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Department of Music • Northfield, Minnesota
Quick Take
St. Olaf College in Northfield integrates Lutheran heritage with world-renowned choral and classical traditions, famed for its beloved Christmas Festival broadcast and internationally touring ensembles. The department is among the most celebrated in American choral music, with extraordinary ensemble culture, strong merit aid, and a residential campus community where musical participation is central to the St. Olaf experience.
Quick Facts
Program
Program size: medium
Primary genres/styles: choral, classical, folk, jazz, sacred, Scandinavian
Primary instruments/disciplines: bassoon, cello, clarinet, double bass, flute, guitar, horn, oboe, organ, percussion, piano, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, tuba, viola, violin, voice
Primary areas of study: church music, composition, conducting, ethnomusicology, music education, performance
Admissions
Selectivity: selective
Competitiveness: competitive
Audition: is required
Average GPA: 3.8
Prescreening: is not required
Program Overview
The music program at St Olaf is medium in size and a .
Music Genre/Style Strengths
St Olaf supports the following musical genres/styles: choral, classical, folk, jazz, sacred, Scandinavian. At some schools, students can explore multiple styles while developing strong technical and artistic foundations within their primary genre.
Visit the St Olaf website for more specific information on the music genres/styles it supports.
Primary Instruments
Students at St Olaf can pursue study across a range of instruments, including bassoon, cello, clarinet, double bass, flute, guitar, horn, oboe, organ, percussion, piano, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, tuba, viola, violin, voice. Students study privately with faculty on their primary instrument while participating in ensembles and collaborative performances.
Visit the St Olaf website for more specific information about their support for studies on specific instruments.
Music Studies Offered at St Olaf
Students at St Olaf can pursue degrees focused on church music, composition, conducting, ethnomusicology, music education, performance. Music degree programs typically combine private instruction, ensemble participation, music theory coursework, and performance opportunities designed to prepare students for careers in music.
Visit the St Olaf website for more specific information on the programs of study it offers.
Acceptance
Musical acceptance at St Olaf is selective. Academically, it is selective, with accepted students having an average GPA of 3.8. (Unlike academic programs, music admissions typically emphasize performance and artistic potential.) The application deadline for St Olaf is Nov 1 (ED) | Jan 15 (regular) of each year.
Visit the Shenandoah website to confirm acceptance information and deadlines.
Auditions
An audition is required at St Olaf, and the school's auditions are considered to be competitive. The audition window is Jan–Mar of each year. A pre-screening video or portfolio is not required.
Visit the St Olaf website for more specific information on auditions.
Timeline
Application deadline: Nov 1 (ED) | Jan 15 (regular)
Live Auditions: Jan–Mar
Applicants should confirm specific deadlines with the official admissions office, as schedules may vary.
Location and Music Scene
St. Olaf sits on a hilltop in Northfield, a small Minnesota town with an almost mythic choral culture, where the St. Olaf Choir's global reputation makes the campus a pilgrimage site for choral music.
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