RON AND SHEILAH GATES Department of Music
Opportunities are endless.
Check out our music specialty majors
to see if one is right for you!
Whether you see yourself performing, teaching, leading worship or working behind the scenes in the music industry, our music programs are designed to help you grow your talent and shape your future.
What's the Difference?
- From day one, you’ll have opportunities to perform, lead and develop your creative skills.
- Music Education students gain real classroom experience by attending classes, meetings and labs within a PreK to grade 5 elementary school located right on campus.
- You will receive close faculty mentorship that supports your artistic, academic and professional growth.
- You will graduate prepared to thrive in performance, education, ministry or music business careers.
Performing Arts Scholarships
At Dakota Wesleyan University, all students—regardless of major—are welcome to participate in our music ensembles, and you may be eligible for a Performing Arts Scholarship.
If you’re interested in a music scholarship, we’d love to hear you audition! Students who receive a scholarship are asked to stay involved in at least one ensemble each semester while the scholarship is active.
Audition Guidelines:
Vocal Scholarship:
- Prepare one solo piece—something you would sing at a contest, in voice lessons, or for an audition. You may bring your own accompanist, or one can be provided.
Piano Scholarship:
- Prepare one solo of your choice—something you would play at a recital, for a contest, or in lessons. Choose a piece that highlights your technique and musicality.
Instrumental Scholarship:
- Prepare one appropriate solo, such as something you’d perform at a contest, in lessons, or for all-state. Pick a piece that showcases your musicianship and skill on your instrument.
Planning to submit an audition video?
- Record your audition video using your phone or other device. A simple setup is perfectly fine!
- Upload your video to a platform like YouTube, Google Drive, or Vimeo.
- Make sure the video is set to “public” or “anyone with the link can view.”
- Complete the Performing Arts Scholarship Form and include your video link.
Audition Tips and Tricks:
- Choose music that best highlights your musical ability, tone quality, technique, and expression.
- Pop music, while fun, typically doesn’t show the full range of your skills. We encourage you to select classical, jazz, or other traditional solo literature commonly used for contests, lessons, or auditions.
- Be sure to warm up ahead of time and arrive early if you’re auditioning in person.
- If you need an accompanist, just let us know—we’re happy to help!
Performance Opportunities
Choral Ensembles
- Dakota Wesleyan Choir – As our largest choir, Dakota Wesleyan Choir is open to all who wish to raise their voice in masterworks from the Renaissance to the 21st century.
- The Highlanders – As a select auditioned ensemble, the Highlanders perform top quality vocal chamber music from Renaissance polyphony to vocal jazz.
Instrumental Ensembles
- LyricWood String Orchestra – LyricWood is an intergenerational strings ensemble where you will get to meet and perform with community members, young and old.
- Wesleyan Band – All DWU students, of any major, are invited to join the Wesleyan Band. You will have the opportunity to study, rehearse and perform a diverse repertoire of challenging music.
- Wesleyan Bells – As the only collegiate handbell choir in the state, Wesleyan Bells gives you the chance to be one part of a larger musical group made up of your friends and classmates.
- Wesleyan Jazz Band — a formalized ensemble bringing the opportunity for interested students to study and perform jazz in front of audiences on familiar instruments like piano, bass, guitar, drum set, trumpet, trombone, and saxophone.
Perform
Locally – Each semester we have two major concerts. Multiple ensembles perform beautiful collages of music from many genres. Outside of these two concerts, we sprinkle in performances for events in the community, specialty concerts with our small ensembles, and service opportunities with local nursing homes.
Regionally and Beyond – The Highlanders and Wesleyan Bells tour each spring, and are joined by the Dakota Wesleyan Choir and other ensembles every other year. On these tours, experience music on the road, performing in a variety of venues and meeting people from all walks of life.
Musical Theatre – No matter your involvement at DWU, you are able to participate in musical theatre productions. Spread your wings on stage. Our students have been in productions like “Les Misérables,” “Rock of Ages,” “Mamma Mia!” and more.
Get to Know Your Professors
Learn music from our talented professors. Our low student-to-teacher ratio offers
valuable one-on-one interaction.
