Discover your future…one note at a time.

Department of Music

As you walk through the ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú Department of Music, you’ll notice that it’s alive with music, with laughter, with students in the lounge, with professors talking to students. Whether it be from our talented students, our actively practicing faculty and staff, or from a guest ensemble, there is always music playing at ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú.

ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú Summer Music Experience Camp

Designed for passionate high school musicians (rising 9th-12th graders; singers must be 15+), ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú’s Summer Music Experience Camp offers an immersive, week-long dive into music study. Scheduled for June 9-14, 2025, the camp features daily one-on-one lessons in various instruments (strings, winds, piano) and voice, covering classical and jazz styles, plus composition.

Participants explore improvisation, music theory, musicians’ health, music technology, and music history (classical, popular, jazz). The camp aims to enhance musicianship, build confidence, and offer insights into performance and composition, preparing students for future music endeavors. Commuter and overnight options are available.

Audition days are now completed for the 2025-2026 school year. You may still submit an online audition through  or request an in-person audition for the 2025 – 2026 school year. Please email music@otterbein.edu to request an audition.

ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú is accredited by the .

National Association of Schools of Music
11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21
Reston, VA 20190-5248
(703) 437-0700
info@arts-accredit.org

Programs of Study in Music

Music Education Showcase

B.M.E.

Music Education

The Bachelor of Music Education degree at ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú is a four-year degree with K-12 licensure in all musical areas. The curriculum provides in-school placements in each year of study, and a full array of methods courses including guitar and ukulele methods.​

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Bm Performance

B.M.

Performance

The Bachelor of Music in Performance Degree puts primary emphasis on the skills, concepts, and sensitivities essential to the life of the performing musician. The Bachelor of Music curriculum requires intensive energy, preparation and dedication to the applied music performance area.

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B.F.A in Musical Theatre

B.F.A.

Musical Theatre

Our interdisciplinary BFA combines courses in Acting, Voice, Dance, Movement, and Music. Musical Theatre majors audition for all productions including plays, musicals, dance concerts, advanced directing projects, and workshops. A senior showcase for industry professionals is produced annually in New York City.

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Music Theory Composition

B.A.

Music Theory & Composition​

The Music Theory & Composition concentration is the perfect program for composers seeking to study music theory and composition in depth while also gaining a firm grounding in musicianship and performance within a liberal arts framework.​

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Music History

B.A.

Music History & Literature​

The Music History & Literature concentration provides students the opportunity to explore the scholarly aspects of music study. The exploration of music through scholarship, writing and research has many career outcomes and is well suited to liberal arts studies.​

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ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú Marching Band

Minor

Music Minor

Our music minor is a great way to nurture your passion for music while pursuing a different major. It is available to any student on campus, and encompasses basic experiences in theory, applied instruction, history, ensembles, and electives. Non-music majors may audition to study in any applied area within the department and may take several music courses if a pre-requisite pattern is followed.

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Student, Faculty, and Alumni Spotlights

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

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ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú has given me the support and resources for me to not only grow as an individual, but to prepare me to be the best future educator I can be.

Julia Jablonski ’22

Bachelor of Music Education

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

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The ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú Department of Music is a place of opportunity in every sense. It is a strong community among students, faculty, and alumni where personal relationships are coveted. Our world-class faculty members are incredibly supportive and show a great desire to see every student succeed!

Alec Arnett ’22

Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Bachelor of Arts in Music History & Literature

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

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ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú has given me the best preparation for becoming a music educator that I could have ever imagined! Between giving us hundreds of hours teaching in real classrooms starting freshmen year and the extremely talented and esteemed music faculty, I couldn’t have asked for more!

MK Schloss ’22

Bachelor of Music Education

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

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I came into ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú, for lack of a better word, terrified and leaving behind my entire support system. But ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú had my back. The music faculty were – and still are – amazing and so, so kind and welcoming. It’s been an amazing and fun couple of years.

Isabelle Lindsey ’23

Bachelor of Arts in Music and Bachelor of Arts in Theatre double major

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

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ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú has allowed me to pursue my passions in music performance, offering a variety of ensembles, performance opportunities, and a close-knit environment where I get to work side by side with professionals who are willing to make the effort to help prepare you for future success in your career outside of ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú.

Matthew Boles ’23

Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance

Strings
After a year of mostly online performances, we are roaring back to life with a full slate of in-person public performances: ensembles, recitals and exciting guest artists.
View our concert calendar >

Guest artists, like singer Daniel Neer (pictured), work one-on-one with our students in master classes. They present recitals with exciting repertoire, including world premieres of compositions by faculty and students.

Neer Masterclass

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

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The most meaningful, hands-on experiences I had were with the partnerships with local schools, travelling to share the love of music, and the encouragement to pursue my own opportunities.​

Jared Joseph ’13

Bachelor of Music Education

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

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One of the most meaningful experiences at ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú was getting to perform a lot of my own compositions during my final recital.​

Ryan Loth ’15

Bachelor of Arts in Music, Theory and Composition Concentration

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

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What stood out to me as a student was how much the faculty and staff go above and beyond to really help their students succeed.​

Miranda Martin-Hecker ’15

Miranda earned a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) at the Ohio State University and is an adjunct faculty member in ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú’s Music Department

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“Music Education brings together a person’s deep love of music with the passion to change young peoples’ lives. Having had a career in music education, I believe few things could be more fulfilling.​”

Dr. Jim Bates

Professor of Music and Music Education Program Director

Our students benefit from a supportive and caring faculty in a small campus setting and participate in a robust array of ensembles.​ Our active student OMEA chapter provides interaction with a variety of guest speakers and presentation topics.

COMMERCIAL MUSIC FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

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Vocalist, non-profit educator and commercial voice faculty member Rachel Azbell seeks inspiration from vocalists like Nancy Wilson and Ella Fitzgerald to the great Aretha Franklin and loves helping students find their own voice within commercial singing, too.

Rachel Azbell, M.M.

Part-Time Faculty in Commercial Music

COMMERCIAL MUSIC FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

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Tony Hagood, pianist, currently serves as Commercial, Classical, and Jazz piano instructor and Staff Pianist at ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú. He has been called to play and record for organizations like Pagani Automobiles, Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Arts Group, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Byron Stripling’s quintet, numerous festivals throughout the U.S. Tony also hosts jazz concert series at the Columbus Museum of Art and McConnell Arts Center.

Tony Hagood

Part-Time Faculty in Commercial Music

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

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Professor Michael Yonchak’s current writing projects include investigating the mallet percussion components of Frank Zappa’s Music, and exploring the compositional background of Jennifer Higdon’s Grammy-Award winning Percussion Concerto.

Dr. Michael Yonchak

Associate Professor, Music

Learn more about Dr. Yonchak >

Department Features and Student Opportunities

Piano Solo

Auditions and Talent Awards

We reward the talent, dedication, and academic achievement of our majors and non-majors alike with generous scholarships to support their studies in music. Auditions are available in person and online.

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ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú Opera

Performance Areas

We offer applied study for instruments, voice, and composition in classical, jazz, and popular styles. From early music to contemporary music, from string quartet to jazz combo, our ensemble experiences are open to all students.

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ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú Chorus

Music for Non-Majors

You don’t have to be a music major to participate in music at ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú. Non-majors may join any of the music ensembles or take private lessons and are eligible to audition for music participation awards.​

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