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, String Ensemble, University Chorale, Chamber Singers, Jazz Combo, Bella Voce, Bee Sharp, and STAMVOJA (vocal jazz ensemble). 

Thanks to the number and diversity of our music groups, you get all the experience you would at larger schools – including conducting for Music Education majors – but with the benefit of more attention and leadership opportunities.

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 solo, in a small ensemble on-campus, in the QC community, or even internationally. Our Symphonic Band regularly travels to Ireland for a performance tour, and in 2017, our Chamber Singers toured Europe. 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 is the 7th Grade Band Director at Sudlow Intermediate, Davenport.

Nicole Schmidt '12 earned her Bachelor of Music Education and teaches music at the Prince of Peace Catholic School in Bellevue, Iowa.

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

Allaert Auditorium and Madsen Hall both are located inside the Galvin Fine Arts Center. Campus Map

Fall Performances

Saturday, Sept. 14
Butterfly Lovers Concerto
6-Wire, featuring SAU pianist Marian Lee
Allaert Auditorium

Friday, Sept. 27
Casual Classics
$10/general admission; $5/faculty/staff/senior citizens; Free/students
Madsen Hall

Friday, Oct. 18
Casual Classics, feat. Kadisha Onalbayeva, piano
Madsen Hall

Friday, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m.
Fall Choir Concert: War and Peace
Allaert Auditorium

Sunday, Oct. 27, 3 p.m.
Fall STAMVOJA/Jazz Concert
Rogalski Ballroom

Friday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m.
Fall Instrumental Concert: Symphonic Band and String Ensemble
Allaert Auditorium

Saturday, Nov. 2, 4 p.m.
SAU Middle School Honor Band Festival
Allaert Auditorium

Friday, Nov. 8, 5 p.m.
Casual Classics, feat. "Duets for Divas": Diane McVey/Soprano and Gretchen Windt/Mezzo-soprano
$10/general admission; $5/faculty/staff/senior citizens; Free/students
Madsen Hall

Sunday, Nov. 10, 3 p.m.
Student Invitational Recital
Madsen Hall

Thursday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m.
Guest Artist Juan Franco, tenor
Madsen Hall

Sunday, Dec. 8, 3 p.m.
An Ambrosian Christmas
Allaert Auditorium

Spring Performances

Friday, Feb. 7, 5 p.m.
Casual Classics, feat. marimba and bass clarinet duo, "Transient Canvas"
Madsen Hall
$10/general admission; $5/faculty/staff/senior citizens; Free/students

Friday, Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m.
Winter Choir Concert: Women in Song
Allaert Auditorium

Friday, Mar. 20, 7:30 p.m.
Winter Instrumental Concert
Allaert Auditorium

Saturday, Mar. 21, 7:30 p.m.
Winter STAMVOJA/Jazz Concert
Rogalski Center

Friday, Mar. 27, 5 p.m.
Casual Classics, feat. SAU Music Faculty
Madsen Hall
$10/general admission; $5/faculty/staff/senior citizens; Free/students

Friday, April 17, 5 p.m.
Casual Classics, feat. William Campbell, composer and performer
Madsen Hall
$10/general admission; $5/faculty/staff/senior citizens; Free/students

Sunday, April 26, 3 p.m.
Spring Jazz Concert
Rogalski Center

Saturday, May 2, Noon
Saturday at the Bandshell
LeClaire Park Bandshell, Downtown Davenport

Sunday, May 3, 3 p.m.
Spring Choir Concert: Beethoven's 250th Birthday Celebration
Allaert Auditorium

Nathan Windt, DMA, Chair and Assoc. Professor

William Campbell, PhD, Professor
Megan Cooney, Director of Athletic Bands
Nicholas Enz, PhD, Assoc. Professor and Director of Bands
Marian Lee, DMA, Assoc. Professor of Piano

All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted.

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