- Locations: Urness, Studio A, and Boe Chapel (Organists have priority in Boe). Consult the Student Recitals
and Events schedule as well as posted on the bulletin board outside CHM 101 and HOM 245.) - Official Times: 7:00 p.m. or 8:15 p.m., typically on Tuesdays or Thursdays, and some Thursdays at 11:30 a.m.
- Application forms (see left, submitted online) are due in CHM 101 by 5:00 p.m. on the application deadline. Individual performance times should not exceed eight minutes. Instrumentalists wishing to perform works longer than eight minutes are encouraged to sign up for student recitals during the first weeks of the semester. Please clear performances longer than eight minutes with the Recital Committee Chair. The performance studies teacher must proof all spellings and timings included on recital application forms.
- Rehearsal times in the recital halls are limited to 20 minutes.
- Chamber ensembles coached by a faculty member may also perform on Student Recitals.
Recitals
General Guidelines for all Official Music Department Recitals
- Follow the policies and procedures provided in this handbook (Recital Guidelines I–V).
- Official Music Department Recitals include weekly Student Recitals, Junior and Senior Recitals that fulfill a degree requirement, recitals by any senior student taking lessons in the semester of the performance, and Chamber Ensemble, Composition, and Advanced Conducting Recitals. (See Sections I and III to the right.)
- See Section IV to the right for the sign-up schedule for Junior and Senior Recitals.
- Students must be taking lessons from a St. Olaf Music Department faculty member in the medium in which they will perform in order to perform in an official recital.
- Chamber Ensemble (String Night, Brass Night, Woodwind Night), Composition, and Advanced Conducting Recital participants must be under the mentorship of a music faculty advisor.
- No two official Music Department events may be scheduled at the same time.
- For space availability and room reservation requests, check the 25 Live Room Reservations WebViewer.
Below are the links to printable recital forms (please fill out completely, print and bring form to CHM 101). The forms can also be found on the door to CHM 101 (Barb Barth’s office). Junior and Senior recital can only be found on Barb’s door.
Student Recital Application
Jr/Sr Recital Application
BM Ed Entrance/Continuance Recital
BM Perf, Church Music Entrance/Continuance Recital
Senior Soloist Recital Application
Orchestra Tour Audition Form
Band Tour Soloist Audition Form
Fresh Ink Application– Print out, fill out, and return form to CHM 101 (Barb Barth) by due date.
Application deadlines and recital dates can be found here.
IMPORTANT! Before planning or scheduling any recital performance, consult with your instructor and see the Collaborative Pianist section in this handbook for collaborative pianist information.
Recital Calendar 2025/2026
- Locations: Urness, Studio A, Boe Chapel (Organists only), the Orchestra Room, or Fosnes.
- Times: Sunday recital times are 2:00, 3:15, 4:30, 7:00 and 8:15 p.m. Monday through Friday times are 7:00 and 8:15 p.m. There are no Saturday recitals except for one Saturday in the spring semester, when 2:00, 3:15, 4:30, 7:00 and 8:15 p.m. recital times will be available for seniors only.
- An application form must be completed in its entirety and returned to CHM 101 before a recital time can be reserved.
- Sign-up for recitals will start September 29 for senior B.M. Music Majors; October 6 for junior BM Performance Majors, and October 13 for any senior actively participating in lessons the term of their recital date.
- Applications for all 2026 January term and spring Junior (B.M. music performance majors) and Senior Recitals are due by December 11.
- Program Format: program information is due two weeks before the recital. All signatures for assistants will be due by this date, as well. Guidelines for program submission will be sent out approximately 3 weeks in advance of the recital date.
1. Full Recital – one hour in length (50 minutes of music): solo performer performing the entire program. The total recital length, including entering, exiting, and stage changes, should not exceed one hour.
2. Half Recital – one half-hour in length: soloist performing no longer than 30 minutes (25 minutes of music). Performers should be partnered and scheduled with another Half Recital performer. - Before a Full or Half recital will be scheduled, the student must complete two performances on an official Student Recital. (An entrance and/or continuance recital performance may fulfill this requirement.)
- Junior B.M. Performance Recitals may not be scheduled after spring break.
- Consult the Recital Availability Calendar for available dates.
- Senior Recitals may take place after spring break; however, all senior recitals must be completed before the first full weekend of May. Consult the Recital Availability Calendar for available dates and the last possible day to schedule a Senior Recital.
- Total rehearsal time in the recital halls are limited to 2x the recital length. Rehearsal times can be reserved by sending a request through the 25 Live Room Reservation WebViewer. Other spaces can be reserved for added rehearsals. Requests for a day/time that falls within 48 hours of the request for the performance space will be accommodated if the space is available at that time.
