Do you love to sing or play an instrument? Study music at Dordt, and you'll be able to focus on church music, music management, performance, or pair it with an education major.
In addition to taking private music lessons and participating in ensembles, you will learn about music theory, ear training, music history and literature, conducting, music and digital technology, and more.
Learn how to advance your music skills and make a joyful noise, praising God for the gift of music.
Download our Music Program guide
Submit your information and we'll send you our guide on the top things to look for in a collegiate music program.
Program Options
- music major options
-
Emphases
As part of the music major, you can choose one of these options. Also, you can explore our music education program.
- Church Music: With an emphasis in church music, you will learn about the role of music in worship, how to plan music for worship, transposition and arranging for ensembles, and teaching techniques and methods for vocal music.
- General: Take a range of classes to get a broad foundation in music.
- Music Management: In addition to your foundational music classes, you’ll also learn about management theory and practice, principles of marketing, communication, and more.
- Performance and Pedagogy: In this emphasis, you will take foundational music courses in addition to classes focusing on music literature and music in worship. You will also focus on your specific instrument by taking six semesters of private lessons, presenting in recitals junior and senior year. This emphasis involves an audition by the end of sophomore year.
- Music Education and minors
-
Besides majoring in music, there are several other tracks you can take. You can minor in music or music performance.
At Dordt, you do not have to be a music major or minor to take lessons or classes. Approximately 20 percent of our students participate in music in some way or another.
You can also pair it with an education major, having music as a specialization. This combination will prepare you for a career as a music teacher.
For more information on music education, head over to the education major:
- Ensembles
-
Dordt has a variety of music ensembles:
- Wind Symphony
- Campus-Community Band
- Chamber Orchestra
- Concert Choir
- Bella Voce (women's chorus)
- Chorale
- 4th Avenue Band
- 4th Avenue Singers
- Canons of Dordt (men’s chorus)
We are also the home to the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra (NISO), which provides advanced students with valuable ensemble experience with their pre-professional training. Many of Dordt's adjunct faculty perform as principal players in the orchestra.
Students can also create their own small group or band. Many students also share their music skills with local churches, assisting with leading worship.
Resources
The B.J. Haan Auditorium is a 1,500-seat facility for concerts and solo performances that has some of the best acoustics in the region. It features a 57-rank, three manual, mechanical action Casavant pipe organ, a Steinway Model D concert grand piano, and a Kawai concert grand piano.- The music department wing includes mechanical action and electro-pneumatic pipe organs, upright and grand piano practice rooms, and instrumental practice rooms. Dordt also has a one-manual Dekker harpsichord.
- A Digital Media Lab is available to musicians at Dordt for composition, arranging, or editing of digital sound.
Dordt Music Patrons
Dordt Music Patrons is a society of donors that supports ongoing excellence in the Music Department. The mission of the department is to provide excellent and diverse musical experiences that enable students, constituents, and the broader community to discover, develop, and share the gift of music in ways that bring glory to God.
Sponsorship Levels
Donor: $100+/year
Friend: $250+/year
Partner: $500+/year
Soloist: $1,000+/year
Composer: $2,000+/year
Kapellmeister: $5,000+/year
Conductor: $10,000+/year
Learn More
Check out our program strengths and get to know our facilities.
Faculty
Dr. Carrie Groenewold
Associate Professor of Music
MB 26
(712) 722-6776
Carrie.Groenewold@dordt.edu
Dr. John MacInnis
Associate Professor of Music
Department Chair
MB 28
(712) 722-6202
John.MacInnis@dordt.edu
Dr. Onsby Rose
Associate Professor of Music
MB 111
(712) 722-6204
Onsby.Rose@dordt.edu
Ryan Smit
Instructor of Music
MB 113
(712) 722-6203
rmsmit@dordt.edu
Andy Baldwin
Assistant Adjunct - Music Department
Andy.Baldwin@dordt.edu
Andrea Carlson
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
Andrea.Carlson@dordt.edu
John Casey
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
MB 21
(712) 722-6222
John.Casey@dordt.edu
Marian Casey
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
Marian.Casey@dordt.edu
Pam De Haan
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
MB 30
(712) 722-6206
Pam.DeHaan@dordt.edu
Ariel Detwiler
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
Ariel.Detwiler@dordt.edu
Jennifer Frens
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
(712) 722-6222
Jennifer.Frens@dordt.edu
Dr. Beverly Gibson
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
(712) 722-6222
Beverly.Gibson@dordt.edu
Stephanie Kocher
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
(712) 722-6222
Stephanie.Kocher@dordt.edu
Kevin Linder
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
(712) 722-6222
Kevin.Linder@dordt.edu
Lisa Miedema
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
MB 21
(712) 722-6222
Lisa.Miedema@dordt.edu
Susan Miranda
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
Susan.Miranda@dordt.edu
Ellen Osborn
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
Ellen.Osborn@dordt.edu
Vance Shoemaker
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
(712) 722-6222
Vance.Shoemaker@dordt.edu
Lois Vander Zee
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
Lois.VanderZee@dordt.edu
Darren Van't Hul
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
Darren.VantHul@dordt.edu
Deb Vogel
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
MB 25
(712) 722-6205
Deb.Vogel@dordt.edu
Anna Vorhes
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
MB 21
(712) 722-6222
Anna.Vorhes@dordt.edu
MaryLou Wielenga
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
MB 27
(712) 722-6213
MaryLou.Wielenga@dordt.edu
Dr. Allegra Fisher
Assistant Adjunct - Music Department
Allegra.Fisher@dordt.edu
Jenna Braaksma
Assistant Adjunct - Music Department
Jenna.Braaksma@dordt.edu
Andres Trujillo
Tutorial Adjunct - Music Department
Andres.Trujillo@dordt.edu
