Music
Music at St. Ambrose is enriching and expressive, providing the in-depth training and experience that aspiring musicians and educators seek. Here, musicians boldly pursue a path of musical creativity and dedication.
Click here to audition for a music scholarship
Click here to receive more information about the Music program
Our graduates work as professional musicians; studio teachers; at retail locations such as West Music and Griggs Music; and music directors at theatre companies and houses of worship.
Ambrose Advantages
- Diverse and Numerous Ensembles
- Generous, Annual Scholarships
- Expert Faculty & Guidance
Our music students are encouraged to explore their potential in all areas of music, thanks to extraordinary dedication by our faculty. They help you grow personally and professionally, so you become an influential and confident musician.
See our fact sheet on Music and Music Education (pdf)
Discover Your Potential
St. Ambrose University music major Colin Evers is a talented musician from Peoria, Illinois. Along with dedicated and talented faculty, Colin has all the opportunities and support he needs with the SAU Music Department.
More Information on the Music Program
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!
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). 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, Assoc. Professor
Terri Buesing-Flynn, Administrative Assistant
William Campbell, PhD, Professor
Megan Cooney, Director of Athletic Bands
Nicholas Enz, PhD, Asst. Professor and Director of Bands
Marian Lee, DMA, Assoc. Professor of Piano
- Robin Asay
Flute - Thomas Booth
Voice - Younjung Cha
Applied Piano, Class Piano
Music Department Accompanist
Davis Hall 30
563-333-6000
ChaYounjung@sau.edu - Megan Cooney
Athletic Bands
Percussion
Davis 26
563-333-6120
CooneyMegan@sau.edu - Sheila Doak
Chorale and Chamber Singers Accompanist
DoakSheilaR@sau.edu - Rob Hadesbeck
Clarinet
jhudsoneleven@msn.com - Angela Hand
Voice - Lisa Horst-Schrock
String Ensemble
Lisa.Horst.Schrock@gmail.com - Golden Lund
Tuba
glundtuba@gmail.com - Catherine Lyon
Bella Voce
LyonCatherineE@sau.edu - Perry Mears
Music History - Alex Norris
Violin, Viola
awnorris202@gmail.com - Elizabeth Oar
Cello - Matthew Onstad
Trumpet
matthew.c.onstad@gmail.com - Robert Parker
Trombone
RobertCParker5@gmail.com - Randy Pobanz
Classic Guitar - Lori Potts
STAMVOJA
PottsLori@sau.edu - Bethany Seedorff
Oboe
bseedorff@cal-wheat.net - Ryan Smith
Saxophone - Kerry Tucker
Guitar Class
tuckerkerry@mchsi.com - Patricia Weitzel
Doublebass/Contrabass
WeitzelPatriciaS@sau.edu - Alex Widstrand
Bassoon
WidstrandAlexC@sau.edu - Marc Zyla
French Horn
mzyla@qcso.org
Degree Requirements
Required:
MUS 099 Concert Attendance (every semester enrolled)
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 327 Music History and Literature III
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
This is the suggested plan of study to graduate in four years with a degree in Music. This plan assumes the student has not taken three years of foreign language in high school.
