Studying music teaches discipline, develops analytical and creative habits of the mind, and leads to understanding the performing arts’ place in culture—both past and present. Being a music major requires energy, determination, and a willingness to think creatively and critically. Studying music also cultivates confidence, tenacity, collaborative skills, and an ability to grow through criticism. Music career paths range from performance to management, teaching, and publishing.
Housed in the state-of-the-art Fine Arts Instructional Center, Eastern’s Music program provides theoretical and hands-on opportunities that emphasize the history, theory, performance, and criticism of music and musicians from Western and non-Western traditions. Three concentrations are available — Performance; Musicology: History, Composition and Criticism; and Music Industry and Leadership. Students benefit from many ensembles, personal instruction on a variety of instruments and voice types, and a variety of facilities: a 400-seat concert hall, a proscenium theater, a studio theater, two performance labs, a piano lab, and several graphic design classrooms. A Music minor is also available.
Concentrations
The Music Performance concentration in the Music major teaches students to reach the highest level of their potential through participation in private lessons, large and small ensembles, valuable performance experiences, and related coursework in conducting, literature and chamber music.
Music majors with a concentration in Musicology: History, Composition and Criticism will have the ability to investigate music in a critical way; grow as thinkers, creators and researchers through interactions with repertoires not included in the music major core; and analyze the style and structure of past and present music.
Music students receive advanced training from faculty in many different areas, including voice, piano, guitar, strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion.
Performance Ensembles
Music students take advantage of opportunities to perform on and off campus. On-campus concerts take place in the new Fine Arts Concert Hall, while off-campus performances have included two concerts with renowned vocalist Josh Groban.
Tours
Performance destinations have included tours to Boston; Washington, DC; Carnegie Hall in New York City; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and the Bösendorfer Music Festival in Vienna, Austria.
Join us for the FINAL concert of our Fall 2024 season! 🎉 Experience an unforgettable evening of live jazz with the 3 O'Clock Combo and the Big Band, including a special Tribute to Bud Powell at 100!
🗓 When: Monday, December 2 | 7:30 PM 📍 Where: Fine Arts Instructional Center Lobby, Eastern
Don't miss this chance to kick back, relax, and enjoy some incredible music! . . . . #JazzAtEastern #BudPowell100 #LiveMusic #BigBand #3OClockCombo #EasternMusic #Fall2024 #JazzTribute #SeeYouThere
Don't miss out on our Fall 2024 Concert! Enjoy Eastern's Chorale & Chamber singers today at 2:30 P.M. in the FAIC Concert Hall. The concert will be conducted by Professor David Belles, with Professor Eric Ouellette on piano.
Tonight, our talented Concert Band will be preforming, Timeless Voyage! In the FAIC Concert Hall at 7:30 P.M. enjoy a night of ensemble vocal performances. Directed by Kelly Watkins, and featuring assistant director Joe D'Aleo, Concert Band will perform a program featuring the music of Kevin Day, Cait Nishimura, Harrison J. Collins, Kelijah Dunton, and William Schuman.
Join us for Chorale & Chamber's Fall 2024 Concert this Sunday, November 24th at 2:30 P.M. The concert is free and open to the public, so don't miss out on seeing them grace the Concert Hall's stage.
“Everyone contributes to create a positive and productive learning environment. I learn from students as much as they learn from me.”
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Anthony Cornicello
Professor and Department Chair
“I love showing students music that they most likely have not encountered — whether it’s jazz or classical. Quite often, there is a wonderful positive reaction that makes it all so worthwhile!”
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David Belles
Professor
“We perform music from as far back as medieval times, as well as music in multiple languages. In addition, music is a vehicle for students to travel and experience cultures other than those they have experienced.”
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Jeffrey Calissi
Associate Professor
“My favorite percussion instrument is the marimba for several reasons. It is the most musical and accessible for both performer and audience, not to mention the sound of rosewood being unique and beautiful.”
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Career Options
Students who pursue undergraduate degrees in Music can have rewarding and successful careers in a variety of professional fields, including:
Arts Administration
Composition/Songwriting
Conducting
Musicology/Ethnomusicology
Instrumental Performance and Pedagogy
Music Education
Music Production
Music Therapy
Performer (Voice and Instrumental)
Enthomusicology
Successful Alumni
Recent graduates from Eastern’s Music program perform with internationally acclaimed ensembles; have become music teachers and private instructors; are pursuing graduate study in music and other performance disciplines; and are successful composers and arrangers.
The Department of Music at Eastern held a fundraiser for its opera theatre program in the form of an elegant silent auction and cocktail hour on March 8 in the Fine Arts Instructional Center (FAIC). Themed “Under a Starry Sky: An Evening of Songs from the Great American Songbook,” the event showcased music students and alumni in a series of vocal performances.
Two newly engaged alumni of the music program recently shared their love story following their on-campus marriage proposal this winter. Adam Benway ‘24 proposed to Sarah Burkart ‘23 on Jan. 27 in the FAIC Concert Hall.
Eastern’s spring 2025 University Hour series continued Feb. 5 with a talk featuring jazz guitarist Scott Tarulli, who shared his experiences as a professional musician and offered advice to students interested in music careers.
Melinda DeDominicis received her Masters in Arts Administration from FSU and is now campaign manager for Cygnet Theatre. “I credit my success in the field of arts administration to the well-rounded and individualized education I received at Eastern. As a graduate student, I’m often reminded of the expansive skillset I have to offer as both a musician and an academic.”
Theatre/Opera
Alexis Kurtz ’16
Alexis combined her acting and directing concentration with an interest in musical theatre and opera. “I had the privilege to take private voice lessons with Dr. Riggs for all four years at Eastern. She respects my love of musical theatre, so in addition to the classical foundation required for private voice study at the University, she constantly provided me with opportunities to put my character work to use.”
Business Development
Alex Smith ’12
Music major Alex Smith works for Parlor Coffee. She is also a drummer who has played with orchestras in New York City, performed at major productions such as South by Southwest, and toured the United States with different rock bands. “As a music student at Eastern, I learned how to appreciate music, how to compose music and how to listen to music.”
Business Advisor
Matthew Nemeth ’13
Music major Matthew Nemeth is a professional saxophone player as well as a business advisor with the Connecticut Small Business Development Center. “The music department at Eastern teaches much more than how to play and compose music. As part of the wind and jazz ensembles, one of my biggest takeaways was how to be a leader. These experiences gave me the tools to succeed as a business advisor.”
Ph.D. Student
Kelsey Fuller ’15
Music major Kelsey Fuller has a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from the University of Colorado and is access services supervisor at Fairfield University. She also has written a book on Norse mythology. “At Eastern I explored my interests in various styles of music performance, composition and research, especially within the field of ethnomusicology."
Music Major
Jesse Steinmetz ’19
Jesse Steinmetz is the producer for Under the Radar at GBH, the NPR affiliate in Boston. He got his start at Eastern’s student-operated radio station. “Having the opportunity to get hands-on experience in a professional studio was exactly what I needed to launch my career.” After graduating, Jesse interned at WNPR in Hartford before working for three years at WFAE in Charlotte, NC.
