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Division of Music

The most satisfying careers in music evolve and deepen over a lifetime. You’ll need a firm curricular base and hands-on experience to excel as a musician. The University of Central Missouri’s undergraduate and graduate Music programs prepare you to succeed in any sector of the music industry or music education. We welcome all musicians — majors, non-majors and community members — to participate in our music offerings, in keeping with our philosophy that music is valuable for everyone to enjoy.

UCM Music programs prepare you for a variety of career options:

  • Music Education: Our 150+ year tradition of training music educators has established us as a leader in the state of Missouri. UCM provides you with a grounding in musical traditions as well as the tools music educators need for the classrooms of the future, including conducting skills, musicology studies and Kodály certification.
  • Music Technology: Prepare to succeed on the ever-expanding frontier of sonic creativity in our state-of-the-art facilities. You could become an audio engineer, produce live events, create sound for film or video games or run your own recording studio.
  • Music Performance: If you want to be an outstanding vocalist or instrumentalist and enjoy a career as a recording, composing and touring artist, we’ll help you hone your skills so you can share your talents on stage, in the studio or via technology.
  • Jazz-Commercial Music: If you want to perform, compose, arrange or produce jazz or commercial music, you’ll have opportunities to hone your musical skills with your peers in numerous UCM ensembles as you develop your artistry to its fullest potential.
  • Piano Pedagogy: If your goal is to have your own studio or classroom, we provide the education, research and teaching methods to prepare you for success in teaching piano to students of all ages.
 

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World-class equipment and facilities

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Small classes and personalized attention

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First All-Steinway School in Missouri

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Wide diversity of performance ensembles

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NASM-accredited since 1947

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American Kodály Educators accreditation

Find your future in Music at UCM

A student-focused curriculum is the hallmark of our undergraduate and graduate Music programs.

Music coursework

As the most progressive Music program in Missouri, we emphasize both innovative and traditional approaches to the study of music. In addition to your core music courses, you can take classes ranging from theatre and creative writing to business and marketing to help you achieve your personal career goals.

Music faculty

As you design your course of study, our Music faculty will guide you in choosing where to concentrate your interests. They are internationally renowned performers, producers, composers, arrangers, technologists, researchers and educators, and our small classroom settings and one-on-one advising sessions give you direct access to them.

Music facilities

Our state-of-the-art music technology facilities are equipped with the same gear and equipment used in the finest professional studios. You’ll benefit from UCM’s unparalleled assets by mastering these technology tools in your coursework or using them to create high-quality recordings of your performances.

Student and community activities

Music builds bridges of cross-cultural communication among diverse interests and communities. UCM’s numerous ensembles help you translate what you’ll learn in your courses and private lessons into real-world experiences. Camps, workshops and festivals, as well as a robust lineup of concerts, recitals and guest artist appearances, offer more opportunities to broaden and deepen your music studies. Click here to learn more about UCM Summer Arts Camps.

Ensembles Open to All UCM Students

UCM offers a variety of ensembles available to Music majors and non-majors. Most ensembles require an audition, and it is recommended that students contact the directors listed below if they are interested in joining, or for more information. Visit the ensemble page for more information.

 

What can you do with a degree in one of UCM’s Music programs?

A degree in Music from the University of Central Missouri can lead to an exciting career in the music industry — as a performing artist, composer, conductor, recording engineer or entrepreneur. Our Music Education degree programs will prepare you to teach music, privately or in your own classroom. In their careers, many musicians choose to combine performance, composing, arranging, recording and teaching into a satisfying mix that touches upon several aspects of music.

 

 

Ensembles (Open to all UCM students)

Ensembles at the University of Central Missouri are open to all students regardless of major. Most ensembles require an audition and it is recommended that students contact the directors listed below if they are interested in joining, or for more information.

BANDS

Chamber Winds and Wind Ensemble

The Wind Ensemble is UCM’s premiere concert band and is open to all UCM students by audition. Auditions are held prior to the first day of classes each fall semester. The Wind Ensemble performs contemporary repertoire for wind ensemble and concert band as well as some of the most important core literature; they are also actively involved in commissioning and premiering new works for winds and percussion by both established and emerging composers.

