Overview
What Sets Principia College Apart?
Our music degrees offer a foundation of classes, ensembles, and lessons, with three areas of concentration: music production, music performance, and general music studies.
At Principia, there is no limit to your musical expression or creative development. Perform with our department-directed ensembles as well as in student-led groups. Hone your solo skills with frequent performance opportunities including ensemble concerts such as Music at Davis, and in conjunction with other formal and informal campus events (Starbrooks, the Jam Factory). Participate in recording classes, and record and master your original work in Principia’s recording studio. Your performance and composition studies will be supported by Principia’s highly-trained music faculty on campus or by experts from around St. Louis (including from the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Schools of Music at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Lindenwood University, and international institutions).
Principia College is home to two exceptional mechanical-action tracker pipe organs that support both study and performance. In the College Chapel, the 34-rank Martin Ott organ (1992) offers students an ideal instrument for exploring traditional sacred and contemporary repertoire. In Cox Auditorium, the 56-rank Casavant tracker organ (installed in 2005) provides a world-class platform for concert performance and college events. Complementing these instruments is the Jean L. Rainwater Carillon, located in the Chapel tower, featuring 39 Royal Eijsbouts bells. A concert practice carillon is also housed in Davis Center for the Performing Arts.
Our students participate in outside ensembles, internships, and summer programs:
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsvile Symphony Orchestra
- St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra
- Great Rivers Big Band
- Walden School Creative Musicians Retreat and Composer’s Forum (Massachusetts and San Francisco)
- soundSCAPE Composition and Performance Exchange
- Ironman Sound Industries, St. Louis (music production)
- The Christian Science Monitor (music and political science double major internship)
- The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, MA (music publishing internship)
The students of the Music in Europe Abroad (Winter 2022-2023) embarked on a remarkable journey into the musical cultures of Austria, the Czech Republic, and France.
From inspiring performances to daily campus traditions, our organs and carillon have long been part of the Principia experience.
After Principia
Principia Music majors are prepared for music careers as performers, composers, teachers, and music producers. Our alumni continue their studies at graduate schools including:
- Berklee School of Music
- Longy School of Music at Bard College
- Manhattan School of Music
- George Mason University
- University of Miami Frost School of Music
- University of New Mexico
Many of our graduates go on to successful and varied careers in music performance and education at internationally-respected institutions. We are pleased to help students connect to our world-wide network of music alumni at:
- United States Air Force Band
- United States Army Band (Band of the Nation’s Capital)
- Dallas Symphony Orchestra
- Detroit Symphony Orchestra
- Disney Enterprises
- The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Massachusetts
- The Christian Science Monitor