Sacred Music Program

Sacred Music Bachelor's Degree Program Overview

Focus intensively on the Catholic Church’s rich musical tradition, including Gregorian chant, sacred polyphony, and the great works of all ages through the sacred music bachelor’s program at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. Receive a thorough understanding of the history and tradition of sacred music as well as contemporary and secular music. With concentrations in voice or organ, this music major is designed for students who want to pursue graduate studies in music or pursue music jobs, such as Catholic church musicians, performers, or music ministers.

One-on-one advising from accomplished Catholic faculty

Your professors at Franciscan University will teach you how theological and philosophical truths can be revealed through music. These Catholic faith-filled mentors will also regularly meet with you to discuss careers in music so that you can accomplish what the Lord is calling you to do. As a music major at Franciscan, you’ll come to deeply know what Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI meant when he said sacred music is “an audible and perceptible rendering of the truth of our faith. Listening to all of these great works … suddenly we feel: it is true!”

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Sacred Music Ensembles

Franciscan University’s Sacred Music Program enables students to become classically trained professional musicians, either in voice or organ. The program opens doors to careers as church musicians and performers, and provides an excellent foundation for graduate studies. The Sacred Music Major explores a wide range of sacred and secular music. Along with the traditional courses of private study, theory, and history, your studies will focus intensively on the Catholic Church’s ancient musical tradition, including Gregorian chant, sacred polyphony and the great works of all ages. If you choose, you can compose and premiere music that, through beauty, communicates truth and goodness. Acceptance to the program is by audition only. A Sacred Music Minor is also available for students of any major who wish to become more immersed in the culture of sacred music.

Music Ministry

If you want to use your talents in voice or with an instrument to give glory to God, music ministry is for you. Music ministry students provide the music for the 20 Masses held at Christ the King Chapel at Franciscan University each week, as well as for Sunday Vespers, monthly Festivals of Praise, and other occasions. Music ministry auditions are held at the start of each semester. If accepted, you’ll be assigned to a group according to your talent and availability. Each music ministry group is committed to the same Mass each week for the entire semester.

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Beyond the Classroom
Music Ministry

Use your talent as a musician to give glory to God and gain invaluable hands-on experience by being part of the music ministry team at Franciscan. You’ll have opportunities to provide music for the 20 masses held each week at Christ the King Chapel on the Franciscan University campus in Ohio as well as for Sunday Vespers, monthly Festivals of Praise, and other sacred occasions.

Performance Opportunities

As a music major at Franciscan, you’ll have an abundance of performance opportunities, from the Schola Cantorum Franciscana, which sings for liturgies in the Christ the King Chapel and gives concerts on campus and throughout Ohio and western Pennsylvania, including in nearby Pittsburgh, to the Franciscan Chamber Group and the Franciscan University Chorale. Through student-led recitals you can also transform culture through music.

Composition Workshops

Through composition workshops that form part of your theory and analysis coursework, you can compose new works of sacred music that communicate the good, the true, and the beautiful. You’ll then find and rehearse musicians who will perform your work for your Franciscan University professors and peers. You’ll learn from their feedback what you need to develop your work for possible publication one day.

Austrian Semester Abroad

Grow, develop, and be formed into a more mature student by spending a semester in Franciscan’s Austrian program. You’ll expand your major in unbelievable ways by traveling to places such as Rome and the holy sites of Christendom, and through courses taught at a 14th-century monastery that also serves as your home.

Programs Related to the Bachelor’s in Sacred Music

Still undecided? You might also be interested in these other undergraduate degree programs at Franciscan.

Department Faculty
Dr. Monica Anderson

Dr. Monica Anderson

Professor
Department Chair

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Dr. Jessica Ewell

Dr. Jessica Ewell

Associate Professor

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John H Walker

Prof. John Walker

Associate Professor

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