University of Missouri School of Music

University of Missouri School of Music
The Fine Arts Building and Memorial Union viewed from Lowry Mall
Type Public
Established 1917[1]
Parent institution
 University of Missouri
Director Julia Gaines[2]
Academic staff
 39 faculty[3]
10 adjunct faculty[4]
Location Columbia, Missouri, United States
Campus Urban
Website music.missouri.edu

The School of Music is one of twenty academic divisions of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. As part of the College of Arts and Science, the school awards baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees. Its programs encompass composition, conducting, performance, music education, music history, and music theory. Established in 1917 as the Department of Music, the school continues to play a prominent role in the cultural life of Mid-Missouri. Located on campus in Downtown Columbia, construction began on a new music building in 2018.[5] Its major performance venues are Jesse Hall, the Missouri Theatre, and Whitmore Recital Hall. The University's marching band, Marching Mizzou, performs at Faurot Field for Southeastern Conference football games. The school's ensembles have performed worldwide and can be heard weekly on 90.5 FM Classical. Alumni include singers Sheryl Crow and Neal Boyd, Canadian Brass founder Gene Watts, and jazz musician Mike Metheny.

History

Music has accompanied life at the University of Missouri since the dedication of Academic Hall in 1843.[6] Although of that first venue only the Columns remain, music itself has since become a serious topic of study at the University. Instruction as part of official curriculum began in 1885 with the founding of the Cadet Band at the suggestion of military science professor Enoch Crowder.[7] That band, today known as Marching Mizzou, proved popular with both university students and the townspeople of Columbia.[8] It wasn't until 1907, however, that University President Richard Jesse would appoint William Pommer as the first instructor of music.[9] That same year Pommer, along with German professor Hermann Almstedt and future University President Albert Ross Hill, would form the Zeta Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. One of the earliest chapters of the fraternity, and first at an institution without a school of music[10], Zeta would play an instrumental role in the growth of the University's musical environment, especially the creation of a concert series which would bring the likes of Vladimir de Pachmann, Percy Grainger, and the St. Louis Symphony to campus.[11] In 1910, the University became one of the earliest American universities to give credit for applied music lessons.[11] The Department of Music as part of the College of Arts and Sciences was established in 1917, largely due to the efforts of Pommer, who would continue to teach at the University until his retirement in 1922.[12]

The Zeta Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia in 1908

Organist James Quarles was appointed the chair of the Department in 1924. Previously head of Cornell University's Music Department, Quarles would become Missouri's first Dean of the School of Fine Arts upon its establishment as the university's tenth division in 1924. Other dramatic changes occurred in 1924 as the Department of Music found a new home in Lathrop Hall, a re-purposed dormitory near Francis Quadrangle, and the University assumed responsibility for the Phi Mu Alpha Concert Series which had become too popular for the Fraternity to manage. Rechristened as the "University Concert Series," it continues to the present day.

In 1933 the Department of Music would become a member of the National Association of Schools of Music and in 1935 the University Concert Series would host pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff in front of a crowd of six thousand. The University's most exclusive choral ensemble, University Singers, was created in 1946 by Paul Van Bodegraven.[13] In 1941, as women became increasingly involved in the Department, they established an international music fraternity, Sigma Alpha Iota. In 1954, Bethune Bischooff became the first woman appointed to a full-time position.

Modernity arrived in 1961 with the completion the Fine Arts Building.[14] Though panned by critics past and present, "FAB" was the first University space designed specifically for music and included a modern recital hall. The first Jazz ensemble sponsored by the Department was the Studio Band, which formed in 1966. Composer Thomas McKenney began the process of establishing an electronic studio for composition in 1969. In 1975, composition professor John Cheetham introduced a music appreciation course entitled "Jazz, Pop & Rock." This course, popular with music majors and non-majors alike, would become the most popular ever offered by the School.[15] Apart from the budding study of music history, composition, and jazz, the classics would remain unforgotten, with faculty members establishing the Esterhazy String Quartet in 1968. The quartet's tours of South America, beginning in 1976, would draw a number of international students to the University.[16]

Marching Mizzou's famous "flip tiger" drill

The School of Music's ensembles would continue to tour widely over the next decades and august musical guest would continue to visit campus. Marching Mizzou and the University Singers represented Missouri during the United States bicentennial year; the University Singers performed at the Kennedy Center as part of the celebration.[16] A Contemporary Music Competition began in 1977 in collaboration with radio station KBIA. Its brief existence included visits to the School by judges Vincent Persichetti, Lukas Foss, and Aaron Copland. Copeland would conduct the University Philharmonic and narrate his work Lincoln Portrait.[16] In 1984, Robert Shaw conducted the University Singers and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in Beethoven's 9th.[17] The next year, Virgil Thomson would premiere two compositions on campus as part of a symposium and series of concerts in Shaw's honor. Marching Mizzou, after touring England in the 1970s, performed for the all-Missouri 1985 World Series. In 1987, Philip Glass and his ensemble would play their soundtrack to the film Koyaanisqatsi as part of the University Concert Series.

