Your Experience

When you major or minor in music, you will of course have excellent individual classes, group classes, workshops and ensembles to help you improve your skills and prepare for the future. Other opportunities open to you in the music program are:

January Term - This special time each year in the academic calendar gives you the chance to travel; investigate new areas of study; refine independent thinking skills, integrate theoretical knowledge with practical experience, explore career options or pursue research interests.

Global Awareness - There are nearly 60 students from other countries on the Salem campus, providing students a wonderful opportunity to get to know more about other cultures. Study abroad opportunities and a course called Introduction to Music of the World opens windows of understanding to non-Western music.

Interdisciplinary Studies - You may choose to work with an adviser to create your own program of study. This may include music, either as a principal or secondary focus.

In the voices of Salem School of Music graduates: 

“Loved it and still miss the place. My teachers were the best!”
Patti Hay Peterson ’71 (BM piano), BM, DMA, University of Colorado/Boulder
Chair, Voice Department, University of Colorado/Boulder
 
“It really pays to have the very best and that’s what I had.”
Rebecca Beasley Pendleton C’48 (BM piano)
Graduate study in theory and organ, Peabody Conservatory

 “Salem College & Academy gave me the foundation, inspiration and mentoring to attain the goals I aspired to.”
Margaret Vardell Sandresky ’42 (BM organ), BM (composition) Eastman School of Music
 Taught at Oberlin, Univ. of Texas/Austin, UNC-SA (founded organ department),
World-acclaimed composer and 2004 Distinguished AGO Composer of the Year

 “I was able to develop career and interpersonal skills that are much needed in the music world, are rarely offered at other institutions.”
Laura Dangerfield Stevens ‘02 (BM flute), BM UNC-School of the Arts, free-lance flutist

“Extraordinary –more fulfilling than I could have ever imagined.”
Molly C. Brannock ’07 (BA minor/piano,) PhD gradate program in chemistry, NC State University

“My education and musical experiences were first-rate. My teachers were wonderful and inspiring, and my fellow students added very much to the complete experience.”
Patricia Barnes Griffith ’72 (BM piano), MM, DMA Peabody Conservatory; Professor of Piano, Kentucky State University

“I was well prepared for graduate work. Better than most! The Salem faculty were very giving of their time, always encouraging, very thorough in teaching. It was a close relationship with faculty and students—a larger school couldn’t have had that special bond. After being away from piano for many years, I was able to have a career as a performing pianist and chamber musician because I had had such a strong foundation.”
Ella Ann Lee Holding ’56 (BM piano); MM, Yale University, Fulbright Scholar; Artist-in-Residence, Campbell University

“Great training with great memories with great teachers!”
Sarah Lee Michaels ’83 (BM voice); actor, musical theatre, film, TV; Faculty, Lee Strasberg Institute of Film and Television, NYC

“With total support and encouragement of the music faculty, I thought I could accomplish whatever I set out to do musically, as long as I worked hard… I am deeply grateful to the Salem College School of Music for setting me on the path that made me who I am today, an active musician, nationally and internationally.”
Frances Cuningham Nobert C’59 (BM organ, piano); Professor Emerita of Music, Whittier College; Vice-President, Mader Corporation
MM, Syracuse University; DMA, University of Southern California, Fulbright Scholar

“Tough professors but they really push you to strive for the best.”
Nicole Smith Tilley C’06 (BM Ed); public school choral director

 “I found an exceptional musical experience with Margaret Vardell Sandresky as my organ teacher. As teacher and mentor, Margaret Vardell ranks with the best!!”
Sallie Kerner Fleming C’53 (BM organ, piano); graduate work Univ. of Michigan/Ann Arbor, Eastman School of Music, Indiana Univ.; faculty, Rollins College

“I would not have been able to get the two positions [Lincoln Center Music Library, RCA Record] without my BM degree from Salem. The knowledge gleaned there was invaluable.”
Jessica Marlow’61 (BM piano, organ); Lincoln Center Music Library, RCA, NYC

 “Salem gave me a wonderful foundation musically…and prepared me well for graduate study at Indiana University.”
Rebecca Miller Saunders C’90 (BM voice); soloist, Carolina Pro Musica

“It was a very special time for growth in the musical arts as well as personal growth through new experiences and friendships.”
Lynn Messick C’69 (BM piano); Music Director, School of Dance, UNC-School of the Arts

“I have been truly blessed with my Salem training!”
Beverly Brown Stone C’57 (BM piano, organ); church organist & music director, opera company accompanist