Several students in the brass section performing with the VTSU Wind Ensemble

Music, B.A.

Offered :

  • Castleton, VT

Also available as a minor.

This program is eligible for international students requiring an F-1 visa.

What is an In-Person Plus program?

Program-required courses are taught through a combination of in-person and remote delivery. Remote learning may require meeting at a specific time or may not have a specific class time; all weekly interactions and assignments for remote courses are completed through a learning site.

In the Music B.A. program at Vermont State, you’ll build a foundation in music skills, knowledge, and performance to bring your talents — and your career — to life. By choosing a general concentration or a performance concentration, you can tailor our music program to fit your goals. Whether you were born to perform or teach, or want to build your skills and learn more about music, we’ll support you in your dreams to make an impact on the world. Many music majors choose to add a minor or second major in another field, including psychology, theater, or communications, giving them a broad skill set for exciting careers.

Our small classes make it easy to get individual attention from professors and to get to know your peers. Our ensembles are open to students in any major — widening your friend base, too. You’ll have many opportunities to collaborate and perform with other musicians in a program that provides freedom to explore, innovate, and improvise. As you expand your musical horizons, you’ll develop skills you'll carry throughout your life.

We are here to answer your questions about Vermont State University.

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Why Study Music at Vermont State?

  • Solid Training: A strong foundation is important, and you’ll get that in our music major, with theory, piano, and music history classes as you develop skills on instruments, vocals, or both.     
  • Music Performance Options: You’ll have many opportunities to participate in ensembles, from traditional choirs and wind symphony to a cappella and jazz groups.   
  • Collaboration Opportunities: Our program offers varied ways for you to work closely and share ideas with peers. You’ll collaborate with students from all over campus including Music and Theater Arts students, and may choose to participate in Musical Theater classes and productions.
  • Community Outreach and Travel: You’ll have opportunities to travel and perform with other ensembles in Vermont and abroad. Recent collaborations include the Mozart Requiem with Rutland Area Chorus, UVM and Orchestra, and a performance tour to Puerto Rico.      
  • Success After Graduation: Our Music graduates excel in a range of careers: performance, studio teaching, technical music production, community ensemble or church music directing, college and high school teaching, arts administration, and non-music fields. Many also pursue graduate school.  

Concentrations in Music

Students in this program choose a concentration to combine with their foundational classes.

  • Music General
  • Music Performance

To apply, please select Music from the list on the application. You will have opportunity to identify your concentration interest after you apply.

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Sample Courses

  • ​​​Performance Lab 
  • Exploring Careers in Music 
  • World Music Cultures 
  • Senior Recital  
  • Foundations of Music Teaching 
View Curriculum

Meet Our Faculty

Click into the cards below to view robust directory information for our faculty.

Jump to: Ensembles | Voice | Keyboard | Winds/Brass | Strings | Percussion

Full Time Faculty

Woman smiles at the camera wearing a sparkling blue shirt.
  • Faculty

Sherrill Blodget

She/Her

Chair – Department of Music, Theater, Dance and Technology; Director of Choral Activities; Program Coordinator of Music

  • Castleton Campus

Heid Welch smiling at the camera. She has short brown hair, blue cat-eye glasses, and is wearing a grey sweater vest while holding a conducting baton.
  • Faculty

Heidi Welch

She/Her

Director of Music Education; Director of Spartan Spirit Band

  • Castleton Campus

Charles smiles at the camera in a white shirt and yellow tie and a black suite jacket.
  • Faculty

Charles Madsen

He/Him

Coordinator and Instrcutor of Piano, Music Theory & History

  • Castleton Campus

  • Faculty

Joshua Thompson

He/Him

Coordinator of Instrumental Studies and Arts Recruitment; Instructor of Horn and Conducting; Director of Wind Symphony and Chamber Ensembles

  • Castleton Campus

Ensemble Faculty

In order of appearance, these faculty support the following ensembles: University Chorale and Chamber Singers, Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Ensembles, String Orchestra, Wind Symphony and Chamber Ensembles, and Spirit Band.

Woman smiles at the camera wearing a sparkling blue shirt.
  • Faculty

Sherrill Blodget

She/Her

Chair – Department of Music, Theater, Dance and Technology; Director of Choral Activities; Program Coordinator of Music

  • Castleton Campus

  • Faculty

Michael Craner

Director of Jazz Ensemble

  • Castleton Campus

  • Faculty

Theresa DeRagon

She/Her

Instructor of Saxophone and Clarinet; Director of Woodwind Doubling Ensemble

  • Castleton Campus

Heid Welch smiling at the camera. She has short brown hair, blue cat-eye glasses, and is wearing a grey sweater vest while holding a conducting baton.
  • Faculty

Heidi Welch

She/Her

Director of Music Education; Director of Spartan Spirit Band

  • Castleton Campus

  • Faculty

Joshua Thompson

He/Him

Coordinator of Instrumental Studies and Arts Recruitment; Instructor of Horn and Conducting; Director of Wind Symphony and Chamber Ensembles

  • Castleton Campus

Voice Faculty

  • Faculty

Lucy Tenenbaum

She/Her

Instructor of Voice

  • Castleton Campus

  • Faculty

Beth Thompson

She/Her

Instructor of Voice and Vocal Pedagogy

  • Castleton Campus

Keyboard Faculty

Jen smiles at the camera with white short hair and a black shirt.
  • Faculty

Jennifer Cohen

She/Her

Instructor of Piano

  • Castleton Campus

  • Faculty

Karen James

She/Her

Instructor of Piano

  • Castleton Campus

Charles smiles at the camera in a white shirt and yellow tie and a black suite jacket.
  • Faculty

Charles Madsen

He/Him

Coordinator and Instrcutor of Piano, Music Theory & History

  • Castleton Campus

Winds and Brass Faculty

  • Faculty

Theresa DeRagon

She/Her

Instructor of Saxophone and Clarinet; Director of Woodwind Doubling Ensemble

  • Castleton Campus

  • Faculty

Glenn Giles

He/Him

Professor of World Music, CNX, and Conducting; Instructor of Trombone/Tuba

  • Castleton Campus

Man in a navy suite and grey tie smiles at the camera.
  • Faculty

Glendon Ingalls

He/Him

Instructor of Trumpet, String Bass, Electric Bass

  • Castleton Campus

  • Faculty

Joshua Thompson

He/Him

Coordinator of Instrumental Studies and Arts Recruitment; Instructor of Horn and Conducting; Director of Wind Symphony and Chamber Ensembles

  • Castleton Campus

Strings Faculty

Man in a navy suite and grey tie smiles at the camera.
  • Faculty

Glendon Ingalls

He/Him

Instructor of Trumpet, String Bass, Electric Bass

  • Castleton Campus

Percussion Faculty

Man with drum sticks looks away from the camera a painted wall in the background
  • Faculty

Darryl Kniffen

He/Him

Instructor of Percussion

  • Castleton Campus

  • Faculty

Philip Lamy

Other: Dr.

Professor, Instructor of Percussion

  • Castleton Campus

Student Stories

A young woman with long curly hair and glasses wears a black dress and smiles at the camera with her hands on her hips looking over her shoulder.

“Between the community service, community involvement, emphasis on education, and promoting the arts programs, there were so many opportunities for students to succeed.”

Jessica Pierpoint
A woman in a cheerleading uniform leans back clutching a trumpet to her mouth in a stadium.

“I am excited to become a teacher, so I can hopefully inspire the next generation to work hard and pursue their dreams as well.  ”

Carley Patch

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