Six students from the music arts management program — Gio Choi, Isabella Lambert,
Sebastian Kuhn, Alex Rudnick, Luke Gerhardt and Ngozi Permaul — have been invited
to attend the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) conference in January
as Lamond GenNext Award recipients. The NAMM show is the largest gathering of music
forces of all kinds — brands, industry leaders, cutting-edge products, social media
influencers, music production professionals, and of course music education. The NAMM
show is more than just an event, it’s an immersive experience that will ignite new
ideas, and strengthen your place in the industry through networking opportunities
and hands-on experience.
Lamond GenNext Awards are highly competitive scholarships with rigorous guidelines.
They include a cash stipend as well as free admission to the NAMM show and to NAMM
U sessions and events. The students will attend the conference in Los Angeles, in
January 2025, with faculty supervisor and department chair, Karen Becker. Says junior
Isabella Lambert “Attending the NAMM show will be so helpful to boost my confidence,
and open up my networking circle. As an aspiring singer/songwriter, I am especially
looking forward to the support from the WON (Women of NAMM) events!”
Senior Alex Rudnick is looking forward to “gaining even more knowledge in current
technical trends in stage management and stage technology.” Alex adds: “I‘m already
working at PSU doing lights and sound for the theatre department, getting even more
current ideas of what others in the field are doing, that I can bring back and show
to my friends.”
Music arts management came online in 2019. After enduring through Covid, and the associated
elimination of anything face-to-face, enrollments are stronger than ever. The brainchild
of department chair, Karen Becker, MAM is one of the only interdisciplinary degrees
on campus with elements of business, public relations, communications (audio and video
production), and music. Students gain a broad perspective in all elements of music
and arts management. Graduates have gone on to work in radio, business, music studio
production and public relations. Students have also attended graduate school in other
types of music industry programs. Says Dr. Becker, “We are just beginning our association
with NAMM and the internship possibilities are limitless.”
As a music major, you will develop musicianship skills and the ability to create and
perform your own music as well as the classical canon. The program is flexible enough
to meet your musical interests and to aid you to develop your career goals. Through
close faculty mentoring, we encourage our students to find links between music and
other disciplines.
The Heisler Scholarships are unique in that they are not based upon financial need.
Recipients must be enrolled as a music B.A. or B.S. major or minor. They are chosen
for their performance proficiency and their potential to contribute to the music program.
Scholarships are given for a maximum of one academic year and are renewable.
Applicants must apply to the Department of Music, pass an initial audition/interview
session and maintain a 3.0 GPA once on campus.
All recipients of the Heisler Scholarship are required to participate in one of the
following ensembles:
Concert choir
Guitar ensemble
Mambo combo
Gospel choir
Symphonic band
They register for at least one other music course during the year of the scholarship
award; this music course may be another ensemble, applied lessons or a classroom course
such as theory or music history.
Friday, April 12, 2024 from 2 to 5 p.m. in the John Myers Building on campus. If you would like to be considered for scholarship, but are unable to
be present face-to-face, video or audio may be uploaded via email to [email protected] by Wednesday, April 10, 2024 by Noon.
Heisler forms are available below and can also be sent electronically in addition
to any audio or video files. You are NOT required to audition to enroll as a music major or minor.
Students will be assigned a private audition time that will last approximately 10–12
minutes. Upon request, a faculty accompanist will be provided free of charge. Applicants
should provide scores that are legible and clearly marked, preferably two weeks prior
to the audition.
Repertoire Guidelines
In general, works performed for area All-State auditions are appropriate for the audition.
Applicants must perform all works from memory, unless it is traditional to perform
with music on your instrument.
Prepare two pieces of contrasting nature and style. If you are a singer, one of your
two songs should be in English, and the other preferably in Italian, German or French.
If you are an instrumentalist and are performing a major one-movement work, be prepared
to perform contrasting sections.
The audition selections may be accompanied or unaccompanied. Scales or vocalization
will be requested at the discretion of the music faculty.
Audition Forms
Please be sure to have all your paperwork to the music department office by the deadline
date stated for each audition. Deadline for the Fall 2024 semester is Wednesday, April 10 at noon.
An endowment has been established that provides scholarship money for any student
enrolled in the College Symphonic Band. Anyone registering for the course (MUS 393A)
will get an automatic small scholarship. Ability to read music and play a wind or
percussion instrument is required. There are no other requirements and no audition.
The scholarship is available to all students on campus, regardless of discipline or
major. Here is an excellent opportunity to make music and earn a scholarship at the
same time. Contact Dan Gordon at [email protected] for further information.
Our audio technology lab perfectly augments the music program (as well as others including
communication) because it allows the students to take their formal music training
and ideas from conception to a finished product.
News & Notes is the Department of Music’s quarterly newsletter dedicated to the students,
faculty, staff and events within the department. Started in the fall of 2015, issues
have focused on student projects, information on upcoming musicals and our amazing
alumni. Limited print copies are available through the Department of Music & Theatre
Office, located in 220 Myers Fine Arts, and copies are also sent via mailing list.
If you are interested in receiving print copies, would like to be on our mailing list
or have a question about the newsletter, please email Dwayne Butchino.
