Challenge the form. The music composition minor at the University of St. Thomas gives you the opportunity to hone your artistic craft of creating new music under the mentorship of renowned faculty and professional musicians.
You collaborate with experienced composers in writing and performing your own music. You nurture your unique artistic style by composing and arranging music for electronic and acoustic instruments, as well as voice. Whether you compose a beautiful concerto to be performed by an orchestra or the next great power ballad for a rock band, you have multiple opportunities to write music for different genres and have it performed by student and professional musicians.
The minor is comprised of individual composition lessons, songwriting classes, music theory, orchestration, conducting, pop music fundamentals and performance lessons. You have opportunities to join our award-winning ensembles as well. You wrap up your undergraduate career at St. Thomas with a recital of your compositions.
You can pair this minor with a number of other programs, so we recommend connecting with a member of our faculty to plan your degree early on in your college career at the University of St. Thomas.
Minor in Music Composition
You receive mentorship from our tremendous faculty and professional musicians. Our students have abundant opportunities for local amateur and professional talents to perform their pieces each year.
The minor is comprised of individual composition lessons, songwriting classes, music theory, orchestration, conducting, pop music fundamentals and performance lessons. You have opportunities to join our award-winning ensembles as well. You wrap up your undergraduate career at St. Thomas with a recital of your compositions.
You can pair this minor with a number of other programs, so we recommend connecting with a member of our faculty to plan your degree early on in your college career at the University of St. Thomas.
Minor in Music Composition
You receive mentorship from our tremendous faculty and professional musicians. Our students have abundant opportunities for local amateur and professional talents to perform their pieces each year.
Faculty are excellent musicians and scholars. Your peers will challenge you to think about music differently. Alumni are taking their skills and knowledge into their everyday work and making a difference in the workplace and world around them.
Dr. Johnson's interests include contemporary opera, embodied cognition, disability studies and theories of music pedagogy. She has presented her research in the United States, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong and Australia, with her essays appearing in publications like Music Theory Spectrum, Music and Letters and Music Theory Online. She holds a Master of Music in composition and loves to hear students create music.
Dr. Bauder returned to St. Thomas after receiving his PhD to teach music theory and composition lessons. His compositional awards include the 2010 Jerome Fund for New Music from the American Composers Forum, as well as the 2015 award for best composition in Vocal Essence’s Welcome Christmas national carol content. Fred Bock Music Company publishes his sacred choral music.
Adam received his degree in music with a minor in music composition in 2017. In addition to his final recital, which featured a range of works for flute, piano and mixed ensemble, Adam debuted “Cerulean Skyline” with the St. Thomas Festival Orchestra, which included professional instrumentalists from around the Twin Cities. He is currently teaching in Japan.
We will provide you with the academic knowledge and practical skills you need to be successful in a variety of careers after graduation.
We offer competitive and performance-based scholarships that are renewable for four years of study at St. Thomas. More information is on our department website.
The Music Major Scholarships range from $1,500 to $10,000 per year. Admitted students planning to major in music, music performance, music business or music education are encouraged to apply. Supporting materials are due by February 1, and selected applicants receive an audition invitation for the scholarship invitational in the spring.
This award is available to any current St. Thomas student demonstrating great potential in their ability to instigate and sustain artistic creativity through music performance, composition or production. Music faculty can nominate any candidate.
This scholarship is available to any current St. Thomas student pursuing a major or minor in music. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrate financial need. Music faculty can nominate candidates, and students participating in ensembles receive preference.
Dr. Johnson teaches courses focusing on music theory, composition and aural skills.
Dr. Bauder’s courses focus in on music composition, as well as fostering aural skills and theory knowledge.
Brian focuses on songwriting and composition, while also teaching courses on music media.
You will create and debut original compositions with professional and amateur performers.
You will compose original music for instruments, voices and electronic media.
You develop your personal artistic style as you explore the concept of musical creativity throughout your time at St. Thomas.
Our students have unique opportunities to develop needed skills and knowledge for the next chapter of their lives.
You cultivate your knowledge of modern recording tools in our recording studio.
You collaborate with musicians to create your own original music, ultimately hearing your pieces performed by local musicians.
You create a robust, diverse portfolio of your own original music throughout your undergraduate career at St. Thomas.
St. Thomas music composition, digital music and songwriting instructors are experienced in contemporary, sacred and classical styles in both digital and acoustic media.
There is more to learn about St. Thomas; including our ranking as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report, the many classroom and extracurricular activities that will be part of your student experience and so much more. Schedule a visit to see our beautiful campus or start your application today.