Webster University's Bachelor of Music in Music Direction for Musical Theatre is a pre-professional degree, designed for students who wish to pursue a career as a professional music director for musical theatre. Extensive applied instruction and classes on technique, coaching, and musical theatre performance styles, as well as ensemble experience, constitute the core of the curriculum.
To our knowledge, Webster University is the first university in the country to offer this specialized pre-professional training as an undergraduate program. This unique program builds on the strength of many faculty members, and on partnerships with the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (resident on this campus), the Muny (a major, national-profile summer theatre in Forest Park), and the year-round artists of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (also resident on this campus) in providing this specialized degree within an academic and performance context. Further strengthening this degree are musical direction opportunities that exist within the larger St. Louis musical theatre community, including a half dozen semi-professional companies that produce musical theatre at a very high level. St. Louis is very much a theatre town!
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Application and Audition
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Become a Gorlok
If you plan to major or minor in music, you must complete an audition as part of your application to Webster.
Bachelor of Music in Music Direction for Musical Theatre
Piano or voice will be the primary instrument for all students in this degree. The instrument that is not the main instrument will be considered the secondary instrument.
Program director for this degree is Dr. Jeffrey Carter, who was named Outstanding Musical Director in 2014 by the St. Louis Theatre Critics Circle, for his work on New Line Theatre's Bonnie and Clyde in its first post-Broadway production.
As a student in this program, you'll take all the core music courses of any music degree. You'll study vocal pedagogy and diction; serve as assistant music director of three different musicals before music-directing your own show in the senior year; take courses in conducting, musical theatre scoring, acting, and musical theatre history; and study some dance. The finale is your own engagement as musical director of a show, the same way that performance majors present a senior recital.
Bachelor of Music in Musical Direction for Musical Theatre (BM)
Find out more about the overall curriculum, electives and learning outcomes for a BM in Musical Direction for Musical Theatre degree at Webster.
Experienced Music Faculty
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Music Direction for Musical Theatre
To learn more about our program and course offerings, email Dr. Jeffrey Carter, Director of Music Direction for Musical Theatre.
Listen to Dr. Carter's interview about music directing on a podcast with Scott Miller.
Webster Holds Longtime NASM Membership
Webster University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). An important marker of standing among music programs in the U.S., NASM establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for music and music-related disciplines.
Arts in St. Louis
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Contact the Admissions Office to Find Out More
If you have more questions about the program, your application or other enrollment-related inquiries, contact our Admissions Office.
Call 314-246-7800 or 800-753-6765 or send an email to admit@webster.edu.