Music
Areas of Study
Our academic courses challenge students from across the curriculum to think, speak and write effectively about music.
- Theory and composition
- History and cultural studies
- Performance studies
- Classical music and popular music
- Global music and jazz
- Audio engineering and music technology
- Instrumental and vocal lessons
- Ensembles
Requirements
- Music Theory 1 (Music 201), with Music Theory 1 Lab (Music 202)
- Music Theory 2 (Music 203) with Music Theory 2 Lab (Music 204)
- Music Theory 3: Advanced Topics (Music 305)
- History of Western Music 1 (Music 211)
- History of Western Music 2 (Music 212)
- Advanced Topics in Music History (Music 315)
- Two courses at the 200 level or higher.
- At least one of these courses must be a classroom experience. The other course may be a classroom experience or a performance experience (MUSC 218/219, 231/232).
- Two courses at the 300 level or higher. At least one of these courses must be a classroom experience. The other course may be a classroom experience or a performance experience (MUSC 331/332, 431/432, 433/434).
- One elective must be in World Music, Popular Music, Digital/Computer Music or Jazz at the 200 level or higher.
- 2 semesters of participation in a department ensemble
- 2 semesters of private lessons on an instrument or voice
Meet Your Department Chair
Opportunities
Brooks Scholarship
The Brooks Scholarship is a four-year, full tuition scholarship offered to a high school senior who will major in music or double major in music and another discipline.
Contact Alice Resker (include scholarship title in subject line) for application details.
Organ Scholarship
The Organ Scholarship is a four-year, full tuition scholarship offered by the College of the Holy Cross through the Department of Music, in collaboration with the Office of the College Chaplains, to a high school senior who will major in music or double major in music and another discipline. The recipient of this scholarship will have at his/her disposal the 1985 four-manual, 50-stop mechanical action organ built by Taylor & Boody Organ builders, located in the beautiful St. Joseph Memorial Chapel.
Research
Music majors are welcome to work with faculty advisors on original research as part of the Summer Research program.
Awards for Music Majors
Two prizes are awarded each year to a Holy Cross senior:
Beethoven Prize for the best essay or composition.
Walter Gordon Howe Prize for excellence in percussion performance.
Student Advisory Committee
Members of the Student Advisory Committee (SAC) are elected by all music majors in the spring of each year. The music department frequently consults with the SAC regarding issues of class offerings, programming and events. The SAC administers course evaluation forms for every music course at the end of each semester. SAC officers also help in the evaluation of faculty in terms of appointment, tenure or promotion.
Lessons
With options for every student interested in the performance of music, all students (majors and non-majors) are welcome to take private lessons. Students work one-on-one with exceptional instructors drawn from across New England and have access to small group tutorials, performance forums, workshops and master classes. Students who are not music majors must pay a fee for lessons.
Performance Instructors
| Instrument | Faculty Member | |
|---|---|---|
| Accordion | Dairmuid Ó Meachair | domeachair@holycross.edu |
| Bassoon | Stephanie Busby | stephaniebusby@gmail.com |
| Cello | Mina Kim | mkim@holycross.edu |
| Clarinet | William Kirkley | wkirkley@holycross.edu |
| Double Bass | John (Bebo) Shiu | jshiu@holycross.edu |
| Double Bass | Steve Skop | sskop@holycross.edu |
| Flute | Ona Jonaytite | ojonaity@holycross.edu |
| French Horn | Marina Krickler | mkrickle@holycross.edu |
| Guitar | Jeffrey Nevaras | jnevaras@holycross.edu |
| Oboe | Joe Halko | joeoboe.halko@gmail.com |
| Percussion/Drums | Jonathan Hess | jhess@holycross.edu |
| Piano | Ulysses Loken | uloken@holycross.edu |
| Piano | Sonya Ovrutsky Fensome | sovrutsk@holycross.edu |
| Piano | Jonathan Yasuda | jyasuda@holycross.edu |
| Trombone | Douglas Weeks | dweeks@wpi.edu |
| Trumpet | Bruce Hopkins | bhopkins@holycross.edu |
| Viola | Sergio Muñoz Leiva | smunoz@holycross.edu |
| Violin | Aleksandra Labinska | alabinsk@holycross.edu |
| Voice | Marsha Vleck | mrvleck@aol.com |
| Voice | Bill Cotten | wcotten@holycross.edu |
Join a Performance Ensemble
We offer frequent opportunities for students to rehearse and perform in vocal and instrumental ensembles, covering a wide spectrum of musical styles. All students are welcome to join.
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H-CLEF (the Holy Cross Laptop Ensemble Federation)
H-CLEF (Holy Cross Laptop Ensemble Federation) is the performing ensemble of Music 290: Coding Music. Designed as an experiential, hands-on learning environment, Coding Music welcomes all majors interested in sound synthesis, DIY instrument design and collaborative performance of live electronic music.
Venues & Facilities
Holy Cross is home to a number of arts facilities that support and foster the creative endeavors of our students and faculty, as well as the many artists, musicians and other creative professionals that visit our campus. Facilities and venues include impressive performance spaces, in addition to several locations for classes, rehearsals, studying and creating.
Past Performances
Explore past ensemble performances.
Chapel Choir sings a diverse range of liturgical music — both traditional and contemporary — to lead worship at the 7 p.m. Sunday Mass in Mary Chapel, the College’s largest weekly worship service.
