Vocal Choir Ensemble
Department of Music

You will take your talent to new heights

In the Brenau Department of Music, you’ll cultivate your passion and talent for music, and share it with the world. Whether you’re a pianist, vocalist, instrumentalist and want to inspire others in the classroom, the performance hall or in a healthcare setting, Brenau’s Department of Music has a place for you. With individually focused instruction and mentorship, you’ll combine your passion for music with a rigorous education, working one-on-one with faculty members and performing in Brenau’s music ensembles. Brenau’s Department of Music will equip you with the skills you need to succeed in a music-based profession or even an interdisciplinary career. Wherever your passions take you, one thing is for certain — music will remain a part of you for the rest of your life. 

A student plays trumpet along with a professional

Why Brenau Music

  • Receive personalized instruction and music programming through private studio courses and lessons
  • Learn from professors who actively perform and hold leadership roles in state and national organizations
  • Have the option to take on leadership roles in ensembles, honor societies and more
  • Collaborate with other Brenau departments, including dance, health science and psychology
  • Hone your musical ability through learning to play new instruments for concerts
  • Have the opportunity to perform in as many as four music ensembles, starting in your first semester
  • Broaden your artistic horizons by performing in the community (Northwinds Symphonic Band, Christmas on Green Street, Jingle Mingle, local assisted living facilities, etc.)
Amelia Latham
Brenau is helping me achieve my career goals as a future music teacher by getting me prepared and ready for life after school. I simply enjoy being in the music department, and learning from wonderful people and musicians. It is such a supportive environment with people that truly care about you and your future.
Amelia Lathem Music Education '23 Amelia Lathem performs Deh, vieni, non tarda
McKenzie Carr
The high school I went to was a performing arts high school, so coming here, it was so much smaller, and it was easier for me to feel like I can stand out more. It has given me a lot more opportunities
McKenzie Carr Music Education '26
Music students perform in concert black
There's only about eight of us in a class, and I think it really builds the community and lets everyone get to know each other. I feel like I have found the friends that I'm going to have for a lifetime.
Sarah DeLay Advanced Music '25

Musical Ensembles

If you’re a music major, you’ll perform in one, or maybe all, of Brenau’s music ensembles. All of our ensembles accept music majors and non-majors, though some require an audition. Some of the ensembles also allow faculty, staff and community members to join, so share this information with anyone who loves making music!

Gospel Choir
This uplifting choral ensemble, which primarily focuses on the study and performance of gospel music, is open to Brenau students, faculty, staff and community members.
Opera Workshop
Students may audition to be a part of the Opera Workshop, which involves studying opera, rehearsals, and ultimately performing opera scenes or a full-scale opera production.
Spectrum Singers
Open to all students, faculty, and staff in the choral community, the Spectrum Singers ensemble studies and performs a wide range of popular, multicultural and traditional music styles.
Vocal Chamber Ensemble
Requiring audition for acceptance, Vocal Chamber is a smaller ensemble that studies and performs vocal chamber music from a wide range of historical periods.

Music Events

Today

BRAHMS

Pearce Auditorium 202 Boulevard NE, Gainesville, GA, United States

The Department of Music invites you to the inaugural BRAHMS concert where you will hear music written by Johannes Brahms and other composers. The newly-named Brenau Recital of Harmonious Music Students, or BRAHMS, is […]

Live Therapeutic Music Concert

Pearce Auditorium 202 Boulevard NE, Gainesville, GA, United States

The Department of Music invites you to come learn about Live Therapeutic Music. Meet and listen to musicians who are crafting their musical talents and repertoire of all genres in […]

Holiday Concert

Hosch Theatre 429 Academy St., Gainesville, GA, United States

An audience and performer favorite alike, the Brenau holiday concert is back! Featuring performances by Spectrum Singers Ensemble, Vocal Chamber Ensemble, Spectrum Winds, and other collaborative ensembles, this concert is […]

Audition Information

All students must audition in order to be admitted to the music major. All students must also be admitted to Brenau University in order to be admitted to the music major. Talent-based scholarships are awarded based on auditions, and students will be placed in appropriate level courses and lessons based on their auditions.

