What are the best politically conservative schools with a good music program?

<p>Although I have pm’d the OP, I’ll post suggestions in the interests of future readers: for religiously conservative schools, consider Biola and Azusa in southern California, in addition to Baylor and Wheaton.</p>

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<p>A very good description. Big-money Republicans and evangelicals are two different things!</p>

<p>A prior similarly themed thread <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/775035-christian-school-oboe-eng-horn-performance.html?highlight=christian[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/775035-christian-school-oboe-eng-horn-performance.html?highlight=christian&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>(Not opening a can of worms here, so no need to crucify me. I’m well aware that conservative does not necessarily mean christian, or vice versa.)</p>

<p>I second Wheaton and also St. Olaf’s (although St. Olaf’s is not really a Christian school). A friend whose daughter is a very committed Christian and gifted pianist chose Wheaton over St. Olaf’s and seems happy with the choice.</p>

<p>I would also emphasize, since your son is a vocalist, Westminster Choir College. I can’t think of a better place, in every respect, for what you are looking for. As college towns go, Princeton leans towards the quiet and conservative, slightly southern in feel. There are many Christians on WCC campus among students and faculty, and active Christian fellowship groups connected with both campuses who run shuttle busses to the local evangelical churches on Sundays. </p>

<p>PM me for more information if you like!</p>

<p>You might take a look at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC and see if that is what you are looking for. [Voice</a> Performance, BMus | Bob Jones University](<a href=“http://www.bju.edu/academics/majors/viewmajor.php?id=1245]Voice”>http://www.bju.edu/academics/majors/viewmajor.php?id=1245) Here is the link to their BM Voice. The university is also a seminary.</p>

<p>Gang, you’re great. I’ve got some PMs to answer and will try to do so within the day - I’ve been out picking black- and blueberries from one end of my county to the other. ">)</p>

<p>I should have added that I’m interested in at least learning of these schools not just because of the other students who may be there, but what my son will be taught in classes beside music. I’m VERY grateful for the suggestions here, and am glad I was on the right track with examining schools such as Baylor and Belmont.</p>

<p>Here’s a sidenote to what you all had discussed earlier - my son and I visited SMU/Meadows and I concur with a previous answer that big-money republican and evangelical (or even, occasionally, conservative republican) are two different things. SMU/Meadows was very much to my son and I like Vanderbilt/Blair, which we visited in April. The SMU admissions director was very nice to talk to and gave us some good information. Both schools had EXTENSIVE music libraries…no big surprise there.</p>

<p>I personally liked the TCU music program in the metroplex (we didn’t yet visit North Texas - don’t know whether we will but we’ve been invited by one my son’s chamber classmates who’s going there now). In the D/FW area there’s long been the perception that Fort Worth is the “friendlier” town, and, quite frankly, that was palpable to me at the music school. The music administrative assistant was WONDERFUL, and the head of the choral department was friendly…he was the only one in our visit to multiple schools to say to my then rising-junior son “You drove all this way, now let’s hear you sing.” TCU’s got money as does SMU, but I get the feeling they have and are playing Avis to SMU (or maybe the University of Texas at Austin) as Hertz…they really are working to be a memorable university. They’ve got a wonderful music building planned (what they’ve got now isn’t bad whatsoever) and won’t start it until they’ve got the funds all for it. Again, I’d be surprised if it wasn’t to the left of Baylor, Belmont and the schools below.</p>

<p>I’m looking forward to examining Liberty, Furman, Wheaton (knew something about it) and the other suggestions.</p>

<p>I had a niece and nephew that attended Lee University in TN. Although they did not study music, I heard some of the students who did in thier School of Music and they seemed like fine performers. It is a conservative Christian campus so I am not sure if that fits what you are looking for. .</p>

<p>Have you considered looking at housing options other than dorms on campuses that aren’t conservative? My oldest daughter attended a Christian school from the 5th grade to high school graduation. Our family would definitely consider itself conservative, yet she just successfully and happily finished her sophomore year at the University of Oregon, which I don’t think anyone would say is conservative. She has never lived in the dorms. We heard about a house that a church in Eugene sponsors, and she has been able to surround herself with like-minded young women where she lives, but she still benefits from the academic programs that the big university offers. At this stage in the game, she seems to be making her faith her own and making it in the “real world.” There is an equivalent house for the guys plus a co-ed house that has different affiliation. I’m also aware of such housing at Oregon State. A google search might help you find such a place on any given campus.</p>

<p>Wheaton College was her first choice. She didn’t get accepted, but she’s never looked back.</p>

<p>Don’t know anything about the music department at Seattle Pacific University, but many of the kids from the private school my girls attend(ed) go there. Might be worth looking into.</p>

<p>My SMU son’s final college choice came down to SMU and TCU in the very end. They both offered him huge scholarships, and we also thought they both had very good music programs, great academics, and a good general “fit” for my son’s needs. For the most part, his final choice came down to his preference for a certain voice teacher at SMU, though there were 2 voice teachers at TCU that he also really liked.</p>

<p>Anyway, we learned a lot about both schools and the vocal performance programs at both schools. I will second your perspective of TCU on all counts, OP. The TCU campus is extraordinarily friendly. They had an obvious “personal touch” and caring attitude. The students, faculty, and staff there seemed so happy all the time. There appeared to be a kind of humbler, more serene, friendlier atmosphere than the majority of places we visited. My family liked so much about TCU and Fort Worth. They really are working hard to improve their music programs even more. They have good ties with the community, to include the Fort Worth Opera. TCU also seemed to be more faith-based than SMU, to us. Not “officially,” because they make an effort to tell people on their tours that although they’re Texas Christian University, they do not require you to be Christian to attend, and they do not require you to attend church, or anything else of that sort. (I think there’s one required religious studies class, but it can be of any sort at all – not necessarily Christian.)</p>

<p>Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that my family agreed with your family’s observations of TCU, even after numerous TCU visits. It’s a great school!</p>

<p>As you surmised, we also got the impression that, while generally somewhat conservative, they were to the left of the other schools you mentioned.</p>