Performance Requirements for Music Majors

Please note: in order to perform on any official Music Department recital a student must be taking lessons with a St. Olaf College Music Department faculty member on the instrument/voice of the recital performance.

Bachelor of Arts - Music Majors(including Emphasis in Theory-Composition and History-Literature)

  • Twice as a soloist in the principal performing area in a Student Recital with at least one performance in the junior or senior year

Bachelor of Arts - Music Majors:  Teaching Credential

  • Twice as a soloist in the principal performing medium in a Student Recital with at least one performance in the junior or senior year
  • 2 performances in a small ensemble in area of specialty:

Vocal specialization:

  • 1 chamber music performance must be in an ensemble with one singer per part with a minimum of two singers in the ensemble.
  • 1 performance may be in a lab choir (20 or fewer singers) or in Early Music Singers.
  • Faculty supervision is required for all performances meeting this requirement.

Instrumental specialization:

  • 1 chamber music performance must be in an ensemble with one player per part.
  • 1 performance may be in Collegium Musicum, Flute Choir, Clarinet Choir, Trombone Choir, Percussion Ensemble, Horn Club, Tuba/Euphonium Choir or in another ensemble of 20 or fewer players.
  • Faculty supervision is required for all performances meeting this requirement.

Bachelor of Music: Music Education Majors

  • Twice as a soloist in the principal performing medium in a Student Recital with at least one performance in the junior or senior year
  • 2 performances in a small ensemble in area of specialty:

Vocal specialization:

  • 1 chamber music performance must be in an ensemble with one singer per part with a minimum of two singers in the ensemble.
  • 1 performance may be in a lab choir (20 or fewer singers) or in Early Music Singers.
  • Faculty supervision is required for all performances meeting this requirement.

Instrumental specialization:

  • 1 chamber music performance must be in an ensemble with one player per part.
  • 1 performance may be in Collegium Musicum, Flute Choir, Clarinet Choir, Trombone Choir, Percussion Ensemble, Horn Club, Tuba/Euphonium Choir or in another ensemble of 20 or fewer players.
  • Faculty supervision is required for all performances meeting this requirement.
  • A juried half recital in the principal performing area in the senior year.  The jury is comprised of three music faculty members (the student’s Performance Studies teacher and two others).

Bachelor of Music: Theory-Composition Majors

  • Twice as a soloist in the principal performing area in a Student Recital with at least one performance in the junior or senior year (an entrance or continuance recital performance may count as one solo performance)
  • A presentation of original works in a recital. Performances of these works can be done on one recital or on several recitals. In the latter case, the music should, when taken together, comprise a substantial musical concert program. Each student should discuss how this requirement would be met with the Theory-Composition faculty no later than the fall semester of the senior year.

Bachelor of Music: Performance and Church Music Majors

  • Twice as a soloist in the principal performing area in a Student Recital
  • Either a juried half recital or three performances as a soloist in a Student Recital in the junior year. The jury is comprised of three music faculty members (the student’s Performance Studies teacher and two others).
  • A juried full recital during the senior year with 100% of the performance in the principal performing area for performance majors and with at least 50% in the principal performing area for church music majors. The jury is comprised of three music faculty members (the student’s Performance Studies teacher and two others).