Music - Lewis & Clark

Music - Lewis & Clark
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Art (Studio)
Art History
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Computer Science and Mathematics
Data Science
Economics
Environmental Studies
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History
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Mathematics
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Philosophy
Physics
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Psychology
Religious Studies
Rhetoric and Media Studies
Sociology and Anthropology
Student-Designed Major
Theatre
World Languages
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Art and Art History
Artificial Intelligence
Asian Studies
Chemistry
Chinese
Classics
Computer Science
Cybersecurity
Dance
Data Science
Earth System Science
Economics
Education
Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation
Environmental Studies
Ethnic Studies
French Studies
Gender Studies
German Studies
Health Studies
Hispanic Studies
History
Japanese
Latin American and Latino Studies
Law and Policy
Mathematics
Middle East and North African Studies
Music
Neuroscience
Philosophy
Physics
Political Economy
Political Science
Religious Studies
Rhetoric and Media Studies
Russian
Theatre
 

 
 
 
Academics
Music
Music
We provide a wide variety of music performance and academic courses that are open to music majors, music minors, or simply music lovers. You will have access to a conservatory-caliber education in a liberal arts environment, which is excellent preparation for further musical study, a career in music, and global citizenry. You will also have direct ties to the vibrant music scene in Portland, the
third most creative city
in America!
Majors
Art (Studio)
Art History
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Biology
Chemistry
Classics
Computer Science
Computer Science and Mathematics
Data Science
Economics
Environmental Studies
French Studies
German Studies
Hispanic Studies
History
International Affairs
Mathematics
Music
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Religious Studies
Rhetoric and Media Studies
Sociology and Anthropology
Student-Designed Major
Theatre
World Languages
Minors
Art and Art History
Artificial Intelligence
Asian Studies
Chemistry
Chinese
Classics
Computer Science
Cybersecurity
Dance
Data Science
Earth System Science
Economics
Education
Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation
Environmental Studies
Ethnic Studies
French Studies
Gender Studies
German Studies
Health Studies
Hispanic Studies
History
Japanese
Latin American and Latino Studies
Law and Policy
Mathematics
Middle East and North African Studies
Music
Neuroscience
Philosophy
Physics
Political Economy
Political Science
Religious Studies
Rhetoric and Media Studies
Russian
Theatre
Why Choose a Degree in Music?
Our faculty are distinguished performers, composers, and musicologists who provide rich and rigorous coursework for all students, from professionally oriented students preparing for careers in music to dedicated nonmajors who want to continue their musical studies. We foster a collaborative sense of community and take pride in our ability to offer all our students the opportunity for an outstanding musical education full of growth and joy.
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What You’ll Study
The department offers a major and minor. In addition to musicianship, literature, theory, and weekly lessons in their performance area, all our majors study conducting, instrumentation, and world music. Our programs in musicology and ethnomusicology are exceptional, as are our programs in composition and performance. From the wind ensemble to the orchestra, from raga and tala recitals to the Voces Auream choir, our students are creating, studying, performing, and researching music in groundbreaking, exciting ways.
Many of our students study music and earn course credit while on an overseas program. In addition to general cultural programs that are open to all students, we encourage our majors to participate in the
England: Fine Arts
program. The program focuses on the arts in the U.K. and the relationship of music, theatre, and the visual arts to English culture. In addition to attending weekly concerts and plays and visiting galleries and museums, students embrace social and economic questions related to the arts through classes, lectures, and group discussions.
Outside the classroom, we offer lessons in a wide variety of instruments, including voice, and students can choose to participate in a variety of
ensembles
, such as choirs, wind ensemble, orchestra, jazz combos, Ghanaian percussion, Javanese gamelan, Opera and Musical Theatre Workshop, and more. All performing groups welcome participation by nonmajors, and all studio instruction is open to beginning as well as advanced students. Our annual
James W. Rogers Concert
features exciting musical performances by members of the student body and faculty in solo, chamber, and large ensemble settings. Our performance instructors regularly perform with groups of great distinction, such as the Oregon Symphony, the Mel Brown B-3 Group, Cappella Romana, Resonance Ensemble, Portland Percussion Group, and Pink Martini. The Faculty Chamber Players and Palatine Trio series feature members of our splendid performance faculty, as does the annual Friends of Rain concert, which focuses on music composed in the last 50 years.
Curriculum
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Complement Your Education With One of These Minors
The most popular minors for our music majors are
history
, and
theatre
#1
L&C is #1 when it comes to Niche’s 2025 list of “
Best Colleges for Music in Oregon
.”
What Students Are Saying About Lewis & Clark
The community fostered by Lewis & Clark’s mathematics faculty makes the major an amazing, uplifting, and interesting experience.
