ADMISSION TO-DO LIST

A Message from William Hall, D.M.A., Dean, College of Performing Arts

Welcome to the Conservatory of Music at Chapman University. As Dean of the College of Performing Arts and the first professor to be honored with the Bertea Family Endowed Chair of Music, I am particularly proud and excited to introduce you to our institution.

Chapman University is the second oldest private educational institution in California and has a rich tradition in the arts. Many of our alumni perform in major orchestras, opera houses, and on the Broadway stage. In recent years, one could hear Chapman graduates singing at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; performing on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera; making music with the Boston Symphony Orchestra; and starring in leading roles with Broadway productions of Damn Yankees and Showboat.

The following pages will introduce you to a conservatory-level music program offered within the context of a liberal arts education. Although performance is stressed in both vocal and instrumental fields, academic achievement at a high level is considered to be a basic requirement in your musical education.

Nothing more reveals the true Renaissance spirit of human endeavors than the art of making music. It reveals one's imagination and humanity, as well as one's assimilation of history and culture. Students who enter Chapman's Conservatory of Music do so with a desire to become accomplished musicians. The faculty will teach the craft of making music but, more importantly, will foster the inner fires of creative expression that each individual artist must discover independently. To truly shape and free the power of that expression, students must master their craft through self-discipline and daily inquiry of their art.

The music student's journey at Chapman University is made somewhat less daunting by the high quality of our faculty. Full and part-time faculty members of the Conservatory of Music are nationally and internationally recognized performers, composers, and educators. Our instrumental instructors are chosen from such prestigious organizations as the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and the Long Beach and Pacific Symphonies. The vocal faculty is comprised of internationally recognized performers active in major opera houses throughout the world, and their students consistently rank high in major vocal competitions both locally and nationally.

In addition to our distinguished faculty, we are closely involved with the Orange County Performing Arts Center and the Los Angeles Music Center. This affords us the opportunity to bring major performing artists to our campus each semester for recitals, seminars, and master classes with our students. Recent artists who have contributed their time and talent have included opera diva, Carol Neblett; pianist and keyboard collaborative artist Martin Katz; and internationally renowned baritones Rodney Gilfry and Thomas Hampson.

Come and experience the musical life here at Chapman University. This formative time of your musical life will bring enriching and mind broadening experiences that you will remember with the same fondness and affection as our illustrious alumni throughout the world. Let the journey begin!

William D. Hall, D.M.A.
Dean, College of Performing Arts
Bertea Family Endowed Chair of Music
Chapman University