Music Performance Major (BM)

Small class sizes allow our students to study with mentor-professors, and build lifelong relationships with colleagues and faculty. Students may choose to participate in exciting ensemble experiences with Schola Cantorum, University Singers, the Opera Workshop, or the Chamber Music Ensemble. Selected students may collaborate with faculty to experience heightened challenges in the Music Honors Program. Performances by the world-class cultural organizations in the city – the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet – are all included in several course requirements, and solo and chamber performances available from Da Camera, Nexus, Society for the Performing Arts, and the Friends of Music are readily available. The Department of Music presents between 50 and 70 programs each year, including student recitals, faculty concerts, major ensemble concerts and invited guest performances. The Choral program hosts a week-long residency each year by a well-known choral composer.

Organ Music Performance

The Organ Performance degree is designed to train organists for music ministry. With hundreds of churches in the Houston area, students have many opportunities to observe and serve as assistants to area organists, and when their proficiency allows, work as church organists. Courses such as Service Playing and Organ Construction and Design help students prepare for a lifetime of music ministry. The study of improvisation aids the church organist in providing inspiring accompaniment for  congregational song. Organ majors learn to perform the great organ masterworks. Whether playing a complex Bach Prelude and Fugue or a lovely Mendelssohn sonata, student recitals captivate audiences. Applied lessons with the organ professor provide the technical skills for building repertoire and bring together classroom concepts and musicianship. Organ Pedagogy helps to prepare the student to teach others. Thus, future generations of organists will be trained in the art of organ performance and service playing.

Piano Music Performance

In conjunction with a strong liberal arts curriculum and Christian worldview, HCU’s Piano Program offers a comprehensive music curriculum specializing in piano performance, pedagogy, chamber music, and accompanying. Additionally, students in this program benefit from numerous performing opportunities, frequent master classes and performances by visiting internationally acclaimed artists, small class sizes, and career/graduate school advising. As a pianist at HCU, you will join a supportive group of peers and faculty who are committed to your development as a performer, educator, scholar and citizen.

Vocal Music Performance

This major provides students with the skills to pursue further education and careers in the performing arts industry. Our faculty of nationally and internationally recognized artist-teachers provides private instruction in Voice as well as coursework in Vocal Pedagogy, Song Literature, and Lyric Diction. We also offer our students extensive performance opportunities in Opera Workshop, Choral programs and recitals.

Degree Plans

Review the BM in vocal performance degree plan
Review the BM in Piano Performance degree plan
Review BM in Organ Performance degree plan

HCU Bachelor of Music majors have gone on to successful performing and conducting careers. They teach at universities and colleges, maintain private studios and/or pursue advanced degrees in graduate school. Graduates are also teaching in public and private schools as band directors and choir directors and are serving as ministers of music and worship leaders in churches.