
Augustana Choir to tour Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas in March
The Augustana Choir, under the direction of Dr. Jon Hurty, will perform concerts in Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas March 22-28, followed by a home concert on April 5 in Davenport.
We’re proud of our reputation for preparing outstanding music educators and our 100% placement rate. Our graduates consistently find positions in a variety of school settings throughout the country.
How do we do it? Augustana’s liberal arts focus, small classes and personal attention from professors and advisors are key to the Augustana student experience.
A rigorous progressive music education curriculum, combined with the freedom to pursue other interests, provides the knowledge and skills you need to become an effective music educator. Outside the classroom, Augustana’s ensembles from jazz to opera offer opportunities to broaden your understanding, skills and love of music, as well as perform locally and abroad.
Augustana’s academic reputation, student development of effective teaching skills, and recommendations from faculty who know you well will create many avenues to secure your dream job.
Disciplinary knowledge
Gain a deep understanding of your subject and how it connects to other subjects.
Communication competence
Read and listen carefully. Express ideas (writing or speaking) suited to the audience.
Students of any major — including non-music majors — may audition and apply for music scholarships ranging from $1,000–$4,000 annually.
The 40+ music faculty represents all instrumental areas, including harp. All students, including non-music majors, can take lessons and participate in one of 12 ensembles — from opera to a symphony orchestra to jazz combos. Nearly a quarter of Augustana’s students perform in ensembles.
The music program has a strong tradition of touring ensembles. Since the early 1880s, annual tours have taken the Symphonic Band to 32 states and many countries. The Augustana Choir most recently traveled to Spain, France and Sweden, and the Augustana Symphonic Band to Japan.
Augustana has four concert halls, including the 1,600-seat Centennial Hall and the more intimate, acoustically excellent Wallenberg Hall. Bergendoff Hall of Fine Arts has recently been renovated and houses all of the music department’s classrooms and offices, practice rooms and ensemble spaces. The new music education suite and a dedicated classroom for music education were priorities of the renovation plans.
Linnea Johansen '24 teaches middle school orchestra at Hazelwood West Middle School in Hazelwood, Missouri.
Casey Cromp '23 teaches middle school band at Reed-Custer CUSD in Braidwood, Illinois.
Claire Schaecher '22 teaches middle school band at Smart Middle School in Davenport, Iowa.
Elliott Peterson '21 is the choir director at Jordan-Matthews High School in Siler City, N.C.
Sabrina Massa '21 is the choir director at Pecatonica Middle and High School in Pecatonica, Ill.
Eric Tabaka ‘20 teaches K-8 general music and vocal music in the Vinton-Shellsburg School District in Vinton, Iowa.
Katie Griswold '20 is an elementary music teacher with Moline-Coal Valley (Illinois) School District.
Amy Croft '19 is the choir director at Geneseo (lllinois) Middle School.
Jared Pector '19 is the choir director at Truesdell Middle School in Wichita, Kan.
Mineo Yasutake ’16 is an orchestra teacher at Lincoln Elementary in Cudahy, Wisconsin.
John Whitson ’16 is the music director at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities and the choir director at Davenport North (Iowa) High School.
Sarah Bromberger ’16 is a music teacher for the Whitnall School District in Greenfield, Wisconsin.
“My peak experience was performing with the Augustana Choir in Stockholm, Sweden.”Read More
“I heard about Augustana’s strong music program and wanted to learn more about it. As soon as I stepped on campus for my first visit, I felt at home.”Read More
“Dr. Farmer, my amazing major advisor, helped me realize my true potential as an educator and a musician.”Read More
The Augustana Choir, under the direction of Dr. Jon Hurty, will perform concerts in Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas March 22-28, followed by a home concert on April 5 in Davenport.
On Nov. 23-24, more than 200 alumni, parents and friends of the college attended the 150th anniversary celebration of the Augustana Symphonic Band (ASB). Participants came to campus from as far away as British Columbia; Washington, D.C.; the Netherlands; Dallas; Colorado; and California.
The $11.2 million transformation of Bergendoff Hall is complete. Students and faculty are taking advantage of the new and updated spaces, including Larson Hall, the piano lab, ensemble rehearsal hall, practice rooms, Hamann Concert Hall and more.