The MDSC is made up of two representatives from each of the sophomore, junior and senior classes of music majors. It serves as the liaison between students and Music Department faculty and administration. In addition, it sponsors several social events each year. Contact any of the representatives with your ideas, questions, and concerns.
Senior Representatives
Hannah Leiseth ’25 Alice Ryan ‘25 Mars Dall ‘25 Henry Vermeer ’25
Junior Representatives
Josie Scozzari ’26 Andrew Kramer ’26
Sophomore Representatives
Bree Nissley ’27 John Rasmussen ’27
Student Organizations – see below for student-run music ensembles.
Pi Kappa Lambda is an honor society recognizing outstanding accomplishment in music. The Beta Delta chapter was founded at St. Olaf College in April 1964. Music faculty, and junior and senior students majoring in music are eligible for membership. The Music Department pays the one-time membership fee.
The St. Olaf student chapter of the American Choral Directors Association is part of a national organization that works to connect music educators, choral directors, composers, and other choral music enthusiasts via conferences, topic meetings, workshops and masterclasses, as well as social events. With a student membership, future directors and educators can explore the benefits and resources of membership to a professional choral organization while still in college. Meetings are usually monthly, dates/times TBD by group. New members can join by emailing silves1@stolaf.edu or coming to a meeting! All are welcome! Insta: @stolaf_acda Facebook: St. Olaf ACDA Student Chapter Sign up for our alias on Instagram! Faculty Advisors: Anton Armstrong (x3183) and Therees Hibbard (x3187)
Faculty Advisor: Leigh Ann Garner (x3190) The Music Educators’ National Conference is a voluntary, nonprofit organization representing all phases of music education in schools, colleges, universities, and teacher-education institutions. Active MENC membership is open to all persons engaged in music teaching or other music educational work. Look for the posters and announcements about becoming a part of MENC.
Faculty Advisor: Dale Kruse (x3931) The St. Olaf Student NATS Chapter (National Association of Teachers of Singing) is intended to increase and enhance a student’s knowledge and understanding of singing, pedagogy, vocal science, literature, and artistry, and to stimulate discussions that will benefit future singers and teachers of singing. Membership dues are required.
A community of student choristers dedicated to performing and preserving the works of F. Melius Christiansen and the St. Olaf choral tradition.
Rehearsals: TBD, one hour per week during the spring.
Performances: We have one concert every spring, where the choir performs a larger motet accompanied by other shorter works.
Social Media: Website, Instagram, YouTube
New members join by filling out the form linked on our website. Contact Thomas McCarthy for more information.
Faculty Advisor: Anton Armstrong
Musika NovaMusika Nova is a student organization where student composers and songwriters on campus can collectively share and discuss music creation.
Meetings: Mondays, 7-8 p.m., in CHM 224 and Saturdays, 7-8 p.m., in BC 143.
Performances: Musika Nova does not currently offer group recitals/concerts. However, we are associated with Fresh Ink, a concert of new music on campus each semester. We are able to help with score preparation, engraving, and finding musicians to premiere pieces.
It’s pretty simple for new members to join – just let one of the club administration know and we can add you to the mailing list and send you a presence invitation. After you’ve officially accepted the invitation, you are a member of Musika Nova! Contact Lucas Sanner (sanner2@stolaf.edu) for more information.
Faculty Advisor: Henry Dorn
St. Olaf TaikoWe are St. Olaf’s student-run Japanese drumming group! Taiko (太鼓) is a form of Japanese drumming, passed down through oral and visual tradition. St Olaf Taiko is dedicated to teaching the art of taiko drumming, aims to develop as a performance based group, and hopes to spread our talents and knowledge through a variety of performances throughout the year to a diverse population. St. Olaf Taiko was founded in 2004 and has always been student led.
Rehearsals: Sundays, 1-3pm, in CHM 140, and Fridays, 6-8pm CHM 140/Dance Studio 3
Performances: Concerts at the end of each semester with smaller performances throughout the school year.
Social Media: Instagram, YouTube, Website
Members can join at the beginning of the each semester (including J-term) by showing up to rehearsals! No musical experience is necessary – everyone is welcome. Contact Koharu Ferguson (fergus14@stolaf.edu) or stolaf.taiko@gmail.com for more information.
Faculty Advisor: Chung Park