Music
Program Overview
Our music faculty includes renowned professional performers and educators from the St. Louis metro area, providing the highest quality applied lessons for all instruments and voice. Our music courses encompass the complete program students need for their music degree studies in addition to a broad spectrum of other courses.
Music courses include: Music Theory, Aural Training, Music History, Conducting, Music Education, Voice Studio class, Vocal Diction, Class Piano, Jazz Improvisation, Music Appreciation, Jazz Appreciation, World Music, and History of Rock and Roll.
The study of music through performance is an integral part of the music program. Students regularly perform at music seminars, juries and recitals. Other opportunities for performance are offered through our music ensembles, including:
- Wind Ensemble
- Jazz Ensemble
- Jazz Combos
- Concert Chorale
- Chamber Choir
- Community Chorale
- Percussion Ensemble
- Brass Ensemble
- Woodwind Ensembles
All our ensembles are open to anyone interested, including majors, non-majors, and community members. Learn more about the Music Ensembles!
With an emphasis in maintaining current trends and competencies in technology, the facilities in the Music Department offer two full computer labs with keyboards, including a state-of-the-art Mac lab with integrated recording suites. Students have unlimited access to the labs and utilize technology through composition projects in Music Theory courses.
Degree Information
The Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.) degree is designed for transfer to another college or university as part of a bachelor's degree in fine arts. It is recommended for any student planning to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Music. This could include Music Education, Music Therapy, among others.
Academic Plan
The Academic Plan is a semester-by-semester plan for the full-time student. Part-time students should work with an advisor to customize the map to fit individual needs. View the two-year Academic Plans.
Course Guides
Jefferson College Institutional Course Guides (ICGs) are found in the Simple Syllabus - Syllabus Library AND/OR within your Canvas class page via the Simple Syllabus link in the Course Navigation Menu.
Music Events
Rehearsals / Classes
- Wind Ensemble - Every Monday night from 7 pm - 9:15 pm - contact Elke Overton, eoverton@jeffco.edu
- Concert Chorale - MWF 11 am-12 pm - contact Paula Martin, pmartin5@jeffco.edu
- Chamber Choir - MWF 12-1 pm
- Jazz Ensemble - T/TH - contact Joel Vanderheyden, jvanderh@jeffco.edu
Other chamber ensembles - brass ensemble, woodwind ensemble, saxophone quartet, jazz combos will meet at arranged times
Spring semester - Rehearsals start January 13, 2025
2024 FALL SEMESTER EVENTS
- September 22 – Music Faculty Recital 3:00 pm (Choir Room)
- October 9 – Choir Concert at Festus HS
- October 10 – Wind Ensemble at Festus HS
- October 20 - Choral Concert at St John's Lutheran Church in Arnold
- October 22 – Jazz Ensemble at North County HS 7:00 pm
- December 7 – Madrigal Performance 7:00 pm
- December 8 – Choir Concert
- December 12 – Wind Ensemble at North County HS
2025 SPRING SEMESTER EVENTS
- March 4 - Spring Jazz Showcase at Jazz St Louis, featuring saxophonist Erena Terakubo
- March 9 - Choral Concert - St John's Lutheran Church in Arnold
- March 13 - Jazz Ensemble at Hillsboro HS
- March 25 - Wind Ensemble at Seckman HS
- April 1 - Wind Ensemble at Windsor HS
- April 25 - Jazz Ensemble at De Soto HS
- May 8 - Wind Ensemble at Herculaneum HS
- May 8 - Choral Concert at St John's Lutheran Church in Arnold
Music Scholarship
Jefferson College Music Department offers scholarships to all students attending the college, regardless of their major. This includes music majors and non-music majors.
Fill out a Scholarship Application to get started. Applicants will be notified and audition dates will be scheduled individually. Students must audition for the scholarships in spring semester for scholarships awarded in the following year. Auditions are held each spring semester from February to May. Scholarship recipients are selected by musical ability and merit. The requirements to receive and maintain a music scholarship are:
- participate in one or more of our college music ensembles each semester
- maintain a 2.5 GPA at Jefferson College
Scholarships range from $250 to $1500 per semester, depending on a student’s ability and level of participation in our music department. Scholarships awarded through the Music Department are awarded in addition to A+ scholarships and any Pell Grant awards. These scholarship funds can be used for books, fees (including music applied lesson fees), and housing expenses. Submit your application for the Jefferson College Music Scholarship. Please note that the following documents will be required:
- Official High School Transcript
- Two Letters of Reference (at least one must be from an ensemble director)
If you are a student who is not coming to Jefferson College straight from High School, please contact Dr. Joel Vanderheyden at 636-481-3362 jvanderh@jeffco.edu for instructions on completing this application.
HONOR BAND
Jefferson College and UMSL join together to offer an honor band experience for high school students in the St. Louis metropolitan and surrounding areas. This is an opportunity for high school directors to nominate their top musicians to participate in a one-day workshop of rehearsals and master classes. The honor band will rehearse all day on Saturday, November 23, from 8 am to 4:30 pm. This event will culminate with an evening performance in UMSL’s Touhill Performing Arts Center at 7 pm. Nominations begin in August and are due by October 6, 2024. Nominate a student!
Previous Honor Band Guest Conductors:
- 2021 - Dr. Brian Silvey, University of Missouri-Columbia
- 2022 - Dr. Curran Prendergast, Truman University
- 2023 - Dr. Alexandra Zacharella, from University of Arkansas - Fort Smith
Questions? Contact Elke Overton at eoverton@jeffco.edu or (636) 481-3372.
PACE (Performing Arts and Cultural Enrichment)
Through our innovative PACE series, music students regularly interact and perform with visiting artists from across the globe. Various artists, including several Grammy Award recipients, have visited Jefferson College to perform and give master classes as part of the PACE series. These artists provide the students with real-life musical and performance perspectives, in addition to bringing incredible performances to the community of Jefferson County. View upcoming PACE events!
