A Fast, Flexible Music Program Filled With Options
Shenandoah Conservatory’s Bachelor of Arts in Music (classical music emphasis) degree is made for anyone who wants to earn a music degree while also taking courses in other disciplines.
At Shenandoah, you can earn a B.A. in Music in three years or create a double-major track to earn your degrees in four years. You can study music in a conservatory as well as combine your music major with a major or minor from the College of Arts & Sciences or the School of Business, depending on whether you’re pursuing a three- or four-year course of study.
Working closely with faculty advisors, B.A. in Music students map out course schedules to find suitable balance between music and their academic emphasis, structuring a plan that appropriately fits the needs of the chosen degree focus. In their final year, B.A. in Music candidates design and present a creative capstone project that synthesizes their music studies.
Learn More About This Program
The Bachelor of Arts in Music, classical applied emphasis curriculum is designed for students who are interested in a broad liberal arts education while continuing to pursue music studies. This degree is suitable for students who wish to design a program of study with the flexibility to integrate minor study in an area outside of the conservatory.
The course of study will incorporate:
- at least 30 hours at the 300 or 400 level. No more than 12 hours of university general education hours may be counted toward this requirement.
- a creative capstone project that synthesizes music studies.
This degree is designed to be completed in three years. Adding a double major outside of the conservatory is possible by working with faculty advisors to create a four-year degree completion plan.
Classes
The Bachelor of Arts in Music, classical applied emphasis program is designed to be completed in three calendar years. This course of study requires full-time enrollment in fall and spring semesters and the completion of credits each January Term (J Term) and Summer Term (alternate pathways are possible depending on J Term/ Summer Term registrations).
The Bachelor of Arts in Music, classical applied emphasis program, can also be expanded into a four-year experience by adding a double-major track. You can study music in a conservatory as well as combine your music major with biology, media & communication, English or another major or minor from the College of Arts & Sciences or the School of Business.
Performance Opportunities & Ensembles
With more than 300 performances each year, Shenandoah Conservatory offers students in the Bachelor of Arts in Music a dynamic environment in which to practice their craft and develop a plan for their professional launch into the industry.
Additionally, students get hands-on experience organizing and leading rehearsals, serving as point of contact for performances (inside and outside of the conservatory), and arranging music for the ensemble, among other leadership duties.
Shenandoah Conservatory is home to more than twenty instrumental, choral and dance ensembles presenting numerous performances each year.
Application & Audition Requirements
Shenandoah University works on rolling admissions. Applications are reviewed individually and holistically.
Submit your application, review required admissions materials and find our admissions standards.
Admission to Shenandoah Conservatory is highly competitive. Not only must students be academically admissible, they must also complete and pass the mandatory audition/portfolio review and interview process. Audition dates are limited and may fill and close well in advance of the audition date.
Minors
Shenandoah Conservatory offers minors in music, theatre or dance for all Shenandoah University students.
Shenandoah also offers a new minor in Music Composition for conservatory students who wish to build composition skills and enhance their creative music-making experience while pursuing other degree programs in the conservatory.
Learn More about Conservatory Minors
Students in the B.A. in Music program may also choose minors from the College of Arts & Sciences and the School of Business to craft a unique and individualized program of study.
Career Possibilities
B.A. in Music graduates pursue a wide range of career possibilities. From performance to entrepreneurial pursuits, the possibilities are endless. Those students electing to pursue a double major (during a 4th year of study) explore career possibilities related to fields of business, natural sciences, the social sciences and the humanities.
Graduates of the B.A. in Music program are prepared to pursue graduate study in a more specialized area of music, including performance, theory and composition, conducting, musicology, and arts management.
Study Abroad
Shenandoah University’s commitment to global learning offers multiple programs for you to expand your collegiate experience, from Global Experiential Learning trips to Collaborative Online International Learning projects. You may also plan a semester studying abroad; most importantly these opportunities are designed to help create a better understanding of the world around us.