Composition Emphasis
Students who elect to emphasize composition have the opportunity to study individually with Dr. Manuel De Murga (Director of Composition at Stetson) and Dr. Sydney Hodkinson (Almand Chair of Composition). Both members of the composition faculty were formerly associated with the prestigious Eastman School of Music. Students also have their compositions read and recorded by school ensembles, including the Orchestra, Symphonic Band, and Concert Choir. Currently, our students are active in the Central Florida Composers Forum and have been very successful at winning top composition awards in competitions by such groups as the Music Educators National Conference and the Florida Bandmasters Association.

Theory Emphasis
Student who emphasize music theory take a wide variety of classes in modal, tonal, and atonal musical analysis. The classes are small, and there is a strong emphasis on individual attention as you prepare for graduate study at the best graduate institutions.

Two full time faculty guide the music theory curriculum and its students: Dr. Noel Painter (Director of Music Theory at Stetson) and Dr. Janis Kindred (Professor of Music).

Faculty
Stetson`s current Music faculty is rich in teachers who are themselves composers. They include Manuel De Murga (Coordinator of Composition), Nathan Wolek (Professor of Digital Arts), Janis Kindred (Professor of Music Theory), Harold Blanchard (Professor of Improvisation), George West (Director of Jazz Studies), and Andrew Larson (Stetson Chorale Director).

Many Stetson composers have been recognized for their achievements with international awards, fellowships, performances, publications, and recordings. For example, in the Fall of 1999 Professors Juusela and De Murga presented Myths of the Sub-Tropics, a work commissioned by the CORE ensemble, one of the premier new-music ensembles on the scene today.

Special Features
Stetson had a unique combination of classes in music theory that are not available at any other university in the country. These classes expose students to a wide array of contemporary music almost every semester, encouraging students to analyze, write, and perform new music.

Stetson University is also host to several societies and organizations in which our majors participate. Some of these include the student chapter of the Society of Composers, a film society, and the music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha.

A state-of-the-art digital art studio, and classes that teach you how to use the equipment, are available for composition and experimentation with multi-media applications.

Music Theory Placement
Music theory, aural training, and functional keyboard placement tests are given at the beginning of the Fall semester to students with prior experience in those areas. For information on the requirements and materials included on these tests, follow the Audition Requirements link and/or the Placement Requirements link.

Course Information
Weekly private lessons, student recitals, and participation in Stetson University ensembles of all types help prepare you for life beyond Stetson.

Career Opportunities
The Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition prepares students for professional careers as composers (options include film scoring, popular music composition, arranging, and graduate work in composition) and for teaching careers, beginning with graduate assistantships in theory at prestigious institutions.

Alumni Highlights
Erin Toelcke, ’02, and Megan Fogle, ’02, are working on their Ph.D. in Music Theory at Florida State University.

Eric Jones, ’02, is completing a MM in cello performance and a MM in Music Theory at Temple University.

Andrew Phillips, ’02, is a contemporary Christian artist and composer.

Gerard Marino, ’98, is a film scorer and engineer on pictures such as Swordfish, independent films, video games, and trailers for movies including Terminator 3.

Paul Gilreath, ’83, is author of The Guide to MIDI Orchestration. The text won a Music Tech Recommended Award in Dec 2004.

Thomas LeVines, ’78, was winner of the Washington International String Quartet Composition Award and is Professor of Composition at Berklee College of Music.

Clubs and Organizations
Society of Composers student chapter, founded in 1997