The Wind Ensemble performs at least two concerts each semester in Hendricks Hall, a Chamber Winds recital in Hart Recital Hall, and at university commencements at the end of each semester. In addition, the Wind Ensemble frequently tours throughout the region. Significant performances include the 2014 Southwest Division Conference of the College Band Directors National Association at the University of Arkansas; 2008, 2011, and 2015 performances at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference; featured performances in New York's famed Carnegie Hall (2010 and 2016); and the UCM President's Concert at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

For more information, please contact Dr. Corey Seapy, Director of Bands, seapy@ucmo.edu

Symphonic Band

The UCM Symphonic Band performs three concerts annually and is open to all UCM students. Chair placement auditions are held during the fall semester for participation in the November Winter Bands Concert, with rehearsals beginning at the conclusion of the Marching Mules season. Students who join only for the spring semester will complete their chair placement audition before classes resume after Winter Break.

Performers in the Symphonic Band are students from all the colleges on UCM campus and members of the surrounding community. The ensemble offers music education majors the opportunity to fulfill scholarship obligations in the spring semester, and it serves as a home for those in the Wind Ensemble to perform on a secondary instrument through audition. The music performed comes from many sources stemming from standard literature of the mid-late twentieth century to modern works composed recently. 

For more information, please contact Dr. Mark Bonner, Assistant Director of Bands, mbonner@ucmo.edu

Marching Mules

The UCM Marching Mules have a tradition of serving the institution as the musical ambassadors for the university community. Consisting of students from almost every department and major on campus, the Marching Mules provide excitement on and off the field during the football season. All members of the Marching Mules receive a $600 service award for their participation, and additional scholarships may be available depending on the student's performance ability and availability to audition for other UCM Music ensembles.

To audition for the Marching Mules, incoming freshmen should complete the prospective member form by clicking here. Once completed, students will be contacted about setting up an audition date on campus or through an acceptable platform (unlisted YouTube link, Skype audition, etc.). Students who wish to audition during their summer orientation session are allowed to do so; however, scholarship funds will likely be completely depleted by that time.

Auditions usually consist of the student performing one or two scales, two contrasting excerpts (something technical and something lyrical), and a short sight-reading excerpt. In many cases a student will simply audition on something they have already prepared for solo/ensemble or an honor band audition. Students are recommended to audition prior to the UCM Music’s February Audition Days, as scholarship funds are assigned quickly after that date.

For more information, please contact Dr. Mark Bonner, Director of Athletic Bands, mbonner@ucmo.edu

JAZZ BANDS

The UCM Jazz Bands provide an opportunity for all UCM students to experience performing Jazz at a high level. The program has two big bands, both which serve the campus and regional community in entertaining programs consisting of classic big band charts and contemporary literature.

For more information on Jazz-Commercial offerings, please contact Dr. David Aaberg, Director of Jazz-Commercial Music, aaberg@ucmo.edu

CHOIRS

University Chamber Singers

With approximately 28 singers, Chamber Singers is the University of Central Missouri's most advanced choral ensemble. This ensemble has frequently performed in prestigious regional, national, and international venues, and tours. The choir recently completed a four-concert tour to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and performed live on “Good Morning, Lithuania” in March of 2024. In addition to local and regional tours, Chamber Singers have performed at the Xi'an International Choral Festival in Xi'an, China, Carnegie Hall in New York City, and the Missouri Music Educators Association Annual Convention. On campus, Chamber Singers presents an extraordinarily diverse repertoire in several performances each semester, including a choral masterwork annually. Chamber Singers is open to all UCM students by audition. 

Chamber Singers meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 2:00-3:20 pm. To schedule an audition or receive more information, email Dr. Jackson Thomas, Director of Choral Activities (jthomas@ucmo.edu).

University Concert Choir

UCM’s largest mixed chorus, Concert Choir is open to any UCM student. The choir performs diverse repertoire individually at concerts, as well as combining with all three UCM choral ensembles for an annual choral masterwork. This ensemble is perfect for singers who want to dive into a collegiate-level experience without the extra commitment of Chamber Singers. 

Concert Choir meets Monday and Wednesday from 3:30-4:45 pm. For placement in the ensemble, please reach out to Dr. Jackson Thomas, Director of Choral Activities (jthomas@ucmo.edu).

Collegiate Choir

Collegiate Choir allows UCM students an opportunity to explore a variety of excellent choral music with the least amount of commitment - perfect for beginners to advanced singers wanting to keep music in their lives. Collegiate Choir performs individually and with the other UCM choral ensembles throughout the year, and is open to any UCM student without audition. 

Collegiate Choir meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:00-12:50 pm. Please reach out to Dr. Jackson Thomas (jthomas@ucmo.edu) with any questions.

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The UCM Symphony Orchestra is open to students of all majors by audition. 

