200,000+
Alumni from our Global Campuses
Create Your Future in Music with a BM in Composition
Whether your dream is to score films, write contemporary concert pieces, produce original songs or design sound for video games, the Bachelor of Music in Composition at Webster University gives you the training and creative freedom you need to thrive.
Our program combines classic music training with the latest in audio technology. You will learn the foundations of music theory and history while gaining the hands-on skills needed to stand out in today's music industry.
Tailor your Music Composition Degree to Your Goals
Whether you are focused on the concert hall or the recording studio, our curriculum lets you choose between Concert Music and Songwriting concentrations. You will build a foundation in both, ensuring you have the versatility to navigate any corner of the music industry.
Ready to Audition?
Our faculty is looking for creative thinkers with a strong foundation in theory and a passion for original work. View our Audition Requirements to prepare your portfolio.
Why Study Composition at Webster?
Develop Your Unique Voice
Our program is designed to foster your individual artistic identity, not fit you into a box. We provide the structural foundation you need while encouraging you to explore the musical styles that matter most to you. From your first semester, you are encouraged to experiment and innovate, and you retain full ownership and creative rights to all the original music you compose during your time here.
Gain Real-World Music and Composition Experience
At the heart of our program is a commitment to fostering your artistic development and career readiness. You will have numerous opportunities to share your work with the public, including the Student Songwriter Showcase and the Webster New Music Ensemble. Through our signature Wet Ink Project, you will have the rare opportunity to collaborate directly with professional musicians, ensuring your compositions are performed live every semester.
Industry-Ready Technical Skills
You’ll learn how to use professional-grade audio software and studio equipment. With 6–9 credits of elective audio courses, you can customize your skill set in areas like sound design, production, recording or MIDI applications to support your creative vision.
“Writing music for professional musicians is the most valuable experience I get at Webster as a composer.”
Katy Boykin
BM in Composition with an Emphasis in Concert Music, '26
Read More: How Webster Helped Katy Bring Music to Life
Katy Boykin picked up her first musical instrument — a clarinet — in 6th grade and hasn’t stopped since. After all, music is her language.
“I write music to tell stories, mine or someone else’s,” Katy says.
Katy felt she could tell the most compelling stories by learning about all the different characters — or instruments — she could use. To that end, Katy learned how to play various instruments, including the trumpet, saxophone and some percussion.
“If I can play these instruments, I can write for them better. It’s part of my job as a composer.”
When Katy was exploring music composition programs, Webster University stood out.
Here, Katy can bring her music to life. In the spring 2024 semester, she composed a piece for a brass quintet, which was performed at a concert hall on Webster’s campus. Katy also performs gigs with her professors.
“Our program is distinguished by initiatives like the Wet Ink Project, which embodies our commitment to experiential learning,” says music Professor David Werfelmann. “This project partners our students with professional ensembles, such as Clarion Brass and Chamber Project Saint Louis, offering a comprehensive experience from composition to live performance.”
Katy was also drawn to the University’s personal, intimate classes where she receives individualized attention and feedback from her professors.
“What sets Webster’s composition program apart is the nurturing and supportive relationship between faculty and students, which facilitates personalized guidance in both classroom and studio settings,” Werfelmann says.
The supportive environment plus the hands-on, real-world musical experiences will help Katy reach her goals of composing music for television, movies and video games.
To continue to tell the stories.
“Writing music for professional musicians is the most valuable experience I get at Webster as a composer. At Webster, I can be the best I can be.”
Learn from Experienced Professors
Webster provides plenty of opportunities for you to work one-on-one with our outstanding music and composition faculty mentors. They pull from their decades of experience as professional composers and songwriters to prepare you for the daily challenges and rewards of working throughout the music industry.
See the World
Music is global. You can study at our beautiful campus in Vienna, a city famous for its musical history and modern artistic scene. Composition students can study abroad to take classes and private lessons taught by internationally renowned musicians who will help you grow as an artist.
Accreditation
Webster Holds Longtime NASM Membership
Webster University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), which is an important marker of standing among music programs in the U.S. This means that your bachelor's degree from the Department of Music will be respected by professionals and graduate committees for reaching some of the highest standards for academic excellence and career readiness.
70+
Years as Member of NASM
Bachelor of Music in Composition
Find out more about the overall curriculum, electives, learning outcomes and more for the Music Composition bachelor's degree.
What Can You Do with a BM in Composition?
Music is one of the world's oldest and most powerful forms of storytelling. By earning a degree in Composition, you are joining a centuries-long tradition while gaining the modern skills needed to thrive in today’s digital world.
The knowledge and hands-on experience you’ll gain at Webster will provide a stable foundation for a wide variety of professional paths. Studying here also connects you to local St. Louis organizations — such as the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Jazz St. Louis and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis — helping you build a professional network before you even graduate.
Some of the careers that our Composition students have pursued after graduation include:
- Film and Television Composer
- Video Game Composer
- Sound Designer
- Music Producer and Recording Artist
- Freelance Songwriter
- Music Editor and Copyist
- Concert Music Composer
- Music Scholar or College Professor
Explore Related Webster Bachelor Degrees
Get Started on Your Bachelor of Music in Composition
Take the next step toward earning your Music Composition bachelor's degree. We are here to help you get started.
Explore
Learn more about our academic programs and our main campus and locations.
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Apply
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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.