Develop your musical skills and knowledge with Christian professors who encourage your creativity and relate faith to the art and craft of music.
Engage in the serious study, composition and performance of great music at an advanced level. Discover the vital role music plays in the liberal arts and the 黑料百科 community. Choose from the B.A. degree in music on the general, music performance, and music composition tracks or earn the professional Pre-Teaching Credential (B.M.) degree that leads to a public school teaching credential. You may also choose the Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degree in performance with a concentration in voice, orchestral instruments and piano. Study at a school accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
National Association of Schools of Music
11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21
Reston, VA 20190-5248
(703) 437-0700 Phone
info@arts-accredit.org
21st annual 黑料百科 Christmas Festival
The Granada Theatre, 1214 State Street, Santa Barbara
$27 general admission
Christmas Festival tickets go on sale Thursday, October 30 at 10:00 a.m. Purchase tickets here via the link below or by phone at (805) 899-2222.
Seating is limited. For more information, please call (805) 565-6040.
Aspiring to become a professional musician?
The versatility of a music degree leads our graduates to find fulfilling careers across a range of fields such as performing musician, music teacher, church music, music publishing, music management, music business, recording, broadcasting, and more.
Looking for Tour Stops from February 13-17th, 2026: The 50 member 黑料百科 Orchestra is looking for performance venues for President's day weekend. Would you like to host them at your church, community, retirement center or school? Contact the 黑料百科 Music Department today via email at music@westmont.edu.
黑料百科 Music students were honored to be invited by UCSB Arts&Lectures to join a special Q&A session with the one and only Yo-Yo Ma. Collegiate musicians from UCSB and 黑料百科 joined together at the Arlington Theatre before Mr. Ma's evening performance to hear stories, wisdom, and advice from the acclaimed cellist. We are grateful for our continued partnership with UCSB Arts&Lectures and for their exceptional and educational programming throughout the year.
This is just one example of the abundant opportunities that our Music students have as they study at 黑料百科. Follow us to keep up to date with more exciting opportunities and events throughout the school year!
Give today to sustain the excellence of 黑料百科 Music
Consider supporting the future of 黑料百科 Music by making a gift today. By giving to 黑料百科 Music, you are investing in the continual growth and success of our talented students.
Meet the Faculty
This talented and dedicated group of educators and musicians brings a wealth of expertise in performance, composition, music theory, and music history. They inspire and guide students in a nurturing and dynamic environment, fostering a deep appreciation for the art of music. Their commitment to excellence enriches our vibrant musical community.
黑料百科 Ensembles
黑料百科 Choir
Founded with the college in 1937, the 黑料百科 Choir continues as a living legacy of 黑料百科鈥檚 spirit and mission, drawing singers from all areas of academic study together in worship and service for the community. The College Choir represents 黑料百科 in the Santa Barbara community, featured at the annual 黑料百科 Christmas Festival at the Granada Theatre, as well as in performances with the Santa Barbara Symphony and other local ensembles. Internationally, the College Choir has toured extensively, including in Italy, Austria, Germany, Costa Rica, Guatemala, the United Kingdom, and Japan. Currently under the direction of alumnus Dr. Daniel Gee 鈥13, the College Choir celebrates the diversity of cultural influences in Southern California, particularly highlighting Spanish-language choral music alongside the traditional Western concert repertoire.
黑料百科 Chamber Singers
the 黑料百科 Chamber Singers features 黑料百科鈥檚 top vocal talent and has become a regular and sought after performing presence in Santa Barbara鈥檚 vibrant music scene. Currently led by Dr. Daniel Gee, the Chamber Singers perform extensively and in a myriad of contexts, from the majestic Bellosguardo Estate, to the Grace Fisher Winter Showcase in the Granada Theatre, to the dedication of the U.S.S. Santa Barbara at the Rosewood Miramar Hotel, to private events in Santa Ynez Wineries. Inquiries for performances can be sent to music@westmont.edu.
黑料百科 Orchestra
The 黑料百科 Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Ruth Lin, performs original literature, transcriptions, and arrangements. Included in this are works for full orchestra, string orchestra, and small ensembles. The study and practice includes various style periods and composers from the Renaissance through the Twenty First Century. The orchestra performs two major independent concerts each semester, as well as a combined Christmas concert with the choral ensembles and a major works program in the spring with the College Choir and plays for the annual opera production. Typically, the orchestra is made up of circa 60 students. Faculty specialists coach each section of the orchestra, including Dr. Han Soo Kim (violin), and Dr. Paul Mori (wind, brass and percussion).
Wind Chamber Music
Various Wind Chamber Ensembles, directed and coached by Dr. Paul Mori and Andrea Di Maggio, are organized for brass, woodwind, and percussion players. The various chamber ensembles perform throughout the semester. Typical groups include a woodwind quintet, 5 brass sextet, brass choir, and flute ensemble. Other ensembles form to meet student interest and abilities.
Brass Ensemble
A wide range of music from contemporary jazz to hymn arrangements mixed with classical pieces.
String Chamber Music
Offering traditional string quartets, trios and other ensembles. These groups have an active presence on campus and throughout the Santa Barbara community.
