Wartburg College

What you'll study

The programme combines core musicianship training with applied lessons, ensemble work and studies in music history and literature. Typical modules include music theory and aural skills, harmony and counterpoint, music history and survey, conducting, pedagogy, applied private lessons on primary instrument or voice, and ensemble participation (choirs, orchestra, jazz and musical theatre ensembles).

Students who take a combined Music and Theatre pathway add coursework in acting, voice for theatre, musical theatre workshop, stagecraft and directing. Coursework emphasises performance practice, score study, rehearsal techniques and collaborative musicianship. Most students complete a capstone project such as a senior recital, a public performance, or a portfolio demonstrating their teaching or creative work.

The programme is delivered within a liberal-arts framework, so you also take general-education courses in humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Students can choose minors or double majors (for example, Music Education, Theatre, or Management) to tailor the degree to professional goals.

Entry requirements

• Secondary-school completion or equivalent qualification.
• Successful audition demonstrating technical ability, musicality and repertoire on your primary instrument or voice. Auditions may be in-person or via recorded submission according to departmental guidelines.
• Academic transcript showing readiness for college-level study; certain programmes or scholarship considerations may request a minimum GPA.
• Submission of a brief personal statement outlining musical background and goals; some applicants provide letters of recommendation from music teachers.
• Placement testing in theory and aural skills may be required on arrival to determine appropriate course level.

Career prospects

Graduates pursue a wide range of careers in music and theatre. Common pathways include classroom and private music teaching (with many students moving on to teacher licensure or graduate study in music education), performing as instrumentalists or vocalists in ensembles and musical theatre, church music and worship leadership, and roles in arts administration, production and outreach.

The combination of music and theatre training also prepares graduates for work in community theatre, musical direction, stage management and voice coaching. Alumni often work as freelancers, join regional professional ensembles, or continue to postgraduate study in performance, composition, conducting or music education.

Why study at Wartburg College

• Small classes and regular one-to-one applied lessons provide personalised instruction and close faculty mentoring.
• Extensive performance opportunities across choirs, orchestra, jazz groups and musical theatre productions give frequent practical experience in a range of styles and settings.
• The programme emphasises teacher preparation and community engagement, with pathways and partnerships that support internships, student teaching and outreach in regional schools and churches.
• Collaboration between the music and theatre programmes allows students to develop multidisciplinary skills useful for musical theatre, opera and production work.
• Facilities and resources support rehearsal, recording and performance needs, and the college’s liberal-arts context encourages breadth of study alongside professional preparation.