Graduate Catalog 2025-2026

School of Music

Interim Director: Melissa Malde, D.M.A.

Interim Associate Director: Carissa Reddick, Ph.D.

Location: Frasier Hall 108

Telephone: 970-351-2993

Website: arts.unco.edu/music/

Graduate Coordinator: Carissa Reddick, Ph.D.

Faculty: Erik Applegate, M.M.; Jonathan Bellman, D.M.A.; Wesley Broadnax, Ph.D.; Jill Burgett, D.A.; Brian Casey, D.M.A.; Clelyn Chapin, D.M.A.; Logan Contreras, D.M.A.; Daniel Cosio, M.M.; Dayvison Costa, M.M.; Andrew Dahlke, D.M.A.; Janice Dickensheets, D.A.; Ludek Drizhal, M.M.; Paul Elwood, Ph.D.; Tim Feerst, D.M.A.; Lindsay Fulcher, Ph.D.; Jubal Fulks, D.M.A.; Socrates Garcia, D.A.; James Hall, D.M.A.; Andrés Felipe Jaime, D.A.; Deborah Kauffman, D.M.A.; Stephen Kovalcheck, D.M.A.; Reiner Krämer, Ph.D.; Dana B. Landry, M.M.; HeeSeung Lee, Ph.D.; Brian Clay Luedloff, M.F.A.; Melissa Malde, D.M.A.; Joe McAllister, D.A.; Romina Monsanto, D.A.; Charles Moore, D.M.A.; Sarah Off-Fixmer, D.M.A.; Michael Oravitz, Ph.D.; Carissa Reddick, Ph.D.; Mandy Spivak, D.M.A.; Javier Vinasco Guzman, Ph.D.; Krissie Weimer, Ph.D.; Leo Welch, D.M.; Lei Weng, D.M.A.; James White, M.A.; Drew Zaremba, M.M.; Adam Zukiewicz, D.M.A.

Course(s) Offered (Prefix):

Program(s) Offered:

Approximately 450 music majors annually have made UNC’s School of Music their choice for many reasons. The School of Music offers nationally recognized faculty with specialists on every instrument. There are more than 50 performing ensembles, a number of which are nationally recognized.

The UNC School of Music, with 37 full-time and 20 part-time faculty, is organized into seven program areas, each with an area head. The program areas are Winds and Percussion, Strings, Keyboard, Vocal, Academic Studies, Music Education, and Jazz Studies.

Students may choose from a full range of degrees, bachelor through doctoral programs, and from concentrations in performance, conducting, music education, music theory, jazz studies, and music history. Considerable variety and depth of course offerings are available at UNC.

General objectives of the University of Northern Colorado School of Music are based on service and leadership in the arts at local, state, regional, national and international levels.

An integral unit within the University, the School of Music embraces the role and mission statements of the University of Northern Colorado and has designed its goals and objectives to support and enhance institutional purposes and directions.

The primary goal of the UNC School of Music is to develop skilled and sensitive musicians at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels, including performers, conductors, educators, composers, historians, theorists and music administrators. The UNC School of Music maintains a two-fold objective of providing the strongest preparation possible in music education, theory, and history, while encouraging the highest standards of performance.

School of Music graduates are well regarded in the professional world. UNC-prepared educators hold positions at universities, colleges, high schools, junior high and elementary schools throughout the United States and the world. School of Music performance graduates are found in professional symphony orchestras, opera and musical theatre repertory companies, the nation's premier military ensembles, prominent free-lance positions in metropolitan centers, and in professional chamber ensembles and jazz bands.

Curricular Practical Training

UNC School of Music students routinely participate in paid and unpaid teaching and performance opportunities both on and off campus to develop as performers and educators during their degree programs. Although the expectation is not explicit in the credit requirements, practical application and participation is an expected and necessary part of the curriculum for all School of Music students. Students are expected to work with their applied teacher and area faculty to evaluate the applicability of teaching or performance opportunities to their program of study.

Major Musical Organizations

MUSIC THEORY:

MUS 501 MUS 502 MUS 503 MUS 504
MUS 505 MUS 603 MUS 604  

MUSIC HISTORY:

MUS 643 MUS 644 MUS 645 MUS 646 MUS 647
MUS 649 MUS 651 MUS 652 MUS 653 MUS 657

INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE (based on applied area):

MUS 636 MUS 637 MUS 665 MUS 670 MUS 671
MUS 673 MUS 674 MUS 675 MUS 677  

MAJOR MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS:

MUS 624* MUS 625* MUS 667 MUS 668 MUS 680
MUS 681 MUS 684 MUS 688 MUS 690 MUS 691

*For Jazz studies students and other students whose primary applied lessons are in jazz, the following Major Musical Organizations apply.

ENSEMBLE BY ADVISEMENT (For Collaborative Piano):

In addition to Major Musical Organizations listed above:

MUS 630 MUS 666 MUS 668 MUS 682 MUS 685

Graduate Admission Requirements

Prerequisite to admission to any graduate program in Music is completion of an appropriate undergraduate music degree. Admission will be based on an evaluation of the student's competencies and the content of the undergraduate program.

The student must take the appropriate Advisory Examinations in Music Education, Music History, and Music Theory administered by the School of Music faculty upon the student's arrival on campus. Students with an instrumental concentration may be required to take written examinations on technique in their performance area.

All graduate students enrolling in the School of Music as majors are expected to attend major recitals, concerts, productions, and convocations on a regular basis as part of their course program.

Candidates will take a written comprehensive examination at a time approved by their major advisor.

Master’s Programs. An audition in the major applied area is required of all entering graduate students, and three letters of recommendation are also required of Music Education majors.

Doctoral Program. An audition in the major applied area is required of all entering graduate students. A minimum of two years public school teaching experience is required of D.A. (Music Education) applicants. Three letters of recommendation are required of all applicants.