Department of Music

Music Department

Spring Events

spring concerts music department poster

Union College Music Department Spring Concert Series

Steinmetz: Chamber Music Showcase
Friday, May 9th, 11:30am. Emerson auditorium

Steinmetz: Be Still, My Soul
Friday, May 9th, 7:00pm. Memorial Chapel

Jazz Ensemble Steinmetz Concert
Saturday, May 10th, 11:00am, Emerson Auditorium

Early Music Ensemble
Spring Reunion Weekend Concert
Sunday, May 18th, 11:00am. Emerson Auditorium


Zakuro-Daiko Celebration of Spring
Friday, May 30th 7:00pm & Saturday, May 31st 1pm. Emerson Auditorium

Student Recital - Hollander Prize Competition
Tuesday, June 3rd, 5:00pm. Emerson Auditorium

Jazz Ensemble / Jazz Workshop
Wednesday, June 4th, 8:00pm. Emerson Euditorium

UCMD Student Project Showcase
Thursday, June 5th, 1:00pm. Emerson Auditorium

Chamber Music Workshop Concert
Thursday, June 5th, 7:00pm. Emerson Auditorium

Grace Yutong Wu Senior Piano Recital
Friday, June 6th, 12:50pm. Memorial Chapel

Visit our Events Page for more

Department of Music Fall 2025 Courses

music fall 2025 course poster

Fall 2025 Courses

AMU 100 Elements of Music Theory
TBD | TTh 9-10:45am

AMU 101 Music Theory:
Materials and Design I
Prof Olsen | TTh 10:55am-12:40pm

AMU 140 Music Tech 1:
Transforming Sound, Making Music
Prof Chandler
Section 1: TTh 10:55am-12:40pm
Section 2: TTh 1:55-3:40pm

AMU 161 From Beethoven to Bernstein
Prof McMullen | MW 3:05-4:45pm

AMU 213 Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven
Prof McMullen | TTh 9-10:45am

AMU 233 / AIS 233 Japanese
Drumming Workshop
Prof Matsue | MW 3:05-4:45pm

AMU 245 Sonic Storytelling
Prof Chandler | MWF 11:45am-12:50pm

AMU 306 Songwriting
Prof Olsen | MWF 10:30-11:35am

AMU 330 Musical Theater Production Workshop
Prof Byun | TTH 1:55-3:40pm

Ensembles

AMU 012 Japanese Drumming
and Global Fusion Band
Prof Matsue | Th 6:30-9:00pm

AMU 014 Choir
Prof Byun | TTh 5-6:30pm

AMU 015 Jazz Ensemble
Prof Olsen | W 7-9pm

AMU 017 Orchestra
Prof Byun | T 7-9:15pm

AMU 018 Early Music Ensemble
Prof McMullen | M 6-8pm

AMU 019 Musical Theater Production
Prof Byun | W 5-6:30pm

Music Major to Study Opera in Italy this Summer

The Music Department is proud to announce that Mollyjane Boyle '26, a double major in Music and History, has been accepted into an intensive two week summer opera program in Tuscany, Italy for Bel Canto style opera singing. Mollyjane will receive individual coaching with world-renowned artist-instructors and as well as performance experience. She is both excited and grateful for this incredible opportunity and cannot wait for this invaluable experience to expand her vocal proficiency. Mollyjane thanks Music professors Byun and Matsue for their support, guidance, and training which helped her secure this opportunity. She hopes to make her parents and teachers proud during her time abroad.

Hollander Prize

Ryder Mollo ‘26, Ben Pistiner ‘27 and Leo Weisberger ‘26 were presented with the Hollander Convocation Music Prize by Jennifer Matsue, professor of music and chair of the department.

Ryder Mollo ‘26, Leo Weisberger ‘26 and Ben Pistiner ‘27 perform legendary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane’s rendition of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s “My Favorite Things.” The students were presented with the Hollander Convocation Music Prize by Jennifer Matsue, professor of music and chair of the department.

Ryder Mollo ‘26, Ben Pistiner ‘27 and Leo Weisberger ‘26 were presented with the Hollander Convocation Music Prize by Jennifer Matsue, professor of music and chair of the department. The prize was established by the late Lawrence J. Hollander, dean of engineering emeritus. The students performed legendary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane’s rendition of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s “My Favorite Things.”

Aaron Rueter ’25 performs with Philadelphia Orchestra

Philadelphia Philharmonic

Rueter, a tenor, joined an international roster of vocalists alongside Albany Pro Musica, the Capital Region’s preeminent choral ensemble, in a performance of Carl Orff’s iconic Carmina Burana cantata. Read more here.

Overview

Union College offers a wide variety of courses in music theory, music technology, composition, music history, world music, and jazz studies. The music faculty are incredibly Interdisciplinary, and offer courses that intersect with other departments and programs across campus. Students enjoy many opportunities to perform in our numerous ensembles and develop musicianship through private lessons. We offer a Major, ID, Minor and a Global and Popular Musics Minor.