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Music Department

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Degrees Available: Bachelor of Arts

Make the most of your artistic potential in a program that's committed to excellence.

Whether you’re a performer, composer, recording artist or all of the above, Willamette is the ideal place to pursue your passion for music.

You can take the stage at Hudson Concert Hall, entertain audiences across the world and master tracks in our state-of-the art recording studio. Whichever path you choose, you’ll be part of a diverse educational environment centered on world-class studio instruction, vibrant and engaging classrooms, collaborative performances, and independent study.

You’ll explore the masterworks of the past and present while taking a broad spectrum of courses in other disciplines, giving you a strong foundation in musical expression, technique and creative vision. You’ll also collaborate with a faculty of professional musicians who model creativity through performance, composition and scholarship at the highest levels.

Willamette music students and faculty have engaged communities in Mexico, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Austria, Ireland and South Africa. They’ve launched successful careers in academia, studio teaching, professional performance, the recording industry and film/multimedia scoring. And some have gone into medicine, business, law and other professions. At Willamette, your options are practically unlimited.

Featured Alumni

Music

Chloe Prendergast ’14

  • Founded a string quartet in the Netherlands
  • Studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague
  • Performed or studied under internationally-known musicians and groups, including a member of the Artemis String Quartet
Music

Jason Pegis '16

  • National Finalist at the 2014 MTNA Young Artist Chamber Music Competition as part of a Willamette trio
  • Recipient of numerous awards and performed with top chamber artists including Johannes Moser, Axel Strauss, Victor Fournelle-Blain and members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
  • Holds a teaching assistantship as a doctoral student at UCLA
Music

Ian Scarfe '05

  • A pianist who co-founded the Trinity Alps Chamber Music Festival with Ellen McGehee ’04 in California.
  • Scarfe is a “musical entrepreneur” and soloist who also founded ensembles, hosts concerts and narrates children’s programs
  • Once held the title of “starting pianist” for the San Francisco 49ers
Willamette University

Music Department

Address
Willamette University
900 State Street
Salem Oregon 97301 U.S.A.