The Music Department at William Jewell College has been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music since 1978 and offers an undergraduate degree of the highest standard as evidenced by the success of our graduates in many areas of music from professional performance, teaching, church music and in the wider music business as a whole.  Our graduates have also been very successful in careers outside of music, employing the skills and self-discipline that are acquired through rigorous study in music to achieve high acclaim in their chosen careers.  . 

A degree in music is never an easy option and at William Jewell we demand high standards from our students, challenging them to further their understanding of and accomplishment in their art during their time here.  Scholarships, which are competitive and talent-based, are awarded to both majors and non-majors who wish to participate in music while at Jewell.  

There are three ways you can study music at Jewell:

1.      As a music major – you can attain a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in music and enjoy studying at one of the nations leading liberal arts colleges.  Furthermore you can add an emphasis area and complete a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in one of the following areas:  Church Music, Music Education (K-12), Music History, Music Theory or Composition, Performance or, through our unique self-design major, you may study Music Business. 

2.      As a music minor – you can study a shortened version of our music degree which is perfect for the student that wants to major in another field but also wants to take advantage of high quality music instruction while in college and perhaps can imagine themselves being involved in amateur music making upon graduation. 

3.      As a participant in one of our Ensembles – you can participate in many of our ensembles and scholarships are available to talented students regardless of whether you are majoring in music or not.  All our ensemble are treated as learning labs where majors and non-majors work side by side and are challenged to not just produce the right notes but to strive to create outstanding performances with insight and understanding.  Take a moment to visit our ensembles page to find out which one(s) might challenge you to greater musicianship while at William Jewell.

Degree Programs Offered:

• Bachelor of Arts in Music
• Bachelor of Science in Music Education
• Bachelor of Science in Music Performance
• Bachelor of Science in Music Theory or Composition
• Bachelor of Science in Church Music
• Bachelor of Science in Music History
• Self-Design Major (B.A. or B.S.) in Music Business

Distinctives of the William Jewell Music Department:

·        Housed in the purpose built Pillsbury Music Center, which includes large and small rehearsal space, practice facilities, ‘smart’ classrooms, keyboard/computer lab, studio space and the Forbis recital hall. 

·        The Harriman Arts Program not only allows students to attend performances of the world’s leading classical artists free of charge but also provides numerous opportunities throughout the year for those artists to interact with Jewell students in masterclasses on the William Jewell campus.

·        The artist/teachers that form our adjunct faculty are drawn from around the Kansas City area and are active in many of the finest of Kansas Cities performing ensembles including the Kansas City Symphony, Lyric Opera, Kansas City Chorale, and the Kansas City Wind Symphony.

·        Jewell students regularly place highly in regional and national competitions such as the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition. 

·        Close ties with the Liberty Symphony Orchestra, one of the leading community orchestras in the metropolitan area, allow our string and wind students to gain invaluable orchestral experience at a high level, often playing alongside their teachers and local professional musicians. 

·        William Jewell alumni are achieving outstanding accomplishments in education and performance careers.

·        Internships with prestigious area arts organizations such as the Harriman Arts Program and the Kansas City Symphony are available. 

·        William Jewell is the home of the Quimby Pipe Organ Company’s Op. 55, a magnificent instrument that is housed in Gano Chapel and is used for Jewell and area wide events.  Organ students regularly practice and perform on this outstanding instrument. 

It is hoped that in the pages that follow you will gain a full picture of the Department of Music at William Jewell College.  If, however, you have further questions please don’t hesitate to contact us – our contact information is available on our ‘contact us’ page.