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Music

Make music with us – everyone is welcome!

At St. Norbert College, we believe that music is more than a skill to master and is an integral part of who we are as humans. We use music to express individual feelings, communal values and societal conventions. When you study music theory, history and performance at SNC, you’ll connect time, language and culture. A thorough grounding in music lays the foundation for a life more deeply lived.


Everyone is welcome to make music at St. Norbert College. Whether you are pursuing a degree or you simply enjoy music, all incoming first-year students are welcome to audition for a music ensemble scholarship. Perform with one of our ensembles to reduce the costs of tuition. Come and join us! Here are three ways to audition for the 2025-26 academic year:


2025-26 academic year music auditions

In-person audition: Nov. 16, 2024
In-person audition: Jan. 25, 2025
Virtual video audition

Academic paths within the music major

Unlike many music programs, an audition is not required to be a music major or minor.


At SNC, you can earn a degree in music education, music performance or liberal arts with a music emphasis. 


For those majoring in music education, you will be certified to teach all areas of music (choral, instrumental, and elementary general music) for grades K-12.


For anyone majoring in music performance or music-liberal arts, these paths of study allow room to consider adding a minor or even another major. 
On that note, SNC now offers a pre-music therapy concentration that can be added on to the music liberal arts major. It includes coursework in areas such as psychology and biology that will transfer to music therapy equivalency programs.


Music majors who are interested in working for arts organizations or owning private teaching studios should consider the Arts Management certificate program. This experience will supplement your music major with courses in business and an internship with one of Northeast Wisconsin's premier arts organizations.


Elevate your music education

Looking for performance opportunities as part of your music studies? When you enroll, you’ll have lots of chances to perform, whether you play first-chair violin in the orchestra or love jamming out as a jazz drummer. More than a dozen auditioned and non-auditioned instrumental and vocal ensembles are open to students at every ability level. You’ll perform in some extraordinary venues, such as the Abbot Pennings Hall of Fine Arts, Old St. Joseph Church and Dudley Birder Hall. 


Participate in the popular Knight Theatre student organization, perform throughout the year with the Knights on Broadway vocal ensemble or connect with middle and high school musicians in SNC’s numerous music camps and festivals.


In addition to performing, our music degree majors handle the soundboards at live events, help run recording studios and find new ways to use music in therapeutic settings.


Music happens all over the world — do you dream of studying Irish traditional music in Limerick? Curious about what’s playing on local radio stations in Australia? Our study abroad programs have you covered.

  • Some of the better-known music undergrad programs don’t take into account what having a faculty member work closely with you does for you. The nice thing about SNC is the faculty involvement. Who they are and how they teach is amazing. Because of them, I was able to grow a lot as a musician.

    Kieran Wallace ’19

    Portrait of student Kieran Wallace
    Portrait of student Kieran Wallace

    Some of the better-known music undergrad programs don’t take into account what having a faculty member work closely with you does for you. The nice thing about SNC is the faculty involvement. Who they are and how they teach is amazing. Because of them, I was able to grow a lot as a musician.

    Kieran Wallace ’19

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Undergraduate research

Uncover new knowledge by engaging in collaborative research projects with your professors.

Learn more
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Practical internships

Explore the field through internships, and find out what it’s like to put your academic training to work.

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International reach

Experience the musical world from a global standpoint through our study-abroad program.

Learn more
Professor Phillip Klickman conducting a student group
Learn from exceptional SNC music faculty

If there’s one thing that SNC professors and instructors have in common, it’s a passion for teaching and sharing their expertise. You’ll also find them dedicated to providing personalized guidance that supports your academic and career aspirations. Discover the distinguished scholars you’ll be learning from.

Laurel Laurel

Your music degree at work

Music is a major that can be woven into many careers. Whether you dream about performing music for a large audience or sharing the joy of instrumental or vocal music with others as a teacher, SNC can prepare you for success as a creative professional. Case in point: Our music education majors have a 100 percent placement rate after they graduate. 

SNC music alumni have held jobs such as:

  • Band director
  • Choir director
  • Orchestra director
  • General music teacher
  • Church music director
  • Professional performer or composer
  • College professor
  • School administrator
  • Music therapist – hospital- to school-based
  • Studio lesson instructor
  • Arts administrator
  • Content creator

Future study in music

A music degree from SNC also lays the groundwork for graduate studies in related fields such as conducting, performance, history or musicology, composition, theory or music therapy — or a field that is informed by the study of music. With helpful preparation and placement assistance from SNC, our music alumni have attended graduate schools such as:

  • Belmont University
  • Berklee College of Music
  • Medical College of Wisconsin
  • New York University
  • Oregon State University
  • University of Iowa
  • University of Minnesota
  • University of Oregon
  • University of Utah
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison

Shot of campus from above featuring the Fox River
Contact the St. Norbert College admission office

Campus location

Ariens Family Welcome Center
310 College Ave.
De Pere, WI 54115

Hours of operation

Monday-Friday
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

We’re also available by appointment.

Mailing address

Office of Admission
St. Norbert College
Ariens Family Welcome Center
100 Grant St.
De Pere, WI 54115

Campus