Piper McCoy Harmon BA ’26
Computer Science and Mathematics | Music | Portland, Oregon
More about Piper
My favorite class was Orchestration with Michael Johanson. It was a class to explore parts of music I did not know I was capable of doing. I did not think I would find something new I was passionate about. I thought I only liked playing music, but I also learned I liked creating music.
Kalea Kaui BA ’23, MAT ’25
Music (performance) | San Jose, California
More about Kalea
What I like about my music major is accessibility. I have the time and flexibility to explore my other passions, while still developing my skills as a musician.
Marta Ružić BA ’25
Music | Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina
More about Marta
What Can You Do With a Degree in Music?
Our alumni use their bachelor of arts degree in music to pursue careers in music and many other fields. They also attend prestigious graduate schools, such as Princeton University, University of Michigan, Indiana University, the Royal Academy of Music, College of William and Mary, and the University of California at Los Angeles.
Dedicated Faculty
Our expert professors are your expert mentors. You will learn directly from faculty (no graduate assistants here!) that are nationally recognized in their fields of study and who love to work with and learn from their students. Your professors will inspire you to be a thoughtful and passionate participant in a diverse world. Your small classes will support you as you explore new ideas, find your voice, and speak your truth.
Our music faculty are some of the most engaged working artists in the Pacific Northwest. They are fellowship winners, run nationally recognized arts nonprofits, and have had their work supported through residencies, foundations, and grants. The faculty produce events annually, often bringing students on as assistants or collaborators.
Meet the Professors
Top
For the seventh time in 11 years, Lewis & Clark has been named a
Fulbright U.S. Student Program Top Producing Institution
for 2023–24.
Equity
We are the only liberal arts school in Oregon on Colleges of Distinction’s
“Best Equity and Inclusion” list
for 2025–26.
4-5-6
Lewis & Clark’s
4-5-6 Commitment
can help you make the most of your future.
19
Average class size for undergraduate students
2,139
As of fall 2024, there are 2,139 degree-seeking students enrolled at Lewis & Clark College.
Invest in Yourself
A private liberal arts education is often
more affordable than you think
. Last year, Lewis & Clark distributed over $74 million in assistance from institutional, federal, state, and private sources. Additionally, we’re so confident that our first-year students will graduate with their bachelor of arts degree in four years that if you don’t, we’ll
cover the extra semester of tuition
At Lewis & Clark, we think demonstrating outstanding skill and potential in an instrument, voice part, and/or music composition deserves recognition, which is why we offer
merit-based music scholarships
, regardless of your major. These scholarships range from $1,400 per year, which covers the cost of applied lessons, to approximately $6,000 per year. The amount of aid a student receives is contingent upon their audition and financial need.
Music Scholarships
Find Your People
Students can join a variety of student-run organizations. Don’t see what you’re looking for on the
club list
? Start something new and build your own community of peers!
Where Lewis & Clark Will Take You
The hands-on mentorship, the thoughtful pedagogy, and, of course, my classmates at L&C holistically prepared me for graduate school.
David Salkowski BA ’14
Music | Russian Studies
More about David
L&C prepared me for working professionally in the arts by allowing me to try everything. That flexibility led me to really diverse professional opportunities.
Elsa Dougherty BA ’20
Music | Flushing, Michigan
More about Elsa
Lewis & Clark opened doors for me and helped me get a foothold in the Portland music scene. L&C classes gave me the confidence to believe in myself and my own ideas. I am lucky to still be making connections through L&C.
Coco Bender BA ’16
Piano performance | Eugene, Oregon
More about Coco
Music Events
April 24
Javanese Gamelan Ensemble
Join us for an end-of-semester “open house” performance by our Javanese Gamelan Ensemble on Friday, April 24, 2026 at 2pm in Evans Music Center’s World Music Room (room 036).
April 24
Music Colloquium: Dr. Kerry McCarthy
Life as a professional singer in 16th-century England involved a lot of travel, and this talk explores what that looked like in the everyday lives of musicians.
April 25
Student Piano Recitals
The Lewis & Clark piano students have their end of semester recital on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 12pm in Evans Auditorium.
April 26
Lewis & Clark Orchestra and Choirs
Lewis & Clark’s Choirs and Orchestra join forces for a performance of Dvořák’s
Stabat Mater
on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 3:00pm in Agnes Flanagan Chapel. You won’t want to miss this unforgettable event!
April 27
Electronic Music Concert
The Lewis & Clark Department of Music present an evening of original student electronic music on Monday, April 27, 2026 at 7:30pm in Evans Auditorium.
April 29
Indian Music Ensemble Performance
Join us for the Indian Music Ensemble’s end-of-semester class performance on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 7:00pm in Evans Auditorium.
April 30
African Music Performance
Join us for a combined end-of-semester performance by our Ghanaian and Zimbabwean Music Ensembles on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 6pm in Agnes Flanagan Chapel.
Featured News
Paschal’s Professional Ensemble Releases Album Showcasing Modern Percussion
Read the story
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Becky Guderian
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