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About the BM in Composition Degree

Why Study Music Composition at Cedarville?

Pursue your artistic and professional goals with Cedarville's distinctly Christian Bachelor of Music in composition degree. Through this program, you'll be prepared for a career in film and concert composition, arranging, music production, and music entrepreneurship. You'll benefit from regular collaborations with the performance area, readings with our large ensembles, and first-rate technology facilities.

At Cedarville, Bach's famous phrase "Soli Deo Gloria" — for the glory of God alone — is more than just a slogan. It is the mission that drives all we do to honor the Creator with our craft. Through rigorous, biblically integrated coursework and practical application experiences, you'll work to master your skills under the guidance of accomplished professors dedicated to mentoring you. When you graduate, you'll be equipped for a career and ready to make a difference for Christ within the music composition industry.

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What Sets Cedarville Apart?

Program Overview

Program Highlights

Dual Focus — The Cedarville music composition degree has a dual focus on composition for the concert hall as well as composition for contemporary media.

Music Technology — You will be exposed to significant music technology that will prepare you to be a composer for film, games, and other contemporary media.

Digital Environment — You will learn how to record, mix, and produce your compositions in the digital environment.

Varied Mediums — To prepare for artistic pursuits in concert music, you will compose pieces for many different mediums in the course of your studies and have regular opportunities for performances and readings of your work.

Selective (Audition Required) — You will be accepted into the music program — and be eligible for a department scholarship — based on a successful audition with music faculty.

What Can You Do With a Music Composition Degree?

Our graduates are prepared to:

  • Arrange for a variety of ensembles
  • Compose instrumental and vocal works
  • Score for media and film

Graduate and professional programs and employers welcome Cedarville University graduates each year. It is important to note that most professional career fields you may pursue require additional education, experience, and/or licensure beyond the completion of your Cedarville University undergraduate degree.

Opportunities to Learn Outside the Classroom

As a music composition major, you will enjoy outstanding resources that will hone the skills you need to be a professional musician:

  • Award-winning faculty
  • Challenging and inspiring music colleagues
  • Comprehensive music library
  • Electronic music production lab for film scoring and music production
  • Excellent rehearsal rooms and recital hall
  • Opportunities to hear great music performed in the greater metropolitan area
  • Well-maintained practice rooms
  • Challenging and inspiring music colleagues
  • Opportunities to hear great music performed in the greater metropolitan area

You'll have many opportunities to use and develop your gifts in the Department of Music and Worship, from regular composition recitals to off-campus performances and arranging projects. Explore the range of music and worship ensembles that you can get involved with:

Scholarships and Placement Rates

Students playing in the orchestra

Soli Deo Gloria Music Scholarships

Cedarville University offers music scholarships of up to $6,000 per year for students majoring in music. You can combine your music scholarship with Cedarville’s other generous academic and need-based scholarships.

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Placement Success

We’re proud of our successful graduates! 95.2% of recent graduates from the Department of Music and Worship were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. Check out Cedarville's other placement rates.

Cedarville's Placement Rates
Ben Knudson leads worship during a chapel service in October 2019.

International Worship Event in a Virtual Format

Cedarville University will be among nine schools from around the world participating.
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Program Curriculum

Building on your general education liberal arts and Bible minor courses, you will take a wide array of core music and composition courses.

Sample courses:

  • Composition Portfolio
  • Form and Analysis

Program Format and Related Programs

Cedarville offers graduate and undergraduate programs with flexible completion options. You may also want to consider these related programs as you choose the degree or program that is the best fit for you.

Program Level and Format

  • Undergraduate
  • Residential
  • 4-Year
Two women sitting at a piano

From Our Students:

  • The faculty is one of the biggest blessings of studying music at Cedarville. They are all godly men and women who lead by example for their students in all that they do. Whether they are developing our skills musically or guiding us spiritually, the willingness of the faculty to disciple us and care for us personally is evident in every lesson, class, and concert. I have learned how to humbly pursue excellence, discipline, and creativity for God's glory.
    Antonio Muñoz '21
    Antonio Munoz
Job and Grad School Placement

Program Faculty

Photo of Austin Jaquith

Austin Jaquith, DMA

Professor of Music Theory and Composition

Contact

Department of Music and Worship
School of Arts and Humanities

Program News

  • Ben Calhoun.

    A Return to Authentic Christian Music

    Cedarville alumnus Chad Winder and Citizen Way’s Ben Calhoun are creating a worship album that blends classic hymns with biblical truth. Their goal: to restore authenticity to Christian music by focusing on theology over trends.
  • Dr. Austin Jaquith.

    Setting the World to Music: Premiere at Dayton Philharmonic

    Dr. Austin Jaquith and Dr. Steven Winteregg debuted new symphonies with the Dayton Philharmonic, exploring themes from Mahler and Dante. Jaquith’s work aims to capture life’s complexity in sound.