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Music

Students prep for their careers through coursework, internships and performances.

Studying music at Augustana means outstanding performance opportunities, a liberal arts focus, small classes and personal attention from professors and advisors. Augustana’s academic reputation — and recommendations from music faculty who know you well — will create many avenues to secure your dream job, whether as a performer, composer or educator.

Hamann Concert Hall

The new Hamann Concert Hall is part of the $12 to $13 million reinvention/renovation of Augustana's Bergendoff Hall of Fine Arts.

Augustana offers several majors/minors for music students:
• Majors and minors in music, and music performance, and music composition.
• Major in music education (instrumental or vocal)
• Minor in jazz
• Advising track for music therapy

A rigorous progressive music curriculum, combined with the freedom to pursue other interests, provides the knowledge and experiences to help you become an insightful musician with strong interpersonal skills.

Outside the classroom, Augustana’s ensembles from jazz to opera offer opportunities to broaden your understanding and love of music, as well as perform locally and abroad.

Our music faculty are known for developing not only musical skills but also life skills, helping you discover the best version of yourself. Graduates stay connected to Augustana long after they leave campus and also will help you navigate your college experience and the job market when you’re ready.

What you'll learn

Communication competence

Communication competence

Read and listen carefully. Express ideas (writing or speaking) suited to the audience.

Disciplinary knowledge

Disciplinary knowledge

Gain a deep understanding of your subject and how it connects to other subjects.

Collaborative leadership

Collaborative leadership

Make decisions and act for the good of the community as a group.

Intercultural competence

Intercultural competence

Understand real and imaginary similarities and differences. Use more than one perspective to view issues.

Creative thinking

Creative thinking

Combine ideas to create something new. Use imaginative ways of solving problems.

Distinctions

• Augustana is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

• The 40+ music faculty represents all instrumental and vocal areas. All students, including non-music majors, can take lessons and participate in one of 12 ensembles — from opera to a symphony orchestra to jazz combos. Nearly a quarter of Augustana’s students perform in ensembles.

Students of any major — including non-music majors — may audition and apply for music scholarships ranging from $500–$4,000 annually.

• The music program has a strong tradition of touring ensembles. Since the early 1880s, annual tours have taken the Symphonic Band to 32 states and many countries.

• Augustana has four concert halls, including the 1,600-seat Centennial Hall and the more intimate, acoustically excellent Hamann Concert Hall. Bergendoff Hall of Fine Arts, which houses all of the music department’s classrooms and offices, practice rooms and ensemble spaces, is currently undergoing a $12 to $13 million renovation.

•  In addition to ACME (Augustana College Music Educators), the college has active student-run chapters of Collegiate Music Educators, National Band Director Association, American String Teachers Association and American Choral Directors Association. Augustana also has chapters of Phi Mu Alpha and Sigma Alpha Iota, music service fraternities in which students assume leadership roles in service and professional projects.

• Recent music graduates have entered esteemed graduate programs at the New England Conservatory, Boston Conservatory, Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, Cincinnati Conservatory, Northwestern, and the universities of Illinois, Michigan and Southern California.

Recent grads

Anne Bak ’21 performed a cello recital of Baroque compositions with early music specialist Jean-Pierre Menuge in Eu, France. Bak is teaching French for a year in the northern part of France. In addition to performing, Bak has kept an active teaching schedule, working with her students in the United States via Zoom.

Kathryn Krajewski ’18 is a viola/violin instructor at Niles North High School in Skokie, Ill., and a private viola/violin teacher.

Justin Lebo ’15 is the music director at Cricket Theater Company in Palatine, Ill.

Tony Passaro ’13 is director of bands and jazz ensembles at the International School of Brussels in Brussels, Belgium.

Lexie Aguilar
More Than I Imagined Lexie Aguilar
“My music professors have made the most impact on my life.”
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Brian Hinkley
More Than I Imagined Brian Hinkley
“The music faculty do so much for every individual student, both in the public eye and behind the scenes.”
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Joshua Morano
More Than I Imagined Joshua Morano
“What I will definitely miss most is getting to play in the Symphonic Band. We are such a unique and tight-knit little family. ”
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John Hildreth

Dr. John Hildreth receives ‘I Have A Dream’ Award

Dr. John Hildreth had no idea he was going to be honored at the Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Center’s 41st annual Memorial Service and Award Ceremony.

Rehearsal room

Take a look! Bergendoff Hall transformed

The $11.2 million transformation of Bergendoff Hall is complete. Students and faculty are taking advantage of the new and updated spaces, including Larson Hall, the piano lab, ensemble rehearsal hall, practice rooms, Hamann Concert Hall and more.

Augustana Symphonic Band in Japan

Highlights from Augustana's music ensemble spring tours

This spring, the Augustana Symphonic Band traveled to Japan, while the Augustana Choir and Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble toured the Midwest.