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Music
Black Music Ensemble

Berea College

Music

The Berea College Music Department assumes leadership in the musical arts area for the campus. The Department offers private instruction in several instruments, and a variety of large and small instrumental and vocal ensembles. In addition, the Department offers a clearly defined succession of courses leading to a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music, Music Education—Vocal, and Music Education—Instrumental. 

Graduates receive a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music Education with Vocal or Instrumental Emphasis. Both Music Education programs lead to P-12 teacher certification. A minor in Music is also available. Students often pair their Music major with a minor in Business, Marketing, or social sciences like Psychology.

Opportunities & Internships

Berea’s five-story Presser Music Building is one of the finest music facilities of any small college. It includes a 240-seat acoustically superior recital hall with a large tracker organ and superior digital recording equipment, large and small ensemble rehearsal rooms, modern computer and piano laboratories, ensemble libraries and offices, practice rooms (many with grand pianos), teaching studios, multi-media classrooms, seminar rooms, and a student lounge.

Presser Hall
Rehearsal Hall

Choose to participate in a wide variety of ensembles including the Black Music Ensemble, Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, Treble Singers, Afro-Latin Percussion, Bluegrass Ensemble, Mariachi Ensemble, Contemporary Percussion, Folk Roots Ensemble, Wind and Jazz Ensembles.

Students have performed in many of the world’s great concert venues, including Music Hall in Cincinnati, Constitution Hall in DC, the Beijing Concert Hall, the Vatican in Rome, the Duomoin Sienna, the Dom in Salzburg, the Abby Church in Melk, the Jesuitenkirchein in Lucerne, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the Basilica, and the National Cathedral in DC.

The Music program offers more than twenty work positions where students work one-on-one with Berea’s distinguished
music faculty. Students assist faculty in classrooms as well as in the rehearsal hall.

Careers & Outcomes

Berea Music and Music Education graduates find employment in a wide variety of occupations and career fields, including:

  • Music teacher
  • Professional musician
  • Music minister
  • Music therapist
  • Music producer
  • Composer
  • Audio engineering & music production

Mission Statement

The Berea College Music Department recognizes that music is an essential component of a liberal arts education.  We are committed to creating an educational environment that combines the academic rigors of the discipline with the artistic standards of performance.

Through music, the Berea College Music Department affirms the college’s mission by:

  • providing a music education of high quality that relates to the liberal arts foundation and outlook
  • developing creativity and independence of thought
  • serving the community through the teacher education program, public performances and other musical opportunities
  • establishing an educational environment that respects diverse learning styles, performance styles and practices
  • providing various musical opportunities for all students on campus
  • developing awareness of music’s connection with regional, national, and international cultures
  • encouraging collaboration and teamwork
  • integrating musical experiences with the labor program to enhance professional development, promoting lifelong support and appreciation of the arts.

I absolutely love Berea’s Music major because not only do we make great music, they’re like my second family. I am encouraged every single day by caring and passionate faculty to follow my dreams and never give up.

Brittany

Contact Us

Berea College | Presser Hall | CPO 2194 | Berea, KY 40404 | 859-985-3466