Faculty (Piano, Piano Ensemble)
    Email: [email protected]

    Lucy Victory, Director of the Conservatory
    Email: [email protected]

    Adjunct Faculty

    James Baker, Adjunct Professor of Music (Horn)
    Email: [email protected]

    Jay Burnham, Adjunct Professor of Music (Percussion)
    Email: [email protected]

    Zakaria Enikeev, Adjunct Professor of Music (Viola)
    Email: [email protected]

    Quint Harris, Adjunct Professor of Music
    Email: [email protected]

    Robert Janssen, Adjunct Professor of Music (Clarinet, Saxophone)
    Email: [email protected]

    Mayumi Masri, Adjunct Professor of Music (Violin)
    Email: [email protected]

    Zoe Rose Pallas, Adjunct Professor of Music (Voice)

    Lauren Peacock, Adjunct Professor of Music (Cello)

    David Ray, Adjunct Professor of Music (Bands, Electric Bass)
    Email: [email protected]

    Rebecca Remley, Adjunct Professor of Music (Flute)
    Email: [email protected]

    Brad Sargent, Adjunct Professor of Music (Trumpet)

    Ronald Shinn, Adjunct Professor of Music (Piano)
    Email: [email protected]

    Jim Sullivan, Adjunct Professor of Music (Oboe)
    Email:[email protected]

    Alexander Taylor, Adjunct Professor of Music (Trombone)

    MiJung Trepanier, Adjunct Professor of Music (Piano)
    Email: [email protected]

    Abigail Workman, Adjunct Professor of Music (Harp)
    Email: [email protected]

    Staff

    Judy E. Pandelis, Academic Programs Assistant for Art & Art History, Media & Film Studies, Music, and Theatre Departments
    BSC Arts Alliance Coordinator
    Manager of the College Theatre Box Office
    Email: [email protected]

     

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    Health and Safety for Musicians

    Every music student, faculty member, and staff member should become familiar with the documents linked below, providing basic information regarding the maintenance of hearing health, vocal health, musculoskeletal health, and injury prevention.

    Maintenance of Hearing Health
    National Center for Voice and Speech (NCVS)
    Occupational Noise Exposure (OSHA)

    Vocal and Musculoskeletal Health
    Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA)
    Athletes and the Arts
    The Complete Guide to the Alexander Technique
    Dalcroze Society of America