Beginning in 1988, the Zeta Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia would sponsor an annual jazz festival, drawing high school bands from across Missouri. The concert series brought the Modern Jazz Quartet to campus in 1988. By 1994 the school found itself in need of more space and a former Unitarian church adjacent to campus was acquired and dubbed the Fine Arts Annex. In 1995, the University Singers would again perform at the Kennedy Center and in 2000, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble would tour Australia and play in the Sydney Opera House. The growing reputation of the school would led to the Department of Music being reclassified as the School of Music in the year 2000.[18]

New Music Building under construction in 2018

The philanthropy of Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield greatly encouraged the study of composition by establishing the Mizzou New Music Initiative, which includes the Sinquefield Composition Prize, the Creating Original Music Project (COMP) Festival, the Mizzou Summer Composition Institute, and the New Music Ensemble.[19] In 2015, the Sinquefield's donated ten million dollars to help fund a new music building, which was the largest ever gift to the University of Missouri in support of the arts.[20] In addition to these gains, the school saw the appointment of its first woman director in 2014, longtime percussion professor Julia Gaines.[21] On April 8th, 2018, ground was broken for a new School of Music Building, which includes a new large ensemble rehearsal space, percussion studio, faculty offices and studios.[22]

Facilities

The Fine Arts Building on Lowry Mall near the center of campus houses the majority of faculty offices, classrooms, and Whitmore Recital Hall. A new School of Music Building is currently under construction nearby and will open in 2020. As of 2018, band offices, instrumental rehearsal space, and the percussion studio are located in Loeb Hall. Large Choral ensembles rehearse in McKee Gymnasium. Previously, Music Theory, History, and Composition offices were located in the Fine Arts Annex. In 2018, the Annex was demolished for construction of the new music building.

Jesse Hall is the University's largest indoor venue

Two large performance venues, Jesse Hall and the Missouri Theatre, are owned by the University and utilized for large ensembles and productions. Choral and chamber groups also often perform in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church, primarily for its favorable acoustics. Whitmore Recital Hall in the Fine Arts Building host student, faculty, and guest recitals. The Missouri United Methodist Church, who's large Skinner pipe organ was acquired by former school Dean James Quarles, is sometimes utilized.[23]

Academics

The School of Music awards two types of undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts. The Bachelor of Music degree is divided into ten focus areas: Composition, Music Education, Music History, Music Theory, Brass Performance, Piano Performance, String Performance, Voice Performance, Woodwind Performance, and Percussion Performance. The Bachelor of Arts degree is intended largely for students double majoring outside music.

Masters and Doctoral degrees are awarded in collaboration with the University of Missouri Graduate School. The Master of Music degree is divided into fifteen different focus areas: Brass, Choral Conducting, Collaborative Piano, Composition, Jazz Performance and Pedagogy, Music Education, Music Theory, Orchestral Conducting, Percussion, Piano Pedagogy, Piano Performance, Strings, Voice, Wind Conducting, and Woodwinds. A doctoral degree in Music Education is also offered.

Admission

In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to the University of Missouri, undergraduate students must audition on their primary instrument. As of 2018, auditions are held three times a year during Mizzou Music Days. Occasionally auditions can be scheduled at the discretion of individual instructors. A variety of scholarships are offered.[24]

Graduate applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree in music, or equivalent from an accredited institution. They also must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last sixty hours of undergraduate coursework. Additional requirements vary by field.[25]

International partnerships

The Theatro de Paz in Belém, Pará, Brazil

The School of Music has partnerships with one Italian and three Brazilian institutions, encouraging faculty and student exchanges.[26] The first of these began in 1991 with the Brazilian Fundação Carlos Gomes and continued with the State University of Londrina in 1998. An exchange program was begun in 2007 with the Theatro da Paz in Belém, Pará, home of the Pará Symphony Orchestra. More recently an agreement was formalized with Italian Conservatory Domenico Cimarosa in Avellino.

