Music at Ozarks
If you are interested in vocal or keyboard music you have definitely found the right place to pursue your higher education goals. Ozarks' music department offers a well-rounded program of study for serious students of music as well as a variety of courses and musical experiences for non-music majors. The faculty can devote more individual attention to the students because of the smaller class sizes. The music theory courses teach skills in musical analysis, aural recognition of musical patterns and harmonies, and musical form. In the music history courses you explore not only the factual information about musical styles, but also the wider social, historical, and cultural context of music.
Performance opportunities
As an Ozarks music student you will participate in ensembles alongside many students who are not music majors. Choir tours and concerts, both on- and off-campus, will give you the opportunity to meet and interact with a wide variety of people and to learn the teamwork needed for a successful musical performance.
There are plenty of opportunities to hone your musical skills off campus in the multitude of churches in Clarksville. The church choirs, handbell choirs, and praise bands would love to benefit from your previous church music experience; furthermore, the congregations welcome solo performances by music students from the University of the Ozarks.
Did you sing in choir in high school? The Ozarks Chorale and University Ringers are open to all students, pending a voice placement conference with the director. For students who wish to participate in a select vocal group, Chamber Singers is a choral ensemble consisting of 16-24 singers. Membership in this ensemble requires enrollment and participation in Ozarks Chorale, and auditions for new singers happen every fall and spring.
Join Us! We view music-making as an activity that enriches the heart, mind, and spirit. Our program is designed to give you the chance to think about and respond to ideas that do not find easy expression in ordinary words and everyday human activity. If you'd like to learn more about the Ozarks music program, email our Admission Office, or give us a call at 1-800-264-8636. We'll send you a packet of information to help you learn more about the wealth of opportunities available at University of the Ozarks!
Music Scholarships
We offer music scholarships at three levels:
- Music Major – the department seeks talented students, but we will give preference to students with exceptional academic records. We will wait until we know what academic scholarship the student is considered for, and then we can award music scholarships on top of the academic ones up to full tuition. The awards are renewable for four years contingent on academic progress.
- Music minor – we are able to offer a Fine Arts Scholarship worth $2000 per year for four years contingent on academic progress.
- Choral scholarship – only available to non-music major or minors, and it requires participation in the University choirs.
Scholarship auditions are scheduled by the University Admissions to accommodate the prospective student. To receive complete consideration for Music scholarships you must:
- Schedule an audition with the University Admissions Office.
- An accompanist will be available if you send sheet music to the Department of Music no later than one week prior to the audition.
- Declare a music major or minor (NB: The Choral Scholarships only require participation in the University choirs)
Audition Process
- Interview with music faculty member
- Perform two Selections from the standard Classical literature
- Voice majors: Students should prepare two songs of contrasting style
- One preferably in a foreign language (Italian, German, French, or Spanish art song).
- At least one of the songs should be memorized.
- A selection from musical theatre is acceptable.
- Voice auditions must be accompanied. University of the Ozarks can provide an accompanist if arrangements are made prior to the audition day.
- Keyboard (Piano or Organ) majors: Two memorized pieces of contrasting style
- All Major Scales two octaves hands together
- All Major and Minor Arpeggios in root position two octaves
- Sight-reading
- Voice majors: Short melodic excerpt
- Keyboard majors: Short hymn-like excerpt
- Since all music majors are required to participate in the university choirs, keyboard majors will also sight-read a short vocal excerpt.
4. Tonal memory
- All: Candidates will be asked to sing series of pitches demonstrated on the piano by a music faculty member.
5. Knowledge of Music Theory
- All: Answer questions about key signatures, meter signatures, and other fundamentals of music