- All Recitals required for any Bachelor of Music degree must have three faculty members provide an evaluation of the recital (the student’s teacher and two additional faculty members). The student is responsible for obtaining the consenting faculty member’s signature on the recital application form before it is submitted for processing.
- There is a $100 recital date change fee. Exceptions (no fee charged) will be granted for documented cases of medical emergency, death or sudden serious illness of a close family member, or the college closing for an emergency (like a blizzard). The Recital and Special Events Committee will be in charge of determining exceptions, and will handle any cases of financial hardship in conjunction with the Financial Aid Office.
- The following chamber recitals are organized by faculty: String Night, Woodwind Night, Brass Night, Fresh Ink, and Advanced Conducting.
- Dates and times are determined a year in advance.
- With the permission of the recital committee, ensemble and chamber groups wanting a full chamber recital can hold an informal recital in Fosnes, the Orchestra room, or one of the dorm lounges.
- Performance spaces (Urness, Studio A, Boe) may be requested for January Term performance dates.
Sign ups will be done in the following manner for Fall, January Term, and Spring Term Recitals:
Beginning September 29, 2025: Senior required degree recitals
- B.M. Performance
- B.M. Education
- B.M. Church Music
- B.M. Composition (recital of compositions, not primary instrument)
Beginning October 6, 2025: Junior required degree recitals
- B.M. Performance
- B.M. Church Music
Beginning October 13, 2025: All other official recitals
- Senior B.A. Music Major and non-music majors taking lessons in the term of the recital, and have 2 solo recitals in the SIS.
- B.A. Composition emphasis
Beginning October 22, 2025:
- Unofficial/Informal Recitals (see section VI. Informal Recitals)
Note: The earliest opportunity to schedule a Senior Recital date is Monday, October 13, for B.M. majors submitting their application on September 29, 2025. The Recital Application must be complete and program information must be submitted at this time to be in good standing for that “earliest possible” date.
Once a recital date is scheduled, it can only be changed by petitioning and obtaining approval from the Recital Committee. There may be a rescheduling fee of $100 to reschedule once the date is submitted.
- Applications will not be accepted unless all recital participants and their respective performance studies teachers have indicated their approval by signing the recital application. Incomplete recital applications will be returned to the student’s teacher.
- A list of all recital participants with their teacher’s participation approval must be turned into the music office no later than two weeks before the performance date.
- Full Recitals should not exceed one hour (50 minutes of music) and Half Recitals should not exceed 30 minutes (25 minutes of music) including set-up, applause, stage changes, etc. House/Stage/Recording services will not extend past the maximum length of recital allowance.
- The Music Office will prepare the official program for all official recitals. The sponsoring faculty member must approve and proofread program content before the Music Office will accept the program information.
- Programs and notes must be submitted at least two full weeks before the recital date. If notes are not submitted before the deadline, the student will be responsible for preparing the notes and they will not be included in the student’s or the department’s permanent files.
- Notes should be succinct and only relate to the music performed (i.e., dedications and the thanking of one’s teachers, parents, etc. are unacceptable).
- All programs must be submitted to barth@stolaf.edu in either a word .doc/.docx file or Google Doc.
- The Music Office will need five copies of the finished program. The department will pay for the first 50 copies of the program.
- Students are provided a stage manager, a house manager, and a recordist; they must provide their own page turner if needed.
- The Music Department may provide financial assistance towards the collaborative pianist’s accompanying fee for degree-required programs; however, this assistance may not necessarily cover the entire fee. The department chair must first approve requests for the department to assist with payment to professional pianists. See Collaborative Pianists for additional information.
- The CHM Reception Room is automatically scheduled for the hour following the Junior/Senior Recital. Students are responsible for clean up afterwards as indicated on the instructions posted in the kitchen area.
- Posters will be done by the student are are to be no larger than 11 X 17 inches.
- Consult your teacher for points of etiquette (i.e., bowing, entering and leaving the stage, etc.). Unauthorized photography or video and audio recording is prohibited. No flash pictures during any recital.
- Any student wanting to use the harpsichord or forte-piano for a recital must contact the Music Office at least two weeks prior to the recital. The piano faculty in charge of the harpsichord or forte piano need to sign the application to show support for the instrument use.
- It is the student’s responsibility to inform family and friends attending the recital that flowers on stage and presentation bouquets are not allowed. There are to be no encores.
- An Informal Recital is a recital that doesn’t fall into the “official recital” category (e.g., a sophomore student or non-degree recital).
- Informal recitals may be given in residence halls (as permitted by hall directors) without applying to the Department of Music.
