The Music major at Avila
With an Avila music degree, you will have the musical foundation and performance experience you’ll need to take the stage, whether you sing or play an instrument. You’ll rehearse and perform in the state-of-the-art Goppert Performing Arts Center. You may even travel the globe performing. Over the years, our numerous vocal and instrumental performance groups have received praise around the world, most recently on a multi-stop tour of France in summer 2019.
Avila’s small classes and accomplished music faculty give you the personalized teaching and training to hone your skills in a concentration field that meets your needs. New cutting-edge concentrations such as Music Technology allow you to pursue a career in the arts even if your goals don’t include performance.
Are you interested in music?
Be Prepared for Your Career
Incoming first-year students are guaranteed access to an internship or research experience before graduation. Avila students have completed hands-on learning experiences at:
- Kansas City Symphony
- Disney World
- Independent music studios — Kansas City
Avila Music graduates are pursuing careers as:
- Independent Artists
- Educators
- Music Producers
Avila Music graduates choose to work at:
- Notre Dame College — Cleveland, Ohio
- Entrepreneurial Start-ups
- Public Schools in Olathe, Topeka, Kansas City, and Overland Park
- Great Lakes School of Music
Choose your Concentration
Music Technology
An in-demand area in the music and performing arts industries, the Music Technology concentration at Avila pairs a solid musical foundation with training with the latest software and hardware to prepare you for success. You’ll learn about studio recording and production, music engraving and publishing, and live performance as well as experience other exciting opportunities to develop your skills.Collaborative Piano
The piano major is designed to offer many different performance and learning opportunities beyond the studio lessons, reflecting the different types of career paths available to Avila graduates. By engaging in these experiences, the Avila piano graduate is able to build on the core of music instruction to become a well-rounded musician that employers and graduate schools respect.Conducting
The conducting concentration focuses on a blend of technique and leadership training to prepare students for multiple career paths in music. Students have opportunities to lead both within and in front of ensembles, developing significant skills of musicality and leadership.Voice Performance
The vocal major is designed to prepare students to enter a variety of fields upon graduation, from studio teaching to graduate school and performance. By focusing on the undergraduate experience and maintaining a close relationship with the theatre department, voice majors have the ability to participate in a wide range of performance opportunities here at Avila.Music Technology Certificate
Accomplished faculty and cutting-edge technology set apart Avila’s Music Technology certificate program. One of the few programs of its kind in Kansas City, you’ll receive a solid understanding in musical theory, industry-specific software and top of the line hardware to ensure you have the professional skills you need to excel. Led by accomplished composer and performer Dr. Michalis Koutsoupides, you’ll learn about studio recording and production, music engraving and publishing, live performance and other exciting opportunities to develop your skills.
Transferring to Avila?
We work with you to make the most of your transfer credits so you’re on track to graduate with a bachelor’s degree.
An Environment to Enhance your Education
“My first year at Avila was a life changing experience. My field of study was undecided and I was blindsided by the idea of a degree in music. I am now graduated with a BA in Music with an emphasis in voice. The relationships I have formed with the music faculty are irreplaceable.”
Max Hasselquist / ‘XX
Contact
Avila University Department of Music, Borserine Hall
11901 Wornall Road / Kansas City, MO 64145 / 816-501-3661
Amity Bryson, DMA, Chair of the School of Performing Arts and Professor of Music
P: 816-501-3651 / E: amity.bryson@avila.edu