Music
Our music program was founded more than 150 years ago, making music an integral part of the culture and traditions at Jewell, from our choir’s second-place and national finalist finishes in The American Prize in Choral Performance and the release of their third CD, to our opera workshops, holiday concerts, collaborations with Theatre and our Cardinal Sound band.
Private instruction, performance labs, ensembles, studio recitals and research add depth to classroom instruction for music majors and minors. Non-music majors also may take applied lessons and participate in Jewell’s highly acclaimed vocal, instrumental and choral ensembles. At Jewell, you may choose a B.A. in Music or a B.S. in Music, where you take more hours specifically in music. If you opt for the B.S. you may choose to gain a specific emphasis in performance. Or you may study for a B.S. in Music Education.
Graduates of the William Jewell College music program will:
Through the internationally acclaimed Harriman-Jewell Series, you can get free tickets to see the world’s greatest artists in concert. Each year the Department of Music and the Harriman-Jewell series team up to bring some of this outstanding talent to campus to give free master classes.
You can perform for and interact with leading performers from around the world and receive direct feedback and instruction. Recently we hosted sopranos Joyce DiDonato and Danielle de Niese, violinists Robert McDuffie and Jeremy Denk, vocalists The King’s Singers and Stephanie Blythe.
This season the line-up of artists is equally great – you can find full information on the Harriman-Jewell Series web site.
Our ensembles are treated as learning labs where majors and non-majors work side-by-side and are challenged to not just produce the right notes, but to create outstanding performances with insight and understanding.
The Wind Ensemble plays literature of the highest standards. Membership is gained by audition or invitation and is comprised of students who are interested in the more serious aspects of wind and percussion performance. Lifetime friendships and good collegiality come naturally to the band members.
The band tours periodically in the Midwest and beyond.
Dr. Langston Hemenway is the conductor.
As a full symphonic orchestra, the Liberty Symphony performs a season of varied concerts each year. Comprised of students and community members, it is known in the Kansas City area as one of its finest community orchestras.
LSO is open by audition to wind, percussion and string players, subject to their teacher’s recommendation and the instrumentation needs of the orchestra.
Dr. Langston Hemenway is the conductor.
Exploring works from the rich heritage of chamber music these ensembles rehearse twice a week and perform on and off campus. The past couple of years groups have consisted of various combinations of instruments creating standard chamber ensembles such as string quartets and less standard configurations.
Open by audition to all college students regardless of major, these ensembles are led by our outstanding instrumental faculty.
The Jewell Jazz Band is an ensemble that enjoys the exciting, wide-ranging jazz literature of many eras. This is the group that encourages instrumentalists to enjoy improvisational freedom and often showcases their own arranging and compositional endeavors.
Membership is by audition and/or invitation and is subject to the needs of standard jazz band instrumentation.
Dr. Langston Hemenway is the director.
This group performs a wide variety of music, often transcriptions, while focusing on the development of jazz improvisational skills.
The group performs as a part of the Jewell Jazz Band concerts and in its own concerts each semester. Occasionally, the ensemble will perform for special events around campus.
Membership into this group is based on audition or invitation after an interview.
While not required, it is highly recommended that members of this ensemble also participate in the Jewell Jazz Band.
Chamber Winds are small ensembles comprised of woodwinds, brass and percussion. These chamber groups vary by semester based on available instrumentation and student interest but have included flute choir, woodwind quintet, brass quintet, saxophone quartet and percussion ensemble.
Our ensembles are treated as learning labs where majors and non-majors work side-by-side and are challenged to not just produce the right notes, but to create outstanding performances with insight and understanding. Some ensembles tour nationally every year and internationally every few years.
William Jewell College Cardinal Voices is comprised of students from William Jewell and Metropolitan Community College – Maple Woods. The ensemble meets twice a week and is open to all who wish to sing regardless of major or vocal experience.
This eclectic ensemble performs a wide range of literature from traditional choral literature to collegiate a cappella arrangements and lighter fare. This ensemble is also a place for Jewell’s music education majors to develop their conducting, ensemble preparation and leadership skills in an environment dedicated to diverse programming and providing varied musical experiences.
The students in this ensemble have earned the prestigious award of Choral Scholar. This ensemble meets once a week and performs a variety of literature from vocal solos and quartets to advanced sacred and secular choral works.