For more information on the orchestra, please contact Dr. John Rutland, String Area Coordinator rutland@ucmo.edu

PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE

All students who are in the percussion studio are required to participate in percussion ensemble as part of their service to the PAS Student Organization; non-majors are also invited to participate. Students are placed into chamber ensembles with which they work on a single piece throughout the entirety of a semester, and they receive coachings from Prof. Smith. Students present their work on the UCM Percussion Ensemble Concert that occurs every semester.

For more information on the percussion ensemble, please contact Dr. Alex Smith,  jasmith@ucmo.edu

NEW TECHNOLOGIES ENSEMBLE

An ensemble comprised of technology-based instruments. This ensemble is open (via audition) to any UCM student who performs on laptop, turntables, or other technology-based instrument. The group performs new compositions, arrangements of traditional works, and pieces for indeterminate instrumentation. Each year, the group issues an international call for works, selecting pieces for performance written by living composers from around the world.

For more information on the New Technologies Ensemble, please contact Dr. Elisabeth Stimpert, stimpert@ucmo.edu

NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE

For more information on the New Music Ensemble, please contact Dr. Elisabeth Stimpert, stimpert@ucmo.edu

GUITAR ENSEMBLE

For more information on the Guitar Ensemble, please contact Prof. Tom Pender,  tpender@ucmo.edu

Concert Programs

Single Reed Spooktacular; Tuesday, October 31, 2023

2023 Fall Choir Concert; Thursday, October 5, 2023

Christopher Smith Senior Clarinet Recital; Wednesday, October 26, 2022

UCM Choirs Fall Concert; Thursday, October 13, 2022

Gabrielle Moore Senior Recital; Sunday, October 9, 2022

Gracie Carlton Graduate Recital; Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Nikolas Baumert Junior Recital; Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Provost's Faculty Showcase; Sunday, August 21, 2022

Steve Wasko Graduate Violin Recital; Monday, April 25, 2022

Ian Mitchell Senior Violin Recital; Saturday, April 23, 2022

Emmanuel Agbeli Guest Artist Concert; Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Tanner Henley Senior Piano Recital; Sunday, April 10, 2022

Colin Levins Senior Piano Recital; Saturday, April 9, 2022

Ben Snipes Junior Jazz Trumpet Recital; Thursday, April 7, 2022

Clarinet Studio Recital; Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Elisabeth Stimpert Faculty Clarinet Recital; Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Anna Sanderson Senior Voice Recital; Saturday, December 4, 2021

Winter Choir Concert; Thursday, December 2, 2021

Great American Art Song Recital; Sunday, November 28, 2021

Morgan Gibson Senior Recital; Saturday, November 20, 2021

Jordan White Senior Recital; Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Clarinet Studio Recital; Monday, November 15, 2021

Symphony Orchestra Concerto and Aria Competition; Sunday, November 14, 2021

Savannah Purkey Senior Recital; Sunday, November 14, 2021

Kenzie Campbell Senior Recital; Saturday, November 13, 2021

Alexandria Clements and Macy Gaeth Senior Recital; Saturday, November 13, 2021

Guitar Ensemble Concert; Friday, November 12, 2021

Fall Winds Concert; Thursday, November 11, 2021

Timothy Campbell Senior Recital; Wednesday, November 10, 2021

The Works of Emma Lou Diemer: A Celebration; Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Shannon Jenkins and Olivia Jenkins Senior Recital; Sunday, November 7, 2021

Carter Hintz Senior Recital; Sunday, November 7, 2021

UCM Percussion Studio Concert; Thursday, November 4, 2021

Roden Studio Voice Recital; Monday, November 1, 2021

Kelsey Moore Senior Recital; Sunday, October 31, 2021

Emily German and Whitney Wagner Senior Recital; Sunday, October 31, 2021

Chad Fischer Saxophone Recital; Saturday, October 30, 2021

Woodwinds/Brass/Percussion Concerto/Aria Pre-Screening; Sunday, October 24, 2021

Derek Fields Horn Recital; Sunday, October 24, 2021

Fall Choir Concert; Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Charlsee Swisher Senior Voice Recital; Sunday, October 10, 2021

SK Kakraba Guest Artist Recital; Thursday, October 7, 2021

Roden Studio Fall Voice Recital; Monday, October 4, 2021

Provost's Faculty Showcase; Monday, August 30, 2021

Kathleen Morgan Graduate Voice Recital; Friday, April 30, 2021

Mélodie French Art Song Recital; Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Matt Crotty Senior Jazz Recital; Tuesday, April 27, 2021

