Departments

Dance as an art form

Dance students at Western have opportunities for performance in plays, musicals, and faculty and student projects. Students also have opportunities to learn and practice their art in collaboration with students and faculty from the other arts disciplines. Additional performance and choreographic opportunities include student choreography for both formal and informal productions, senior thesis projects, repertory ensemble performances and annual dance concerts.

Guest artists are invited to choreograph, offer workshops, performances and lectures throughout the year for the campus community and the general public. Internationally famous dance companies frequently appear on campus as part of the Edgar H. Smith Fine Arts Series, many offering workshops and master classes including Pilobolus Dance Theatre, Martha Graham Dance Company, St. Petersburg Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and The David Parsons Dance Company. Auditions for placement are required.

Discover Music Programs at WOU

The music program at Western Oregon University, gives students an opportunity for broad study in music, as well as a concentration in an area of particular interest, including vocal and instrumental performance studies, conducting, jazz studies, studio teaching, composition and arranging, media production, audio production, and American popular music. Students graduating with a music degree from Western Oregon University can pursue graduate degrees in music, pursue careers in the music industry, or seek teacher certification.

Western Oregon University offers opportunities for students to perform with numerous ensembles, including the wind ensemble, symphony orchestra, Western Hemispheres Orchestra (jazz ensemble), percussion ensemble, concert choir, Western Hemisphere voices, chamber singers, music theater, opera workshop, multiple jazz combos, brass ensemble, string ensemble, and Orquestra Brasil.

In addition to university awards, scholarships are available through the music department for students majoring or minoring in music. For more information visit the scholarships page (application forms and guidelines are available in PDF format).

Building a solid foundation through live performance

Theatre at WOU provides students with a solid base in acting, directing, technical theatre and design, performance, history, literature and theory. Students are prepared for post-graduate opportunities including graduate program teacher licensor programs, internships, professional theatre and participation in the arts in their communities.