Music
New to WOU Music?
Connect with Us.
Please fill out the NEW STUDENT INFORMATION FORM so the we can get to know you better and direct your inquiries to the correct faculty member(s).
Scholarship Information
The WOU Music Department offers multiple scholarship opportunities for music majors (new, transfer & returning), and ensemble tuition remissions for non-music majors. The Music Department accepts auditions throughout the year but priority will be given to students who apply for the February 16, 2025 scholarship audition date.
Current Events
We annually sponsor several concerts, guest artists, guest lecturers, and student recitals. Please check our complete calendar for more information on these music events.
Festivals, Workshops & Camps
We host several workshops and festivals, including the Great Western Music Championships for bands and orchestras, the Choral Festival, Percussion Festival, and the Composer’s Workshop. If you are a high school band, choir, or orchestra director seeking adjuticated opportunities for your ensembles, or need information on any of our festivals and/or workshops then please select the Learn more link.
Media
To find out more about our program please visit out our media page that includes ensemble performances, faculty lectures, and student interviews.
MUSIC DEGREE PROGRAMS
New BM Program
MUSIC EDUCATION
getting back to our roots!
When we were the Oregon College of Education the music department boasted one of the finest music education certification programs in Oregon. We are proud to announce our commitment to training the next generation of music educators – elementary, instrumental, and choral – with our new 4-year BM certification degree program.
BM DEGREE PROGRAMS
professional music training
We offer a 4-year professional BM degree program with concentrations in Music, K-12 Music Education, Composition, and Jazz Studies. Come study with award-winning faculty of national and international renown.
BA DEGREE PROGRAM
a flexible music pathway
Not looking for the professional music degree but still want to major in music? Then we offer the 4-year BA degree program. This program requires a student to complete 74 credits hours of music courses…and you still have access to our award-winning faculty!
MUSIC MINOR
augment your major
We offer a general music minor – 27 credit hours, that includes 15 credits of upper-division music courses chosen in consultation with a music advisor. We offer a specific minor in audio production – 27 credits, dedicated entirely to courses in audio and media production. And we offer a specific minor in jazz studies – 27 credits, dedicated to courses in jazz and popular music.
MUSIC ENSEMBLES
We offer multiple opportunities for music students to participate in various instrumental and vocal ensembles.
Not a music major? No problem! We welcome and encourage all WOU students to join our ensembles. We also provide tuition remissions for eligible, non-music majors to participate in ensembles. Please contact the ensemble director for more information pertaining to auditions and tuition remissions.
Instrumental Ensembles
Wind Ensemble
Jazz Orchestra
Salem Pops Orchestra
Percussion Ensemble
Mariachi Ensemble
Vocal Ensembles
Concert Choir
Chamber Singers
Opera Scenes
Voices Jazz Choir
FACULTY
Dr. Kevin M. Walczyk
Department Head, Professor of Music – Composition
DMA – University of North Texas
WOU information
Dr. Kevin Walczyk serves as the music department head and oversees the composition studies program where he teaches film scoring, jazz arranging, orchestration, and composition. He is recipient of both the Pastega Award for Excellence in Scholarship (2015), and the Pastega Award for Excellence in Teaching (1999). Dr. Walczyk also received the WOU Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award (2007 & 2024).
Dr. James “Ike” Nail
Professor of Music – Instrumental Music Education
DMA – University of Texas, Austin
WOU information
Dr. Ike Nail oversees all aspects of the instrumental music education and instrumental music program. He serves as principal conductor of the Salem Pops Orchestra. Dr. Nail has received the Oregon Symphony Association Music Educator of the Year (2009) and the OMEA Music Educator of the Year (2014).
Dr. Kendra Taylor
NTT Assistant Professor – Choral Music Education
PhD – University of Oregon
WOU information
Dr. Kendra Taylor oversees all aspects of the WOU Choral Music Education program. Dr. Taylor has held teaching positions at the secondary and collegiate levels prior to her appointment at WOU, where she directs all choirs and teaches choral conducting and music education courses. Dr. Taylor is also has training and experience in instrumental music education and theatre.
Dr. Carlos Velez
NTT Assistant Professor – Music Theory & Flute
DMA – Cleveland Institute of Music
WOU information
Dr. Carlos Velez teaches music theory, aural skills, flute performance, and composition applied lessons. He is an award-winning composer of national and international renown with numerous commissions.
Dr. Seth Wollam
NTT Assistant Professor – Instrumental Music Education
DMA – University of North Texas
WOU information
As newly-appointed director of instrumental music education, Dr. Seth Wollam conducts the wind ensemble, jazz orchestra and teaches courses in instrumental conducting and instrumental repertoire.
Dr. Claire Hudkins
NTT Assistant Professor – Vocal Studies
DMA – Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
WOU information
Dr. Claire Hudkins oversees the vocal performance studies area and directs the Western Oregon Voices – Jazz Choir. She is well versed in multiple styles, including opera, jazz, pop, folk, classical, and musical theatre.
Dr. Joel Alberto Garza
NTT Assistant Professor – Percussion
DMA – Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
WOU information
Dr. Joel Alberto Garza is Director of Percussion Studies at Western Oregon University. He has performed nationwide at events including PASIC, SICPP (Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance Practice), TMEA, OMEA (Ohio), and the Contemporary Art Music Project (CAMP) CAMPGround22 International New Music Festival.
Jackie Ortiz Morelli
NTT Assistant Professor – Piano & Accompanying
MM – University of Oregon
WOU information
Jackie Ortiz-Morelli serves as staff accompanist, piano instructor, and teaches piano proficiency. Mrs. Morelli serves as the West Coast coordinator of all things pertaining to the University of Kansas basketball program. “Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!”
PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
NEW STUDENT CHECKLIST
At Western Oregon University we understand that selecting the right university and music degree program takes time and a little research. Incoming freshmen, transfer students, and MAT students who are ready to take the steps to begin pursuing a music degree with us are encouraged to visit campus, take a free lesson with your prospective applied lessons professor, make application to the university, and schedule an audition for program entry and scholarships.
NEW STUDENT INFORMATION FORM
Please fill out the NEW STUDENT INFORMATION FORM so the we can get to know you better and direct your inquiries to the correct faculty member(s).
SCHEDULE A CAMPUS VISIT
We encourage you to spend a day with us while classes are in session. Take a campus tour, visit our classes, perform in an ensemble, and receive a free private lesson. This is the best way to see if WOU is the right fit for you. Contact the music department to schedule your visit. Campus tours can usually be scheduled on the same day through the admissions office.
MAKE APPLICATION
Undergraduates will make formal application to the university through the admission website. Graduates (MAT seekers) will make formal application through the graduate studies website. We accept applications throughout the year. We suggest, however, that you apply early so that you will meet eligibility requirements and deadlines for scholarships.
SCHEDULE AN AUDITION
Entry into the music program requires a formal audition, which takes place in early February. The audition is also used by the music faculty to determine scholarships. Please read all information pertaining to the guidelines for auditions and scholarships.
MUSIC LINKS
QUICK LINKS
CONNECT WITH US
NICOLE MORGAN
program & facilities coordinator
(503) 838-8461
e-mail: morgann@mail.wou.edu
Rice Auditorium 103
M-F 8:00AM-4:30PM
