Wow, first time posting on College Confidential! A rite of passage.
One of my biggest concerns going into college/applying to college is finding a school with a strong music program/love of music. Its dorky, but my high school did not have the right resources to have any exceptional small group or acapella group music. Thats something I already know I’m going to be involved with in college. Our HS choral program is also pretty underdeveloped, which is why I spend most of my time in a pretty rigorous extracurricular choral program. I don’t think I will be a music major, but I hope to minor or keep it in my life as long as I can. I love small liberal arts colleges (and so do my parents, both went to Carleton) but I’m open to anywhere with strong academics and music.
TL;DR: Any suggestions on schools with strong acapella/vocal music programs? Open to any size or location.
(P.S. Can anyone tell me anything about Bowdoin’s music program? So far, this has been my top school, but I might have to take it off my list if there is no vocal music scene there)
Also, consider Denison, outside Columbus, Ohio. Strong vocal program and fabulous new teaching/performing facilities in the Eisner Center. Both performing and fine arts at Denison benefit from close relationships with performers/professionals in Columbus. Also has a very active a cappella program.
There are definitely a cappella at Trinity College and Union College. There are 7 a cappella groups at Conn College. Also Muhlenberg is a highly musical/performing college with varous singing groups. I went to Smith and at that time there were 3 a cappella groups. Very good. I also remember Tufts, Yale and Williams coming to sing at our events.
College of Wooster in Ohio. Excellent choral program (the director is now the director of choruses for the Cleveland Orchestra) and lots of music opportunities for non-majors. St. Olaf choirs and music are amazing–we saw them earlier this year at Severance Hall in Cleveland. I would guess that they have a capella groups as well. Good luck!
St Olaf and also Luther College, in the midwest, are known for their vocal programs. I’m guessing that Most LACs will have an a cappella scene – since a cappella performances seemed to be part of every admitted student event we went to!