Year One
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUS 099 Concert Attendance | 0 | MUS 099 Concert Attendance | 0 |
| *MUS 101 Basic Musicianship | 3 | MUS 203 Applied Music | 1 |
| Social Science | 3 | MUS 207 Aural Skills I | 2 |
| MUS 203 Applied Music | 1 | MUS 201 Music Theory I | 2 |
| MUS 111 Chorale; MUS 117 Band; or MUS 122 Large Ensemble | 1 | MUS 221 Piano Techniques I | 1 |
| ENGL 101 | 3 | MUS 111 Chorale; MUS 117 Band; or MUS 122 Large Ensemble | 1 |
| Info Lit | 1 | MATH | 3 |
| Oral COMM | 3 | PHIL/THEO 100-200 | 3 |
| non-Music elective | 3 | ||
| Total | 15 | Total | 16 |
Year Two
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUS 099 Concert Attendance | 0 | MUS 099 Concert Attendance | 0 |
| MUS 203 Applied Music | 1-2 | MUS 301 Theory III | 2 |
| MUS 208 Aural Skills II | 2 | MUS 307 Aural Skills III | 2 |
| MUS 202 Music Theory II | 2 | MUS 203 Applied Music | 1-2 |
| MUS 222 Piano Techniques II | 1 | Natural Science | 3 |
| MUS 111 Chorale; MUS 117 Band; or MUS 122 Large Ensemble | 1 | MUS 111 Chorale; MUS 117 Band; or MUS 122 Large Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS tech course (MUS 234-242) | 1 | MUS 325/6/7 Music History | 3 |
| MUS 319 | 3 | MUS tech course (MUS 234-242) | 1 |
| THEO/PHIL 100-200 | 3 | KIN 149 | 1 |
| non-Music elective | 3 | non-Music elective | 3 |
| Total | 17-18 | Total | 17-18 |
Year Three
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUS 099 Concert Attendance | 0 | MUS 099 Concert Attendance | 0 |
| MUS 303 applied major | 2 | MUS 303 applied major | 2 |
| MUS 111 Chorale; MUS 117 Band; or MUS 122 Large Ensemble | 1 | MUS 111 Chorale; MUS 117 Band; or MUS 122 Large Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 302 Theory IV | 2 | PHIL/THEO | 3 |
| MUS 308 Aural Skills IV | 2 | Foreign Language 102 | 3 |
| MUS 322 or 323 | 3 | MUS 407 Form & Analysis** | 3 |
| Foreign Language 101 | 3 | MUS tech course (MUS 234-242)*** | 1 |
| MUS 325/6/7 Music History | 3 | MUS History 325-327 | 3 |
| non-Music Humanities | 3 | ||
| Total | 17 | Total | 16 |
Year Four
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUS 099 Concert Attendance | 0 | MUS 099 Concert Attendance | 0 |
| MUS 303 Adv. Applied Music | 1-2 | Writing intensive non-Music elective | 3 |
| PHIL/THEO 300+ | 3 | MUS 403 Applied Recital | 2 |
| MUS 111 Chorale; MUS 117 Band; or MUS 119 Orch. | 1 | MUS 407** or non-Music elective | 3 |
| non-Music elective | 6 | non-Music elective | 6 |
| KIN activity | 1-2 | ||
| MUS 407 or non-Music elective | 3 | ||
| Total | 15-17 | Total | 14 |
*Basic Musicianship is not part of the Music Major curriculum requirements. Although students may need to take the course to be successful in the Major, this course does not count toward the Music Major. It does count towards one of your humanities courses.
** This course is offered every three semesters. Check with Dr. Campbell to confirm the next offering.
***You are required to complete two Techniques Courses. It is recommended that students with a concentration in voice take MUS 236 and MUS 237, and students with a concentration in Instrumental Music take the two courses that best fit their needs.
Recommended courses:
MUS 324 Music Technology
MUS 150 Composition Class
COMM 240 Principles of Public Relations
Requirements for a Minor in Music (22 credits)
The Music minor allows students to balance their desire to study and make music at a deeper level while balancing the demands of a different academic major.
Concert Attendance: 4 semesters of MUS 099
Applied Music (private lessons): at least 4 semesters of MUS 203
Ensemble: at least four semesters of MUS 111, 118 or 122
Music Theory I and II: MUS 201, 202 (4 credits)
Aural Skills I and II: MUS 207, 208 (4 credits)
Music History: MUS 325, 326, and 327
Meet Our Alumni & Current Students
Our alumni and students are sharing their love for music through their occupation and musical gifts. Learn more about just one member of our community.
Nick Vasquez '08, BA in Music
Parker Haley
Music Education,Middle and High School Choir Director, Orion (Illinois) School District,Class of 2017
At SAU, you can expand your passion for music into a professional teaching career, just ask Parker. He says our leading music and education programs – combined with extensive practicums – gave him phenomenal preparation for his career as a middle and high school choir director.
Contact Us
Nathan Windt, DMA
Music Department
Galvin Fine Arts Center 109
518 W. Locust St.
Davenport, IA 52803
563-333-6146
WindtNathanJ@sau.edu