- Informal recitals are not allowed in Urness, Studio A, or Boe Chapel; however, organists may petition to hold an informal recital in Boe or Studio A.
- The student must be taking lessons to schedule a recital in Fosnes or the Orchestra Room and have two solo performances on the SIS (your teacher can support the request with only 1 solo recital by contacting the recital committee chair for approval).
Performance Requirements for Music Majors
Listed to the right are all the recital performance needs for all Music Majors to meet the degree requirements.
If you have questions about the requirements please consult with your studio instructor.
Note: in order to perform on any official Music Department recital a student must be taking lessons with a St. Olaf College Music Department faculty member on the instrument/voice of the recital performance.
- Twice as a soloist in the principal performing area in a Student Recital with at least one performance in the
junior or senior year
- Twice as a soloist in the principal performing area in a Student Recital (entrance and continuance recitals may fulfill this requirement) before the juried half recital.
- A juried half recital in the junior or senior year. The jury is comprised of three music faculty members (the student’s Performance Studies teacher and two others).
- In the senior year, students propose, structure, and execute a significant capstone project that involves choral conducting and the demonstration of corollary skills related to church music.
- Twice as a soloist in the principal performing area in a Student Recital (entrance and continuance recitals may fulfill this requirement) before the juried junior recital.
- Either a juried half recital or, with permission by petition, three performances as a soloist in a Student Recital in the junior year. The jury is comprised of three music faculty members (the student’s Performance Studies teacher and two others).
- A juried full recital during the senior year. The jury is comprised of three music faculty members (the student’s Performance Studies teacher and two others).
- Twice as a soloist in the principal performing area in a Student Recital with at least one performance in the junior or senior year (entrance and continuance recitals may fulfill this requirement).
- A presentation of original works in a recital. Performances of these works can be done on one recital or on several recitals. In the latter case, the music should, when taken together, comprise a substantial musical concert program. Each student should discuss how this requirement would be met with the Composition faculty no later than the fall semester of the senior year.
- Twice as a soloist in the principal performing area in a Student Recital with at least one performance in the junior or senior year (entrance and continuance recitals may fulfill this requirement).
- Two performances in a small ensemble in area of specialty
Vocal specialization:
1. 1 chamber music performance must be in an ensemble with one singer per part with a minimum of two and a maximum of eight singers in the ensemble.
2. 1 performance may be in a lab choir (20 or fewer singers) or in Chamber Singers
Instrumental specialization:
1. 1 chamber music performance must be in an ensemble with one player per part.
2. 1 performance may be in Collegium Musicum, Flute Choir, Clarinet Choir, Trombone Choir, Percussion Ensemble, Horn Club, Tuba/Euphonium Choir, or in another ensemble of 20 or fewer players. - A juried half recital in the principal performing area in the senior year. The jury is comprised of three music faculty members (the student’s Performance Studies teacher and two others).
- Twice as a soloist in the principal performing area in a Student Recital (entrance and continuance recitals may fulfill this requirement) before the juried junior recital.
- Either a juried half recital or, with permission by petition, three performances as a soloist in a Student Recital in the junior year. The jury is comprised of three music faculty members (the student’s Performance Studies teacher and two others).
- A juried full recital during the senior year. The jury is comprised of three music faculty members (the student’s Performance Studies teacher and two others).
- Twice as a soloist in the principal performing area in a Student Recital with at least one performance in the junior or senior year (entrance and continuance recitals may fulfill this requirement).
Recital/Concert Attendance Requirements (formerly knows as Pink Cards)
Non-music majors who are taking lessons are required to attend at least four (4) official recitals or concerts per semester.
Music majors are required to attend a minimum of ten (10) official recitals or concerts per semester, with a total of 60 by graduation.
Attendance credit is given for all official student recitals, faculty and guest artist recitals, and ensemble concerts.
To receive credit for attendance, swipe your ID with the House Manager when you enter the concert hall. You must swipe on the way in – swiping at the end of an event is not allowed. Except for official master classes (see below), you must arrive on time and remain for the entire performance to receive attendance credit.
Students who participate in one piece on a student recital, and stay for the entire recital, will be eligible to swipe: the student will swipe at the door before the event starts. Attendance credit is also given for participation in Band Day, Choral Day, and Christmas Festival. Students participating in Christmas Festival will receive one attendance credit for the three-day event.
Collaborative student pianists can receive attendance credit if they do not receive performance credit.
Attendance credit will also be given for attending official master classes (a minimum of one hour) and Pedagogy Saturday.
Attendance credit will not be given for any musical event off-campus or for partial attendance.