B.Mus. Church Music

Major

With a church music degree, you will learn to serve Jesus Christ through music, sharpen your skills as a musician and help others encounter God through the abilities He has given you.  

A degree in church music from Concordia University, Nebraska prepares you to lead and direct music in both traditional and contemporary worship settings. Here, you’ll study with artist faculty who are inspiring performers and passionate teachers, perform in ensembles and have the opportunity to lead and participate in chapel and praise services. Your church music curriculum will include classes in religion and private study of piano, organ and voice, as well as conducting and composing music. 

The degree also leads to rostered status in The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod as a director of parish music for individuals who are members of an LCMS congregation and can prepare you with the aptitude and proficiency necessary for pursuing music ministry beyond church and school settings, as a performer, composer or publisher of sacred music. 

Church Music Courses

132 credit hours
100% career outcome rate1
13:1 Student-to-faculty ratio
 

Use your musical abilities to glorify God! 

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Program Highlights

Why Study Church Music At Concordia?

The church music degree program at Concordia University, Nebraska prepares students to lead and direct a comprehensive music ministry in a variety of parish settings. Emphasis is placed upon leading the song of the congregation through the organ, the piano, the choirs and the instrumentalists. The church music program seeks to help students glorify and share the word of God through music. 

Concordia Nebraska is an institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), an organization of schools, conservatories, colleges and universities whose degrees and credentials adhere to national standards, making our music program one of rigorous academics, excellent performance and high professional quality. 

  • About a third of Concordia students participate in music through lessons, ensembles and classes.  
  • Several ensembles tour nationally, and the A Cappella Choir takes an international tour every four years.  
  • Music majors from 20+ different states call Concordia home.  
  • Students may spend a semester in Cambridge, England’s leading center for choral and church music.  
  • There are 12 organs on campus by 11 different builders.  
  • Most pianos in the music department were manufactured by Steinway, and we are on the way to becoming an all-Steinway school.  
  • Concordia students won the biennial Richard Hillert Award in Student Composition in 2018, 2020 and 2022.  
  • Concordia students won the biennial Norma Aamodt-Nelson Student Scholar Award of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians in 2021 and 2023.  
  • A Concordia graduate was a 2023 winner of the Metropolitan Opera’s Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition.  

Learn more about music performance at Concordia 

 

MEET OUR EXPERT FACULTY 

As experts in church music, our faculty and instructors bring years of experience to the classroom. 

Meet the faculty

Meet our students

Thomas Schulteis
Parker, Colorado

This experience has given me many ideas to help prepare for church work, especially all of the things that happen outside of the worship service on a Sunday morning. I understand more about what the role of the church musician may look like.

Accreditation

Concordia University, Nebraska is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 

The music program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. 

Degree Goals

A church music program graduate from Concordia University, Nebraska will be able to:  

  • Perform, create, analyze and understand music in its historical, cultural and religious context. 
  • Lead music in a church or worship setting. 
  • Demonstrate an understanding of form, dynamics and style. 
  • Engage members of a congregation to share and hear the word of God through music and worship in order to create a vibrant life of faith. 

Music Minors

  • Church Music 
  • Music 

Career Outcomes

Choir Director 

  • Manage a choir, ensemble or glee club in a school, church or other musical organization 
  • Compose music and lead practices performances of vocal and/or instrumental music 

Composer 

  • Write and direct original music 
  • Create new instrumental and/or vocal compositions 

Recording Artist 

  • Record worship or Christian songs, either of your own creation or those others have written 
  • Perform in live shows 

 

FAQs

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1 Recent graduates attending graduate school or employed within six months of graduation.