The Choral Scholars are led by Dr. Lawrence Abernathy.
The William Jewell College Concert Choir, conducted by Dr. Lawrence Abernathy, is an auditioned, highly selective ensemble composed of the College’s very best undergraduate choral singers.
The Concert Choir’s latest two albums on Centaur Records and Albany Records and are available for download and streaming on most platforms.
The Opera Workshop is an ensemble that involves the student in the study of a selected opera, opera scenes or operetta. The study will include examination of the music and libretto and the effect these elements have on the characterization of each role, normally culminating in a public performance.
Recent performances include “Fortune’s Favorites” by Barab, Menotti’s “Old Maid and the Thief”, and Francesco “Cavalli’s L’Ormindo”, sung in Italian and accompanied by chamber orchestra. Suor Angelica and The Impresario highlighted the 2007-2008 season, along with an evening of Broadway, opera and gourmet desserts entitled Café Diva.
The Opera Workshop is led by Dr. Ron Witzke.
We honor a centuries-old tradition, designating students with outstanding music skills and high academic achievement for our Scholars programs. Anyone who auditions for a music scholarship at William Jewell is already considered for these distinguished scholarships, regardless of major.
Participants exhibit exceptional vocal skills and the ability to express those skills sensitively within a choral setting. They perform in Concert Choir (our premier choral ensemble), take part in other ensembles and benefit from voice lessons and master classes with renowned vocal groups such as The King’s Singers, James Galway and Joyce DiDonato.
This group consists of players with exceptional technique and mastery of their wind or percussion instrument. These musicians form a pool of players that participate in the Jewell Symphonic Band and chamber winds, act as section leaders and participate in clinics and master classes with visiting professionals like the principals of the San Francisco Symphony.
This program brings together a pool of advanced string players interested in quality orchestral and chamber music performance. These players serve in leadership roles with the chamber music program, collaborate in various ensembles and are active members of the Liberty Symphony Orchestra.
Keyboard scholars display high levels of technical proficiency and musicality and demonstrate a desire to advance their skills as collaborative keyboard musicians. Scholars will participate in both chamber and conducted ensembles and they will have the opportunity to perform in high-visibility events on campus.
By offering rigorous intellectual challenges in the art of music, we aim to produce graduates who are not only accomplished musicians but also well-rounded individuals.
Many graduate programs seek our music students since the nature of thoughtful inquiry and dedication needed to be a successful music graduate are also a great foundation for other demanding careers. Our music alumni pursue a variety of careers and graduate programs throughout the country and overseas.
If you wish to major in music, you must audition for admission to the department. This can be done at the same time as an award audition. Non-majors also may audition for a music award. Awards are competitive and are distributed based on talent, as both a reflection of your achievement before coming to Jewell and also as an investment in your potential achievement. All awards require some participation in the department, usually in the form of applied lessons for at least four semesters and membership in one or more ensembles. Students may audition on instrument(s), voice, piano or a combination. For more information, contact performingarts@william.jewell.edu.
Auditions
The Music Award Application process begins with your application to William Jewell College. To start your Jewell application: www.jewell.edu/apply and complete the Talent Scholarship Application.
You should plan to bring two contrasting pieces with you to your audition. We recommend that the standard of the repertoire you perform be at the level of material you would take to District or State music festivals. You can expect to be asked to do some sight-reading and may be asked to perform scales and/or arpeggios as appropriate.
NOTE: A Jewell accompanist is available, provided we have sufficient prior communication of your audition repertoire. Taped accompaniment is not permitted.
Recent music graduates have pursued advanced degrees at top colleges throughout the world:
See what Jewell graduates are doing with a music degree:
Langston Hemenway, D.M.A.
Associate Professor and Director of Music; Director of Instrumental Studies
Dana Woolard, M.M.
Adjunct Instructor in Music – Cello
Dustin Williams, D.M.A.
Instructor of Trumpet
Jessica Koebbe, D.M.A.
Director of Keyboard Studies
Laura Lowry, D.M.A.
Instructor of Music; Director of Undergraduate Vocal Studies
Tracey Johnson, Ph.D.
Collaborative Pianist
Lawrence Abernathy, D.Mus.
Assistant Professor of Music; Director of Choral Studies
Erin Lillie, D.M.A.
Instructor of Voice