If you would like to schedule an audition, please contact music department chair Barbara Steinhaus at bsteinhaus@brenau.edu or 770-534-6235. All students should fill out the online audition application at least two weeks before the audition.

online audition application

How to Prepare for Your Audition

Here are a few things to keep in mind to help you have a successful audition::

  • Make sure you have the musical experiences that will help you:
    • AP Music Theory
    • Piano
    • Private lessons for voice or your primary instrument
  • Contact Brenau faculty if you need help choosing pieces for you audition
  • Practice, practice, practice
    • Record yourself and listen, thinking critically about your performance
  • Dress appropriately for your audition
  • Visit Brenau’s campus and meet our faculty, so you can ask additional questions

All-Steinway Initiative

For the last decade, Brenau has been a part of the “All-Steinway School” Initiative with every piano on campus made by Steinway & Sons Inc. That means whenever you play a piano at Brenau, you’ll be using the same brand preferred by professional concert pianists throughout the world.

Audition Requirements:

All students must perform two pieces from memory — specific requirements listed below — and will be tested in music theory, ear training and sight reading skills.

Collaborative Pianists 

  • Perform two pieces from memory, one of which must be at a fast tempo
    • One sonata or sonatina movement from the Baroque or Classical period
    • One piece from the Romantic, Impressionistic or Contemporary period

Vocalists

  • Perform two standard English, Italian, French or German art songs from memory
    • English may be substituted for a foreign language
    • You may perform one operatic aria, show tune or church song, as long as it is appropriate for your voice

Instrumentalists

  • Perform two pieces of contrasting moods from the standard repertoire of the instrument from memory

Degrees in Music

  • College of Fine Arts & Humanities, Music

    Bachelor of Arts in Music

    Undergraduate / BA
  • College of Fine Arts & Humanities, Music

    Bachelor of Arts in Music Education

    Undergraduate / BA

Our Faculty & Staff

Contact Us Today

Barbara Steinhaus
Music Department Chair
770-534-6235
bsteinhaus@brenau.edu

Music Faculty & Staff

Barbara Steinhaus, DMA, C-AIM

Chair of Music and Professor

Learn more
Barbara Steinhaus

Ben Leaptrott

Assistant Affiliate Professor

Learn more
Ben Leaptrott

Ashley Conway, DMA

Assistant Professor of Music Education

Learn more
Ashley Conway, music education professor

Frequently Asked Questions

Music
  • Professional careers in music performance
  • Teaching in public or private institutions
  • Going on to graduate programs in
    • performance
    • music education
    • music therapy
    • church music
Music

Permission of the faculty

Music

Yes. Music minors are required to take at least 4 semesters of an applied instrument. They are also required to perform a jury at the end of the second and the fourth semesters.

Music
  • Vocal Chamber Ensemble
  • Spectrum Singers
  • Opera Workshop
  • Gospel Choir
Music
  • Take private lessons
  • Keep a record of your performances
  • Take AP Music Theory in high school
  • Contact the applied teacher in your instrument at the college and ask about repertoire choices and audition requirements
  • Read through a variety of music so that you can be conversant with more than just your own audition repertoire
  • Perform, perform, perform
  • Learn to dress appropriately for your profession
  • Visit the campus and meet the professors
Music

The grade-point average is important for scholarship opportunities.

GPA for admission is 3.0

Music

Bachelor of Arts in Music (voice, collaborative piano, or other instrument) with one of two possible tracks:

  1. Advanced Music, which prepares the music student for graduate music school
  2. Secondary area of study, such as:
    • business (arts management)
    • psychology (music therapy)
    • or mass communication (music industry)

Bachelor of Arts in Music Education (voice, collaborative piano, or other instrument)Become a certified public school teacher, a teacher in private studios or fine arts schools, or a director of music in civic and church organizations.

Brenau’s music curriculum proudly offers the rare undergraduate track for pianists in collaborative arts, available in both the BA in Music, and the BA in Music Education.

Music
  • Small teacher/ student ratio
  • Personal attention
  • One-on-one coaching for vocalists and instrumentalists
  • Collaborative piano/ piano accompaniment
  • Multiple performing opportunities
  • Vocal Chamber Ensemble (audition required)
  • Gospel Choir (open to all students, faculty, staff, and community)
  • Spectrum Singers, a large SATB ensemble open to all students, faculty, staff, and community
  • Quality performance venues
  • Professionally-active faculty
  • Unique internship opportunities
  • Mu Phi Epsilon chapter (National Music Honors Fraternity)
  • Collegiate chapter of NAfME (National Association for Music Education)
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