Music

The Music department at College of the Ozarks exists to develop Christian musicians who embrace a biblical understanding of the purposes of their art form, to develop performers who can effectively communicate through music, and to develop artists who understand their calling to cultivate beauty within our fallen culture. We endeavor to accomplish these goals through dynamic and effective classroom teaching that is grounded in scripture, through intentional faculty/student mentoring relationships, and through intentionally developing a collaborative and warm community of performers.

Academic Programs

Graduates in music are prepared to follow their calling into areas such as music education, music and worship ministry, performance, and composition, or to continue their education at a Master's degree level. The music teacher education program at College of the Ozarks is accredited with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to offer certification in instrumental and choral music education.

All music students earn either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree, and can choose from one of the five areas of emphasis listed below:

General Music Emphasis 

• Prepares the student for graduate and/or professional work in music.
• Allows a larger number of elective choices to complement the degree.
• Requires a recital during the senior year.

Choral or Instrumental Music Education/Secondary Education Double Major

• Requires a double major in music and K-12/Secondary education.
• Prepares the student for state teacher certification.
• Field experiences and student teaching in approved schools.

Piano Emphasis

• Prepares the student for graduate studies in piano and/or private teaching.
• Features specialized courses in piano including pedagogy and literature.
• Requires a recital during the senior year.

Vocal Performance Emphasis

• Prepares the student for a career in vocal performance, graduate studies in voice, and/or private teaching.
• Features specialized courses in voice including vocal pedagogy and foreign language diction.
• Also requires collateral courses in theatre, including acting and stage movement.
• Requires a recital during the senior year.

Music Ministry Emphasis

• Prepares the student for music and worship in the local church.
• Features specialized courses in church music and music ministry.
• Requires a minor in Christian Ministry.
• Requires an internship in a local church and/or culminating project.

Theory/Composition Emphasis

• Prepares the student for a career or graduate work in music composition.
• Features a full compliment of advanced theory electives.
• Full featured computer and music lab available for composition projects.
• Requires a recital/culminating project during the senior year.

The Music department also offers two music minors: general music and vocal performance.

Music Faculty

Dr. Luke Carlson
Theory/Composition, Orchestra
lcarlson@cofo.edu
417-690-2367

Dr. Clara Christian
Music History and Piano
cchristian@cofo.edu
417-690-2247

Dr. John Cornish
Director of Choral Activities
Voice, Music Ministry, Chorale, Chapel Choir, and Conducting
jcornish@cofo.edu
417-690-2245

Dr. Kevin Powers
Director of Bands
kpowers@cofo.edu
417-690-2410

Adjunct Faculty

The Music department also utilizes highly qualified and competent music professionals from the region to supplement and enhance course offerings in areas such as voice, piano, guitar, wind, percussion, strings and harp. Adjunct professors maintain vibrant private studios in which a student may choose to study his or her chosen instrument.

Ensembles

A variety of major ensembes are available for students to participate in at College of the Ozarks. All ensembles are open to both music majors and non-music majors. Our instrumental ensembles include: Concert Band, Pep Band, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Handbell Choir, Orchestra, and Music Theatre Pit Orchestra. Our vocal ensembles are the non-auditioned Chapel Choir (which leads in Sunday worship at Williams Memorial Chapel), and the auditioned Chorale. All ensembles perform on and off campus on a regular basis. Occasionally, opportunities to travel nationally and internationally offer the students unique educational experiences. 

Departmental Activities and News

Spring 2017 Concerts and Recitals 

Facilities

The Edith Gittinger Music Center was completed in August 2003 and offers students some of the finest music facilities in the state. It houses acoustically-engineered practice rooms, audio/visually equipped class rooms, a Yamaha piano lab, a computer/MIDI studio, dedicated choral and instrumental rehearsal rooms, and the 150 seat Newman Recital Hall with state-of-the-art acoustics and recording equipment.