The Westminster Choir College of Rider University

This school moved around so much on my list when I was applying to colleges - top choice to fallback school to completely off the list to the only school I considered. I already knew some of the students and teachers at the school, and was used to the campus already since I had studied at the conservatory in their honors program for three years. When I submitted my application, I said that that is where I would be going to college - I loved the campus and the closeness of the entire student body.

As would hopefully be obvious, if you don't like choral music and don't like to sing, DON'T COME HERE! You're singing five days a week in class, and everyone here has so much fun when they're singing. Most of the students are either Music Ed or Voice Performance majors, but even in the choirs and voice studios, there's no competition besides the friendly competition you'd expect. Everyone will help you, and if you need help with your music or in a class, someone on campus will help you.

If you go to Westminster for four years and participate in some of the audition choirs, by the time you graduate, the phrase 'I'm performing at Carnegie Hall' or 'My choir just released another CD/was just nominated for a Grammy' will be somewhat common.

It's a small campus (there's only about 400 undergraduate and graduate students total), so you will get to know a lot of people. There are seniors that are friends with freshmen and sophomores, graduate students that are friends with undergraduates. One of the biggest things that ties the student body together (even more so than music, in my opinion), is the sense of family. If you're going through hard times, your entire year and a lot of other students will be there to give you support. And the gift of the Lutkin.

Regarding extracurricular activities, there aren't many OFFICIAL ones (mostly the audition and student choirs (Westminster Choir, Williamson Voices, and the Bell Choir are audition ensembles, and Mannerchor, Vox Musicia, and the a cappella choirs are student run), student produced opera and musical theatre performances, and student govermnent), but students are always active after classes. On weekends, there's always a pickup game of volleyball, ultimate frisbee, or soccer on the Great Plains. During the week, there will usually be a group of students in the dorm lounges watching TV, playing games, or just hanging out and talking. Unless you're someone who has no social life and just want's to sit in the practice rooms all day when you're not in class, you won't be bored. And if you want to do something that there isn't a club for, if you can get a group of students together you can form your own.

A word of warning, though: If there's a new episode of a TV show premiering tonight that a bunch of people want to see (this semester mostly being either Dr. Who or Once Upon a Time), the student population WILL kick you off of the TV about five minutes before it starts.

Regarding the composition program specifically, there is more flexibility in classes than most other composition departments have (unlike most schools, orchestration, counterpoint, and form aren't required but they strongly suggest them if you don't already have experience).

The composition faculty knows what they're doing in classes. However, if you are already really strong in composition like I am (had three years of college composition and theory before applying and a very large and diverse portfolio), the first semester composition course will be a little boring (although I like that the assignments are writing pieces in certain styles or for certain ensembles instead of the 'write a piece with 16 measures using only these pitches and in this style' that most other composition programs have). Once you start studying privately, you can move at your own pace and write in your own style and voice, however they do tend to like choral, piano, and organ music.

For your performance opportunities, you're mostly limited to vocal and keyboard music, although there are usually students that play other instruments but you have to ask around. However, if you have a choral piece that you want performed, just go onto the Great Plains and pull together a group of random students, give them the music and rehearse it once or twice before performing, and you'd have a sound that rivals most select choirs at other music schools.When you study at Westminster, you come for the excellence in the classroom, the teachers, and the singing, but you leave with the family and the friendships you make.

1st Year Male -- Class 2018

University Resource Use/ spending: A+, Education Quality: B+

Westminster is a great school for a disciplined student who is willing to be completely immersed in a program. There is not much time for extra curricular activities since most free time is spent practicing, or in rehearsals or performances. You will miss class for required performances / rehearsals and be expected to maintain all coursework. The performance ensembles are rewarding and exciting and provide world class experiences with conductors, orchestras, conductors and performers. Be ready to work hard!

3rd Year Female -- Class 2010

Scholastic Success: A+, Campus Maintenance: B-

This school is the place to be for a music educator seeking a choral emphasis. To attend any other institute would be a waste of time and money. Aside from the food, this school has the best performance opportunities of any music university. Performances with the NY philharmonic and other world renowned orchestras and conductors are apart of the life of a student.

3rd Year Male -- Class 2013

Education Quality: A+, Campus Maintenance: C+