Music Department

The music department is widely recognized for its excellent training of students in performance, education, history, theory, composition, and the enjoyment of music. Professional opportunities for music majors are many, as demonstrated by successful graduates working as performers, as teachers in private studios, colleges and public schools, in commercial music, church music, community musical organizations, and arts administration. Preparation for these post-college opportunities is reflected in our curricular options for a major: an emphasis in performance or musical arts. The faculty are active professional musicians who are dedicated to both performance and teaching. The department has been an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) since 1961.

Our discipline is best experienced by the making of music, through singing, playing, composing, and improvising. It is enhanced through reflective study, critical thinking, and analytic and historic contextual study. The synthesis of the physical, intellectual, and spiritual knowing of music is both our method and our goal. All music courses, lessons, and ensembles are open to nonmajors. Some of those require students to be highly skilled, others require intermediate level skills, and others are designed to initiate the newcomer to the study and making of music. Hamline’s ensembles include undergraduate students from all majors. These ensembles range in size from large (50) to small (4), and include the A Cappella Choir, Chamber Ensembles, Jazz Band, Jazz Combos, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Women’s Chorale.

Faculty

Rees Allison, professor, chair. LRAM 1963, GRSM 1964, Recital Diploma 1965, Royal Academy of Music in London; MMusic 1967, PhD 1970, Washington University-St. Louis. Piano, music history. Member of the Musical Offering ensemble, and Hill House Players.

George S.T. Chu, professor. BA 1969, Yale University; MM 1976, DM 1979, Indiana University. Theory, Voice, Music Director of A Cappella Choir, and Oratorio Society. At Indiana University he studied with Julius Herford.

Janet E. Greene, associate professor. BA 1978, Smith College; MM 1982 Manhattan School of Music; DMA 1996, Rutgers University. Clarinet, music theory, chamber music, director of Hamline Winds.

Kathy Thomsen, associate professor. BA 1976, Hamline University; MM 1980, University of Michigan; DMA 2000, University of Minnesota. License in Dalcroze Eurhythmics 2003, Longy School of Music. Piano, accompanying, eurhythmics, director of Women’s Chorale.

Yali You, associate professor. BA 1984, Shanghai Conservatory of Music; MM 1987, Performance Certification 1988, Northwestern University; DMA 1996, University of Cincinnati. Cello, music history, chamber music, director of Hamline Orchestra.