ASTA Chamber Concert; Monday, April 26, 2021

Morgan Abernathey Senior Violin Recial; Sunday, April 25, 2021

Tanner Henley Junior Piano Recital; Sunday, April 25, 2021

Ian Mitchell Junior Violin Recital; Saturday, April 24, 2021

Nicklas Bohannon Senior Percussion Recital; Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Choral Masterworks Concert; Sunday, April 18, 2021

Regan Seba Piano Recital; Saturday, April 17, 2021

Spectrum Ensemble Guest Artist Recital; Friday, April 16, 2021

Janie Turner Senior Voice Recital; Sunday, April 11, 2021

Blake Pfeiffer Senior Jazz Recital; Saturday, April 10, 2021

Colin Levins Junior Piano Recital; Saturday, April 10, 2021

Ian McClaflin Guest Artist Recital; Friday, April 9, 2021

Flute Ensemble Concert; Thursday, April 8, 2021

Clarinet Studio Recital; Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Matt Nownes Senior Jazz Guitar Recital; Sunday, March 28, 2021

Zoe Eledge Senior Clarinet Recital; Sunday, March 28, 2021

Abigail Terrill Senior Piano Recital; Saturday, March 27, 2021

Deonte Mays Junior Clarinet Recital; Saturday, March 27, 2021

The Telephone by Menotti; Wednesday, March 24, 2021

Piano Area Showcase; Sunday, March 7, 2021

String Orchestra Concerto and Aria Competition Winner's Concert; Friday, March 5, 2021

Damon Pelto Senior Flute Recital; Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Collegiate Choir and Concert Choir Unity Concert; Sunday, February 28, 2021

Carter Hintz Junior Voice Recital; Saturday, February 27, 2021

Joshua Moore Junior Trombone Recital; Friday, February 26, 2021

Desmond Blake Junior Trombone Recital; Friday, February 26, 2021

Kyle Shewcraft Junior Trombone Recital; Thursday, February 25, 2021

Jordan White Junior Trombone Recital; Thursday, February 25, 2021

Andre Williams Senior Voice Recital; Sunday, February 21, 2021

Faculty Recital: Clarinet Fantasy; Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Kevin Wanner Senior Trumpet Recital; Thursday, January 28, 2021

Performance Showcase; Saturday, January 23, 2021

Kirstie Rossmiller Senior Clarinet Recital; Thursday, December 10, 2020

Seminar in Music Technology and Composition II Presentation/Concert; Sunday, December 6, 2020

Rebecca Brendel Senior Trumpet Recital; Saturday, December 5, 2020

Ashley Ingram Senior Viola Recital; Friday, December 4, 2020

Lydia Schockmann Senior Voice Recital; Saturday, November 21, 2020

Prescott Dillon Senior Recital; Friday, November 20, 2020

Kiersten Reynolds Senior Voice Recital; Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Concerto & Aria Competition; Sunday, November 15, 2020

Gabriel Englehart Senior Voice Recital; Saturday, November 14, 2020

Olivia Motsinger Senior Euphonium Recital; Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Grant Bucher Junior Saxophone Recital; Sunday, November 8, 2020

Rianna Gardner Senior Trombone Recital; Saturday, November 7, 2020

Wyatt Schmidt Junior Trombone Recital; Friday, November 6, 2020

Poetry + Percussion: A UCM Student Performance; Thursday, November 5, 2020

Saakumu Dance Troupe Guest Artist Virtual Recital; Monday, November 2, 2020

Woodwinds/Brass/Percussion Concerto/Aria Pre-Screening; Sunday, November 1, 2020

Alicyn Quick Senior Clarinet Recital; Saturday, October 31, 2020

Alex Smith Virtual Album Release Concert; Thursday, October 29, 2020

Griffin Campbell Guest Saxophone Recital; Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Fall Jazz Ensembles Concert; Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Amy Knost and Alyzabeth Munsterman Joint Flute Recital; Sunday, October 25, 2020

Breanna McGuire Senior Voice Recital; Saturday, October 24, 2020

Michael Beck Senior Voice Recital; Friday, October 23, 2020

Kathleen Morgan Opera Scenes Performance; Sunday, October 18, 2020

Lindsey Fisher Senior Clarinet Recital; Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Lake Cottage Duo; Sunday, October 11, 2020

Nicklas Bohannon Junior Recital; Thursday, September 24, 2020

Matt Crotty Junior Jazz Saxophone Recital; Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Morgan Abernathey Junior Violin Recital; Sunday, September 13, 2020

Blake Pfeiffer Junior Jazz-Commercial Trumpet Recital; Saturday, September 12, 2020

Provost's Faculty Showcase; Monday, August 31, 2020 - YouTube Stream

 

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