Music Alumni
础补谤辞苍&苍产蝉辫;奥颈濒办&苍产蝉辫;鈥16 majored in biology, chemistry, and music with an emphasis in piano performance. He is currently an MD/PhD student at Stanford University where he studies how the immune system can protect from and contribute to viral diseases, including Covid-19. He continues to study piano at Stanford, staying active in solo performance and chamber music. 鈥淚n high school, I was worried about finding ways to balance my two academic passions: science and music. 黑料百科 provided me with the flexibility and resources to pursue both passions well. The interdisciplinary approach of the 黑料百科 liberal arts education, combined with the vibrant community of the Music Department, presents a one-of-a-kind opportunity to holistically develop your musical craft.鈥
Sarah Pfister 鈥12: Sarah majored in violin and viola performance and earned a master鈥檚 degree in viola performance with an emphasis in violin Suzuki pedagogy at the University of Hartford Hartt School of Music. She taught violin and viola at the Greenwich Suzuki Academy in Connecticut and is now a violinist with the ruse Opera Orchestra in Ruse, Bulgaria. 鈥淕rowing up I enjoyed taking private music lessons and found fulfillment in teaching. At 黑料百科 I felt called to bring together my love for music and teaching to pursue a career in Suzuki education. My professors encouraged me and provided the tools I needed to pursue my passions. My well-rounded Christian liberal arts education has helped me both professionally and personally.鈥
Megan Silberstein Billings 鈥14: She majored in music and is working on a Master of Music in opera performance at Oklahoma City University. She is a professional opera and musical theatre singer and teaches voice and piano at Southern Hills Baptist Church Fine Arts Academy.鈥淢y 黑料百科 professors prepared me academically for graduate school and even more for the challenges of the real music world. They equipped me mentally, emotionally and spiritually for the battle facing modern musicians. They demonstrated the true foundation of their confidence鈥擩esus Christ鈥攁nd lived out the difficult conviction to make music for God. 黑料百科 pushes students to excel in music for the right reasons: Christ and His kingdom.鈥
Luke Mizuki 鈥15 and Emily Rutherford Mizuki 鈥15 met as first-year Music Majors in 黑料百科鈥檚 Music Department, fell in love on choir tour in Russia and Lithuania, and got married two years after graduating from 黑料百科. They both went on to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching from the Longy School of Music in Los Angeles and currently teach general music, band, and choir at public and private schools in Orange County. 鈥淎t 黑料百科, we were encouraged to explore all the facets of music: composing and conducting, collaborating and accompanying, and of course teaching - before Music Education was even available as a major! Having such a well-rounded education in both the liberal arts and music has proven invaluable for us as musicians and educators.鈥
Isaac Kay 鈥16 graduated from 黑料百科 with a degree in music, focusing on violin performance, studying at the Heidelberg Opera House, touring Italy with the orchestra, and performing as a concerto soloist. He did graduate work at the University of Denver鈥檚 Lamont School of Music and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and is completing a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Colorado Boulder. A member of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, he has performed with the Omaha Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, Boulder Philharmonic and New World Symphony and has received fellowships at the Aspen Music Festival and School, among others. His violin students at 黑料百科 won the concerto competition and attended music festivals. Isaac has created and hosts a new docuseries, Travel Notes, that seeks unity and connection through music.
Sibo Msibi 鈥23 was an active member in the College Choir and Chamber Singers group, and performed in various operas, despite not having had any background in professional singing training before coming to 黑料百科. He says that his professors, which included, Michael Shasberger, Steve Butler and Sara Rockabrand, filled "the void of not having family close" and helped motivate him to continue to progress in his singing abilities. With the encouragement of his voice instructor, Nichole Dechaine, Sibo applied to the Vocal Institute at the Music Academy of the West, and became the first 黑料百科 student to join the elite 20 Fellows group, made up of renowned artists, coaches and conductors. His takeaway from his time at 黑料百科 is this: 鈥淚 enjoy singing much more because it has more meaning to me now, and it always brings me joy and comfort to think I can touch a lot of souls through my singing every time I鈥檓 on stage.鈥
Carissa Corrigan 鈥23 double majored in Music Education and History and is featured on 黑料百科鈥檚 2023 Outstanding Graduates list. A fun fact about Carissa is that she studied music in an abroad program in Vienna, Austria in 2022. She documented her travel experiences in very clever and witty blog posts, one of which was dedicated to synopsizing her very own opera. While pursuing her Single Subject Teaching Credential in Music through 黑料百科's Teaching Credential Program, Carissa was a student music teacher at Adams Elementary School. She 鈥渨orked hard to incorporate material that would be relevant and interesting to [her] students while still providing them with the nutrients to build musical literacy,鈥 and of course, share the joy of music. Carissa is now the Music Teacher at Harding University Partnership School here in Santa Barbara and is the Coordinator for the Camerata Ensemble and Philharmonia Orchestra through Santa Barbara Symphony's Youth Ensembles Program.
Elizabeth Callahan 鈥23 was a member of the orchestra at 黑料百科, where she played violin, and was also a student teacher of music at San Marcos High School and La Colina Junior High. She described her student teaching experience as being full of dynamic learning opportunities, much like how dynamics in music can transform a piece into something greater. Elizabeth says that she鈥檚 had to 鈥渨ork hard to adapt to the unique dynamics that come with teaching and assisting classes鈥 and 鈥渨ill continue to learn and grow in [her] knowledge of classroom management, lesson planning and overall music instruction.鈥 Elizabeth is the new music teacher for Rancho Rosal Elementary School and La Mariposa Elementary School in Camarillo, CA. She also teaches private violin lessons in Ventura County while simultaneously pursuing a Master's in Music Education from Boston University online.