Ensembles

Student instrumental ensembles include three concert bands: Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and University Band; two Jazz Bands: Concert Jazz and Studio Jazz (along with numerous combos); and the University Philharmonic.[27] Choral Ensembles include the University Singers, Concert Choral, and Choral Union. Hitt Street Harmony is a small ensemble of Jazz vocalists. The Show-Me Opera combines the talents of vocalist and instrumentalist alike. In addition to regular percussion ensembles, the percussion studio supports a world percussion ensemble and a steel pan ensemble.

The Missouri Theatre set up for a performance of Alarm Will Sound

Though Marching Mizzou is the largest athletic band at the school, there are a number of smaller ensembles. Mini Mizzou performs at Missouri Tigers men's basketball events. Musical Theater opportunities are provided through the Department of Theater.[28] Faculty ensembles include the Esterhazy Quartet, the Missouri Quintet (woodwinds), Mizzou Brass, and DRAX.[29] The New Music Ensemble specializes in the performance of original compositions.[30]

Student life

The University of Missouri has one of the oldest and largest Greek systems in the nation. As of 2018, there are four Greek organizations open to students with an interest in music. The Zeta Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a fraternity for men with an interest in music, was established in 1907.[31] A fraternity for women, the Iota Lambda Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, was established in 1941. In 1982, the Eta Upsilon chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and the Zeta Omega chapter of Tau Beta Sigma, were established for collegiate band members.

Alumni

References

  1. ↑ Budds, Michael (2018). 100 Years of Music-Making at Mizzou. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri School of Music. p. vii.
  2. ↑ "University of Missouri School of Music Administration". music.missouri.edu. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  3. ↑ "University of Missouri School of Music Faculty". music.missouri.edu. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  4. ↑ "University of Missouri School of Music Adjunct Faculty". music.missouri.edu. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Music School Breaks new Ground with Building, Centennial Celebration". columbiamissourian.com. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  6. ↑ Switzler, William F. (1882). History of Boone County. St. Louis: Western Historical Company. p. 271.
  7. ↑ Lockmiller, David A. (1955). Enoch H. Crowder Solider, Lawyer Statesman. Columbia, Missouri: Curators of the University of Missouri. p. 43.
  8. ↑ Stephens, Frank (1962). A History of the University of Missouri. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press. p. 285.
  9. ↑ Budds, Michael (2018). 100 Years of Music-Making at Mizzou. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri School of Music. p. 15.
  10. ↑ Underwood, Jarvis (2005). Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia: A Centennial History. Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
  11. 1 2 Budds, Michael (2018). 100 Years of Music-Making at Mizzou. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri School of Music. p. 16.
  12. ↑ Stephens, Frank (1962). A History of the University of Missouri. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press. p. 429.
  13. ↑ Budds, Michael (2018). 100 Years of Music-Making at Mizzou. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri School of Music. p. 20.
  14. ↑ Olsen, James and Vera (1988). The University of Missouri An Illustrated History. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press. p. 96.
  15. ↑ Budds, Michael (2018). 100 Years of Music-Making at Mizzou. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri School of Music. p. 25.
  16. 1 2 3 Budds, Michael (2018). 100 Years of Music-Making at Mizzou. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri School of Music. p. 26.
  17. ↑ Budds, Michael (2018). 100 Years of Music-Making at Mizzou. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri School of Music. p. 27.
  18. ↑ Budds, Michael (2018). 100 Years of Music-Making at Mizzou. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri School of Music. p. 33.
  19. ↑ "Mizzou New Music Initiative". music.missouri.edu. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Missouri Couple Gives $10 Million to Support New Music Building at MU, Largest Gift Ever to Support the Arts at Mizzou". munews.missouri.edu. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  21. ↑ Budds, Michael (2018). 100 Years of Music-Making at Mizzou. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri School of Music. p. 39.
  22. ↑ "Groundbreaking for the New School of Music Building". music.missouri.edu. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  23. ↑ Stephens, Frank F. (1965). History of the Missouri Methodist Church. Columbia: The Missouri Methodist Church. p. 174.
  24. ↑ "Undergraduate Application Process". music.missouri.edu. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Steps Applying". music.missouri.edu. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  26. ↑ "International Partnerships". music.missouri.edu. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Ensembles". music.missouri.edu. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  28. ↑ "University of Missouri Department of Theatre". theatre.missouri.edu. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  29. ↑ "DRAX". music.missouri.edu. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Mizzou New Music Ensemble". music.missouri.edu. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Chapter History". missouri.sinfonia.org. Retrieved August 8, 2018.

Further reading

  • Budds, Michael (2018). 100 Years of Music-Making at Mizzou. University of Missouri School of Music.

Coordinates: 38°56′43″N 92°19′34″W / 38.945234°N 92.326081°W / 38.945234; -92.326081

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