Music
New to WOU Music?
Connect with Us.
Please fill out the NEW STUDENT INFORMATION FORM so the we can get to know you better and direct your inquiries to the correct faculty member(s).
Meet Dr. Joel Garza
Scholarship Information
The WOU Music Department offers multiple scholarship opportunities for music majors (new, transfer & returning), and ensemble tuition remissions for non-music majors. The Music Department accepts auditions throughout the year but priority will be given to students who apply for the February 5, 2023 scholarship audition date.
Current Events
We annually sponsor several concerts, guest artists, guest lecturers, and student recitals. Please check our complete calendar for more information on these music events.
Festivals & Workshops
We host several workshops and festivals, including the Great Western Music Championships for bands and orchestras, the Choral Festival, Percussion Festival, and the Composer’s Workshop. If you are a high school band, choir, or orchestra director seeking adjuticated opportunities for your ensembles, or need information on any of our festivals and/or workshops then please select the Learn more link.
Media
To find out more about our program please visit out our media page that includes ensemble performances, faculty lectures, and student interviews.
MUSIC DEGREE PROGRAMS
New BM Program
MUSIC EDUCATION
getting back to our roots!
When we were the Oregon College of Education the music department boasted one of the finest music education certification programs in Oregon. We are proud to announce our commitment to training the next generation of music educators – elementary, instrumental, and choral – with our new 4-year BM certification degree program.
BM DEGREE PROGRAMS
professional music training
We offer 4-year professional BM degree programs in Music Education, Composition, and in Music with focus areas in Audio Production, Jazz Studies, and Vocal & Instrumental Performance. Come study with award-winning faculty of national and international renown.
BA DEGREE PROGRAM
a flexible music pathway
Not looking for the professional music degree but still want to major in music? Then we offer the 4-year BA degree program. This program requires a student to complete 74 credits hours of music courses…and you still have access to our award-winning faculty!
MUSIC MINOR
augment your major
We offer a general music minor – 27 credit hours, that includes 15 credits of upper-division music courses chosen in consultation with a music advisor. We offer a specific minor in audio production – 27 credits, dedicated entirely to courses in audio and media production. And we offer a specific minor in jazz studies – 27 credits, dedicated to courses in jazz and popular music.
MUSIC ENSEMBLES
We offer multiple opportunities for music students to participate in various instrumental and vocal ensembles.
Not a music major? No problem! We welcome and encourage all WOU students to join our ensembles. We also provide tuition remissions for eligible, non-music majors to participate in ensembles. Please contact the ensemble director for more information pertaining to auditions and tuition remissions.
Instrumental Ensembles
large ensembles
Wind Ensemble
Jazz Orchestra
Latin Jazz Ensemble
chamber ensembles
Brass Quintet
Chamber Strings
Early Music Ensemble
Percussion Ensemble
Saxophone Quartet
Vocal Ensembles
chamber & large ensembles
Concert Choir
Chamber Singers
Early Music Ensemble
Opera Scenes
Voices Jazz Choir
FACULTY
Dr. Dirk Freymuth
Associate Professor of Music
DMA – University of Southern California
WOU information
Dr. Dirk Freymuth is an active recording engineer throughout the United States. He teaches audio production, music history, careers in music, and directs the early music ensemble. He oversees all aspects of the recording facilities.
Dr. Ike Nail oversees all aspects of the instrumental music education and instrumental music program. He teaches conducting and directs the wind ensemble and chamber string ensemble. Dr. Nail has received the Oregon Symphony Association Music Educator of the Year (2009) and the OMEA Music Educator of the Year (2014).
Dr. James Reddan
Department Head, Associate Professor of Music
DMA – Boston University
WOU information
Winner of the WOU Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award (2021), Dr. James Reddan is the director of choirs and choral music education. His choirs have performed throughout the world and he serves as an active adjudicator, guest clinician, and speaker. He teaches choral conducting, directs the chamber singers and concert choir, and has a curious fascination with assessment rubrics!
Dr. Kevin Walczyk
Graduate Coordinator, Professor of Music
DMA – University of North Texas
WOU information
Dr. Kevin Walczyk oversees the composition studies program where he teaches film scoring, jazz arranging, orchestration, and composition. He is recipient of both the Pastega Award for Excellence in Scholarship (2015), the Pastega Award for Excellence in Teaching (1999), and the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award (2007).
Dr. Adam Harris is an Oregon-based jazz saxophonist, composer and music educator. He oversees all aspects of the WOU instrumental jazz program. He has shared the stage with some of the world’s most famous jazz musicians, including Wynton Marsalis, Dave Holland, Randy Brecker and Joshua Redman.
Dr. Claire Hudkins oversees the vocal performance studies area and directs the Western Oregon Voices – Jazz Choir. She is well versed in multiple styles, including opera, jazz, pop, folk, classical, and musical theatre.
Dr. Joel Alberto Garza
NTT Assistant Professor
DMA – Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
WOU information
Dr. Joel Alberto Garza is Director of Percussion Studies at Western Oregon University. He has performed nationwide at events including PASIC, SICPP (Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance Practice), TMEA, OMEA (Ohio), and the Contemporary Art Music Project (CAMP) CAMPGround22 International New Music Festival.
Jackie Ortiz-Morelli serves as staff accompanist, piano instructor, and teaches piano proficiency. Mrs. Morelli serves as the West Coast coordinator of all things pertaining to the University of Kansas basketball program. “Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!”
Dr. Carlos Velez teaches music theory, aural skills, flute performance, and composition applied lessons. He is an award-winning composer of national and international renown with numerous commissions.
PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
NEW STUDENT CHECKLIST
At Western Oregon University we understand that selecting the right university and music degree program takes time and a little research. Incoming freshmen, transfer students, and graduate students who are ready to take the steps to begin pursuing a music degree with us are encouraged to visit campus, take a free lesson with your prospective applied lessons professor, make application to the university, and schedule an audition for program entry and scholarships.
NEW STUDENT INFORMATION FORM
Please fill out the NEW STUDENT INFORMATION FORM so the we can get to know you better and direct your inquiries to the correct faculty member(s).
SCHEDULE A CAMPUS VISIT
We encourage you to spend a day with us while classes are in session. Take a campus tour, visit our classes, perform in an ensemble, and receive a free private lesson. This is the best way to see if WOU is the right fit for you. Contact the music department to schedule your visit. Campus tours can usually be scheduled on the same day through the admissions office.
MAKE APPLICATION
Undergraduates will make formal application to the university through the admission website. Graduates will make formal application through the graduate studies website. We accept applications throughout the year. We suggest, however, that you apply early so that you will meet eligibility requirements and deadlines for scholarships.
SCHEDULE AN AUDITION
Entry into the music program requires a formal audition, which takes place in early February. The audition is also used by the music faculty to determine scholarships. Please read all information pertaining to the guidelines for auditions and scholarships.
MUSIC LINKS
QUICK LINKS
CONNECT WITH US
