Music programs at Christ-centered universities

College Majors Music Major
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<p>Hadn't posted on here in awhile, but I thought I'd start a thread, in case any parents or students are interested, on music programs at Christ-centered universities (as opposed to universities that call themselves "Christian" - heard the term once described as "Christianized"...there can be significant differences between such schools in the two groups, no offense meant to anyone.)</p>

<p>Out of high school, my son was a five-time region first chair (vocal/bass, 8th-12th, and now essentially 13th as he earned 1st place at his "Freshmen men's" NATS regional competition last year) who also earned an "Honorable Mention - Voice" award from Young Arts 2011. The top 7 high schools in the region he was in (northwest Arkansas, home of Walmart, the Walmart "vendor community", Tyson Foods, J.B. Hunt trucking and the University of Arkansas main campus) averaged 2,400 students apiece...there's a lot of money and a lot of competitive spirit up here that equals students being national leaders in high school competitions. (As an example, since my son's been in junior high there have been two USA Today Offensive "Players of the year" in high school football from up here - and this</a> year's national high school football player of the year (a graduate of my wife's high school alma mater, now playing at my college one ">) saw his team suffer one of its two losses to the worst (1-9) team in our region last fall.) My son's high school choir program is one of the best in the nation, and toured Austria and Germany last summer. While he was there, kids alongside him in the school Chamber Choir graduated to, among other schools, Berklee, Brigham Young, the U of Chicago, Florida, Florida State, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Texas and Tulsa, as well as the University of Arkansas and several other out of- and in-state schools.</p>

<p>In other words, my son came from a place where it was tough to do what he did. But he was/is also very humble, and more interested in becoming a music teacher and creator rather than a performer. (He never acted in a play, apart from Chamber Choir madrigals until being in an opera last fall.) My wife is disabled and has just gotten back into the work force. I was laid off part of his high school years, and we have a daughter in private college in Denver, so money was indeed an issue for us. In addition, while an "A" student my son never got higher than a cumulative "25" on his ACT, so that meant his scholarship potential would have been limited.</p>

<p>So he ended up choosing an in-state school, Ouachita Baptist University, to be exact. Their tuition/room/board is currently $30,000 annually, and my son has about $24,000 of that covered between scholarships. (We only get about $3,200 between Pell grants and work study from the government - the rest is academic and music.)</p>

<p>I'd hoped not to be a "stage Dad". But his choice of school ended up driving me crazy, given what I knew he was capable of. (His first choice and mine was a private Texas school (not Baylor, though they're GREAT - which offered a lot but would have given him a lot more debt as well.) In fact, even though I call myself "Christian" I was very upset, no, "angry", at how things worked out.</p>

<p>But now I'm kind of ashamed, given what I've seen happening at OBU.</p>

<p>It's a dangerous world out there and getting moreso. I know Christian colleges aren't for everyone and a lot of musicians I see would look elsewhere. Nonetheless, I hope this thread will attract more posters who know of Christian schools with a good music program for those who are looking (and I know some of you are out there).</p>

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<p>OK, here’s my entry.</p>

<p>Ouachita Baptist University has a smaller music faculty (about 26 voice/instrument total) but has had some big names behind it. The Christian band “Point of Grace” matriculated from there - a scholarship they started was the deciding factor financially in my son’s going there. There are other noted Christian music alumni from there, and the school has historically been a leader in the state (Arkansas, which has a LOT of money in certain areas despite its “Jed Clampett” (sic?) image) for its music program.</p>

<p>Yet other facets of the program are emerging. My son’s “OBU Dad” (mentor) finished in second place in this year’s Lotte Lenya Competition, finishing tied with a Loyola, LA grad and finishing ahead of finalists from schools like Eastman and Rice (an Eastman grad won it). In addition, he also won the first ever National Association of Teachers of Singing Musical Theatre competition which attracted recent graduates and mid-twentysomethings alike. Last fall in NATS competition OBU (enrollment: 1,600 undergraduates only) finished second only to Southern Mississippi in the Southern Region (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi) in terms of first-place winners. There are other kids there who have been accepted to some prestigious American Opera workshops. Their musical theatre program also won a “Best in state” award last year, but again, this is state and not “national”.</p>

<p>But…most memorable to me was their president saying at freshman/freshman parent orientation last year multiple times that “Parents, we WON’T try to undermine the values you’ve taught your children.”</p>

<p>My son’s not interested in a vocal performance career. He wants to teach, and make art (musical and visual). Whatever he does, I hope he chooses to take whatever genuine wisdom they’re trying to impart him. If I’ve heard him say “I LOVE college” once, I’ve heard him say it multiple times.</p>

<p>Hope some of you have some other suggestions for others out there on “Christ-centered universities with good music departments”, because I know there are others out there. Hopefully, many of them.</p>

<p>God bless.</p>

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<p>One of the best violinists we know - who could probably have been admitted to top conservatories or academic colleges had she chosen to apply - has found the program at Houghton College in NY to offer what she finds to be a good balance of faith, academics and music study. I believe she is doubling in performance and music education</p>

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<p>I know of some excellent young singers who have come from Indiana Wesleyan, another VP student who attended Houghton College ( as stradmom mentioned) and one who graduated from TCU. While I don’t know anything about Music Ed programs at either school, I do know that all of these had problems being admitted to VP grad schools- they just didn’t have the music theory/languages/diction backgrounds and had to settle for lesser grad schools and spend time in catching up in those areas.
Just need to mention that Houghton is in a very isolated region of upstate NY and it’s no unusual for them to be snowed in for days at a time during the winter! Could be a shock for a kid from a warm climate or a larger population center!</p>

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<p>Look into the conservatory at Wheaton College which is Wheaton Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.</p>

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<p>I know this is not a Christian school…but…when I was at Austin College…there were a lot of former Christian homeschoolers attending there. They also have a decent music school for those looking to go in to education. So it is not a Christian school, but the student population definitely had their leanings.</p>

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<p>Check out Anderson University in Anderson, IN (North of Indianapolis).</p>

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<p>Does any know any information regarding the quality of Liberty’s music program? Specifically for vocal performance.</p>