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The Lawrence University Conservatory of Music is uniquely designed to train the innovative and adaptable musicians of the future. Here, you are not referred to as students, but rather fellow artists who inspire each other (even your lecturers) to make an impact in the world with your shared passion for music. “There is never a moment where passion isn’t present; I typically leave lessons with a new and more passionate understanding of whatever repertoire I am playing,” says student Ben Campbell.
This conservatoire at the #1 liberal arts college in Wisconsin will empower you on your journey to mastering a musical instrument like bass, harp, saxophone, and voice or majoring in performance, music education, theory, or composition. Whichever your aspiration, you will emerge as an experienced and skilled musician prepared to perform on the world’s biggest stages.
The conservatoire offers two bachelor’s degrees that give you the tools to shine and expand your musicianship beyond your comfort zone. The Bachelor of Music degree allows you to focus primarily on music in a professional degree program that is founded upon principles of a liberal arts education. You can major in performance, music education, theory, composition or a jazz emphasis in performance or composition. Most of your time in class will be exploring music theory and history, in addition to taking lessons and participating in ensembles.
One out of five students at Lawrence University study in the Conservatory of Music . Source: Lawrence University
The Bachelor of Musical Arts, on the other hand, focuses on jazz and contemporary improvisation and empowers you to develop the musical fluency needed in today’s music industry. This degree is designed for those looking to master their craft while also exploring non-musical subjects they are curious about. It’s an approach that lets you get the best of many worlds – connecting your non-musical coursework with music and arranging it for your creative pursuits.
The Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Music Dual Degree allows you to immerse yourself in music and at least one other field of study, earning you two degrees in five years. It’s a great opportunity for those seeking to master liberal arts subjects without sacrificing their passion for music.
If you just want to dip your toes in music without committing to a degree, you can opt for the non-major courses available here. These include music courses, ensembles, and private music instruction.
Despite not majoring in music, students of any background can take advantage of the Conservatory of Music. Source: Lawrence University
Whichever programme or format you choose, you will get to work closely with peers and professors. The 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio makes for small class sizes that allow collaboration with faculty members made up of top professional musicians themselves – like violinist and associate professor Wen-Lei Gu. Having performed at prestigious stages around the world, Gu applies her experiences to her teaching, giving students an inside scoop of what to expect in the music industry.
“I give advice and suggestions culminating from years of learning and experience,” she says. “In turn, I also get stimulated, inspired, and energised by my students. One emotion I often feel is an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the talented, motivated, and intelligent students we have and the incredibly wonderful and supportive colleagues whom I admire very much.”
Next year, brand-new state-of-the-art facilities await Lawrence University students. The four-story mixed-use building adjacent to the university (a partnership project with the Trout Museum of Art) will feature about 30,000 square feet of space on each of the four floors. The first floor will hold the nonprofit art museum controlled by Trout while the upper three floors are the university’s own as it plans to open academic spaces and market-rate apartments for students.
The other facility in the works is the Fox Commons, a blended apartment-style student housing with built-in mentoring partnerships. This 180,000-square-foot healthcare, retail, and mixed-use community hub will have the capacity to house around 180 students, establishing a living-learning transpose environment. Set to operate in late 2024, the building will include built-in academic spaces, a business and entrepreneurship centre, a finance room equipped with Bloomberg terminals, a pre-health common, and lecture and meeting spaces for you to use.
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