Music

At St. Ambrose University, you can start performing regularly from the beginning of your undergraduate career. Join one or more of our performing groups: Marching Band, Symphonic Band, University Chorale, Chamber Singers, Jazz Combo, Bella Voce, Bee Sharp, and STAMVOJA (vocal jazz ensemble). With the number and variety of our music ensembles, you'll be sure to find your place. You'll recieve personal attention from our award-winning faculty, and develop friendships that will last a lifetime.

You can also audition for a music scholarship – awarded annually (provided you meet certain conditions). The department awards nearly $170,000 each year and offers a number of music scholarships to talented students majoring in other academic disciplines, like Education major Peyton Reese and Marketing major Ashley Dean.

The opportunities extend even further: perform as a soloist, in a small ensemble, in the QC community, or even internationally. Our students regularly perform with the Quad City  Symphony Orchestra for live movie showings with orchestra and chorus; in 2017, the Chamber Singers toured Italy and Austria, and in 2019, the Symponic Band travelled to Ireland. In 2023, Chamber Singers and Symphonic Band will be travelling to Greece! Our SAU Marching Band performs at home football games, playoffs, and community events.

Our faculty are dedicated to their craft and your education. Read this story about how Oscar-nominated SAU Music Professor William Campbell lives the challenge he imparts to St. Ambrose music students: Explore your abilities. Test your talents. Stretch your boundaries. "I never stopped exploring, and I wanted to talk about this amazing thing we call music."

The Quad Cities is home to a strong performing arts community, boasting many performance venues and festivals including River Music Experience, Quad City Symphony Orchestra, Bix Jazz Music Festival, Mississippi Blues Festival, Nova Singers, the Adler Theatre, and many more. We're also only three hours from downtown Chicago and Des Moines.

Five Ambrosians rocked the beat at a recent Woodstock tribute festival, including junior Alex Axup. Read this story.

Each year, the Music Department awards more than $170,000 to talented musicians (audition required). We encourage all potential music majors and minors to audition, and we offer a significant number of music scholarships to talented students majoring in other academic disciplines, too. 

Click here to fill out a scholarship interest form and we'll be in touch to schedule your music scholarship audition. 

Click here to see audition dates and learn more.

A Music major can lead to many careers, including accompanist, arranger, arts administrator, band director, composer, conductor, educator, merchandising, music critic, musical theatre, performer, songwriter, or jingle writer.

Other professional careers include arts fundraiser, event management, film music director, sound effects (foley) artist, instrument designer, music therapist, opera coach, orchestrator, recording engineer, sound design, talent scout, theatre, or concert hall manager.

Tyson Danner '07 is the Executive Director of River Music Experience, Davenport. He was previously Community Arts Director at Quad City Arts. Tyson also was actively involved in Davenport Junior Theatre as its Artistic Director.

Madeline (Schumacher) Madsen '18 teaches Band and instrumental lessons at SE Junior High in Iowa City.

Parker Haley '17 is teaching at Orion High School in Orion, Illinois, as well as coaching volleyball.

Mary Vargo '21 is the Band Director at Camanche (IA) High School)

Kathy Heedles '82 is the Choir Director at the American International School in Vienna, Austria

Dr. Bob Lawrence '83 is the President of the Dallas School of Music and Founder/Developer of JazzPianoSkills.com

Dr. Khirstin Ihde '02 is the Associate Professor of Piano at UW-Oshkosh

Colin Evers '20 completed his master of Music in Piano Performance at the University of Northern Iowa, and now serves as the Director of Music Ministry at the Christ the King Chapel, while also teaching Class Piano and applied lessons.

Nathan Windt, DMA, Chair and Professor

Megan Hobbs, Director of Athletic Bands
Nicholas Enz, DMA, Assoc. Professor and Director of Bands
Marian Lee, DMA, Assoc. Professor of Piano

All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted.

View music courses and descriptions in the online course catalog

Required:
MUS 099 Concert Attendance (every semester enrolled)
+MUS 110 Music Orientation
MUS 201 Theory I, 2 credits
MUS 202 Theory II, 2 credits
MUS 207 Aural Skills I, 2 credits
MUS 208 Aural Skills II, 2 credits
MUS 221 Techniques for Piano, 1 credit
MUS 222 Piano Techniques II, 1 credit
MUS 301 Music Theory III, 2 credits
MUS 302 Music Theory IV, 2 credits
MUS 307 Aural Skills III, 2 credits
MUS 308, with a grade of C or better
MUS 319 Conducting
MUS 325 Music History and Literature: Antiquity to 1700
MUS 326 Music History and Literature: 1750 to 1890
MUS 407 Form and Analysis

Plus 7 credits of applied major in the same instrument or voice;

Presentation of a junior (half) recital;

MUS 403 senior recital (2 credits);

Participation in a major ensemble (band, choir or orchestra) each semester of enrollment;

Choose two:
MUS 234 Percussion Techniques, 1 credit
MUS 235 Brass Techniques, 1 credit
MUS 237 Technique for Voice, 1 credit
MUS 238 Woodwind Techniques, 1 credit
MUS 239 String Techniques, 1 credit
MUS 242 Techniques for Studio Teaching, 1 credit