If you've got the music in you, Central College offers multiple opportunities to develop musicianship through coursework, lessons, ensembles and a wide array of concerts. Our music major gives you the foundation for performance, scholarship, music business, church music and other professions. Our music education students can earn licensure to teach instrumental or vocal music in elementary and secondary schools — and build valuable mentoring relationships with local teachers. In addition, music students have access to courses in arts administration, entrepreneurship and not-for-profit management.
Music majors at Central gain a firm grounding in the theory, history and practice of Western art music, augmented by study of jazz, contemporary commercial music and various non-Western traditions. In addition, music education majors gain hours of hands-on experience in elementary and secondary schools through Central’s highly respected teaching licensure program.
Both music and music education majors are strongly encouraged to take advantage of Central’s study abroad programs, some of which have excellent opportunities for music study and participation.
Learn more about health and safety for musicians:
Learn more about Music and Music Education in the course catalog.
Mark Babcock, B.A., M.M., M. Joan Kuyper Farver Endowed Chair in Music and Professor of Music, interest areas include: organ, music education and church music
Erin Bryan, B.M., M.M., D.M.A., Lecturer of Music, interest areas include: voice, vocal pedagogy, lyric diction, opera, music history
Stanley Dahl, B.M., M.M., Senior Lecturer of Music, interest areas include: percussion, music technology, Caribbean music, Flying Pans Steel Band, Percussion Ensemble.
Kris De Wild, Lecturer of Music, interest areas include: harp, choral accompanist
Gabriel Espinosa, B.A., M.M., Associate Professor of Music, interest areas include: jazz theory, jazz band techniques, improvisation, applied theory, jazz band, Vocal/Instrumental Combos
Cynthia Krenzel, B.M., M.M., D.M.A., Associate Professor of Music, interest areas include: clarinet, saxophone, music history, world music
Mitchell Lutch, B.M., M.M., D.M.A. Associate Professor of Music, interest areas include: conducting, instrumental music education, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Pep Band
Ian Moschenross, B.A., M.M., D.M.A. Professor of Music
Sarah Van Waardhuizen, B.M.E., M.M.E., Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Music, interest areas include: voice, music education
Central has 18 music ensembles accessible to all students regardless of major. Many of the groups tour domestically and internationally. View full information about ensembles here.
Central offers music awards of up to $5,000 for music majors and up to $2,000 for students who participate in music ensembles. Awards are renewable for four years. Auditions for music awards are held in February, or earlier by arrangement with the admission office. More information on music awards here.
The Cox-Snow Music Center features a 200-seat recital hall and a rehearsal hall as well as classrooms, faculty studios, practice rooms and a keyboard lab. Newly-renovated Douwstra Auditorium houses a 9-ft. Fazioli concert grand piano, and the Chapel houses a double-manual Flemish harpsichord, Kawai RX-6 piano and a Brunzema tracker-action organ. The Roe Center features the Fine Arts MIDI computer lab incorporating the latest in music notation software and sequencing programs.
Students are encouraged to study abroad with one of Central’s international programs to enhance their development as global citizens or with partner programs in Chicago, Washington, D.C. or New York City. Learn more about Central’s study abroad programs.
Central College offers a variety of athletics, music, sustainability and other camps during the summer for K-12 students.
Central College will host Iowa Days of Percussion March 29-30 in Douwstra Auditorium.
Central College’s music department has a busy start to April with a wide variety of performances during the first half of the month.
Want to find out more about Music and Music Education at Central? Contact us to learn more about this major and our other strong academic programs. Visit campus to observe classes and experience The Central Difference firsthand.
