New Student Orientation Information 2024-2025

Welcome to St Olaf and to the St. Olaf Music Department! This is where you’ll find important announcements and information regarding your arrival on the Hill. Note: we’re still making plans for your arrival, so check back here for current information during Summer 2024.

Click on the links (right) to access information about ensemble auditions, lessons, practice rooms, and much more.

Getting ready for school and moving in is exciting, anxiety-producing, and occasionally confusing. We’re here to help – if you have questions, please contact two people you will get to know very well as an Ole musician:

Lisa McDermott, HOM 245, 507-786-3180
Barb Barth, CHM 101, 507-786-3568

**You’ve TOTALLY got this!**

You can find the campus-wide New Student Orientation Schedule here.

FIRST YEAR STUDENTS

Students who submitted the Music Interest Form will receive audition information (day and time) through their St. Olaf email from the Music Department. Please contact Barbara Barth with any questions.

ENSEMBLES

First-Year students are welcome to audition for:

St. Olaf Band
(meets Monday 3:15–4:45 p.m., Tuesday 4:30–6 p.m., and Thursday 4:50–6:15 p.m.)
Norseman Band
(meets Monday 4:50–6 p.m., Wednesday and Friday 4:30–6 p.m.)
St. Olaf Orchestra
(meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 4:30–6 p.m.)
St. Olaf Philharmonia
(meets Tuesday 3:15–5:15 p.m. and Thursday 3:45–5:45 p.m.)
Manitou Singers
(first–year soprano and alto voices; meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 3:15–4:15 p.m.)
Viking Chorus
(first-year tenor and bass voices; meets Monday and Wednesday 4:30–5:30 p.m., and Thursday 4:50–5:50 p.m.)
Collegiate Chorale
(soprano and alto voices only, no audition required; meets Tuesday 6–7 p.m.)
Collegium Musicum
(meets Tuesday 6:05–8:30 p.m.)
Jazz Ensembles
(two ensembles, meets Mondays and Wednesdays: Jazz I – 7-9 p.m., Jazz II – 9-10p.m.)
Handbell Choirs
(St. Olaf Handbell Choir: Tuesday 3:45–4:55 PM and Sunday 8–9:15 PM/Chapel Ringers: Tuesday 5:05–6:15 PM)

TRANSFER STUDENTS

May audition for all of the above (except Manitou Singers and Viking Chorus), plus

St. Olaf Choir (MTWF 4:30 – 6 p.m. and Thursday 4:50 – 6:15 p.m.)
St. Olaf Cantorei (meets Tuesdays, 3:10-4:20 p.m., Wednesdays, 4:15-5:20 p.m., and Thursdays, 3:50-4:50 p.m.)
St. Olaf Chapel Choir (meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 3:10–4:15 p.m.).
Chamber Singers
(meets Tuesday, 3:10 p.m.–4:20 p.m. and Thursday, 3:45–4:45 p.m.)

Read more about Ensemble Auditions here: (https://wp.stolaf.edu/music/incoming-audition-information/)

JAZZ AUDITION INFORMATION

There are two jazz bands (Jazz I & II) that are open to all musicians, regardless of experience or skill level.

Auditions for all groups will begin on Saturday of NSO weekend. A link for more information will be posted here. Feel free to contact Dr. Joseph Jefferson if you have questions.

HANDBELL CHOIRS AUDITION INFORMATION

More information will be posted here closer to NSO weekend. A sign-up sheet for auditions will be posted outside of CHM 101.

For more information, contact Prof. Jill Mahr.

COLLEGIUM MUSICUM INFORMATION

Students who are interested in joining Collegium Musicum are invited to attend the Collegium Open House which will be held the Tuesday after classes begin at 7:00 p.m. in Fosnes (CHM 233).

An interest sign-up sheet will be posted outside of CHM 101.

You can learn more about Collegium Musicum at https://wp.stolaf.edu/collegium.

For more information, contact Prof. Dana Maeda.

PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE INFORMATION

Students interested in joining Percussion Ensemble should contact Prof. Matt McClung.

Incoming music majors and music scholarship recipients will be registered for lessons over the summer by Music Department staff, not the Registrar’s Office.

If you are a non-major but are interested in music lessons, please complete the appropriate Music Lesson Request form on this webpage. Depending upon space availability in the performance studios, we will register and notify you of your studio placement. Please note that there is an additional music lesson fee of $615 per semester for .25 credit music lessons that will be added to your tuition statement. There will be no refund of the lesson fee if you choose to drop the music lesson after the sixth day of classes.

Stop by the Music Department office (HOM 245) to grab a piece of chocolate and ask Lisa any questions about the music lesson process.

Are you undecided, looking to add a music major to your current major, or interested in changing majors? Additionally, we encourage you to email Dr. David Carter (carter@stolaf.edu) and Lisa McDermott (mcderm6 @stolaf.edu) so we can help you get on the right track!

If you are considering a music major, be sure to register for Music 112 in the fall semester of your first year. If you scored a 5 on the AP Music Theory test, please contact Dr. David Castro (dcastro@stolaf.edu) when you get to campus for placement in the appropriate theory class.