Hanover Music Department
Why Study Music?
Deciding upon a major can be an intimidating task, and you may be wondering if music would be a good fit for you. If any of the following is true for you, then the music department at Hanover College may be just what you have been searching for.
You enjoy:
• Singing and/or playing an instrument
• Performing in front of others
• An array of musical styles
• Self-expression
You want to:
• Develop and improve upon your artistic craft
• Entertain audiences
• Teach others
• Compose, produce or direct
• Have a culturally enriched educational experience
• Have the opportunity to further study your passion
What Hanover Music Offers
Nietzsche wrote that music is one of the arts that so sharpen our sense of participation in the world that they give a much greater meaning to life. Music has the ability to motivate humans towards excellence, educate young minds, and communicate where communication has been lost. It is a universal language, an integral aspect of every human society, and a valuable part of the world.
Hanover College's music program is for students who want a broad, liberal education, as well as fine training in music. Groups such as the A Cappella Choir, Chamber Singers, the Hanover Concert Band, the Hanover Jazz Band and the College-Community Orchestra perform throughout the academic year, both on and off campus. These groups give you an opportunity to hone you artistic crafts, while also providing them with a fun and fulfilling experience.
The curriculum lends itself to co-curricular, interdisciplinary and major/minor opportunities. You can choose to major in either choral or instrumental programs, partaking in a rigorous curriculum designed to provide a shared common musical foundation and an opportunity for individual study. The development of performance skills, critical thinking and music literacy are the goals of each area of private and class instruction, in addition to music appreciation, theory, and history.
Through musical performances and sponsorship of musical activities, the music department enriches the cultural, aesthetic, and creative life of the university, community and region. By providing you with practical experience and a comprehensive education, the music department at Hanover strives to prepares you for graduate school and/or a fulfilling professional career.
Highlights
Top-Notch Facilities and Equipment
The Department of Music is housed in the Lynn Center for Fine Arts. Fitzgibbon Recital Hall seats 300 and has a seven-foot Baldwin Concert Grand and a 48-rank pipe organ. You will have access to 21 pianos, seven of which are grand pianos. Teaching studios are equipped with grand pianos. Also, the department has a record/listening center, choral and instrumental libraries, and computer stations, all at your fingertips.
Public Performances
Hanover offers a variety of public performance opportunities, giving you a chance to refine your performance skills and show off your talents. The A Cappella Choir and Chamber Singers have made tours of Austria, Poland, Greece and Romania, in addition to tours in the East and Midwest. Their annual Christmas Concert and Hanover College-Madison community "Messiah" attracts a large audience annually. The Wind Ensemble and College Community Orchestra present several concerts throughout the year, and small chamber ensembles are active in performances on and off campus. Solo recitals are numerous, and students - freshmen through seniors – participate in individual solo recitals throughout the year to share their individual progress and accomplishments with others.
Award-winning Students
Personal attention from faculty members ensures that performers excel and their craft. Students have received special recognition and awards from such organizations as the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado, the Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts, and the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). On campus, the annual President's Honor Recital for the Arts ends the school year and recognizes the department's finest performers who were selected by faculty audition.
Opportunities for Research
Faculty members do pedagogical and historical research projects, and students assist in these various projects.
Career Opportunities
Music within the context of a liberal arts education equips graduates with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to continue on to a variety of careers and/or graduate school opportunities. Former graduates hold teaching positions in high school and college programs, have private studios, and are active in church music endeavors.
Graduate school placements have included:
• Southern Methodist University
• University of Wisconsin
• Indiana University
• Chicago Musical College
• Cleveland Institute of Music
• University of Cincinnati
• Rice University
• University of Missouri-Kansas City
• University of Nebraska