Embrace Your God-Given Talent

You will get personalized instruction and one-on-one interactions with professors to help you grow academically. We take a Christ-centered, collaborative, community approach to music emphasizing the importance of a biblical worldview and how it applies to music.

The Bachelor of Arts in Music is the most flexible music degree allowing students to combine the standard music core with a significant number of electives that allow students to “build” their own emphasis. Students can pursue multiple areas of interest by choosing other music or non-music related courses, and this degree pairs well with most minors.

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National Accreditation

Belhaven University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).  

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Inspiration Surrounds You in Belhaven's Music Dept

Why You'll Love Music at Belhaven

Caring & Expert Faculty

Learn from faculty who teach from experience and lead with compassion. Pursue your God-given talents as the faculty challenge you to grow through a collaborative and balanced program.

Collaborative Community

Expand your view of the arts and fuel creativity. Belhaven's arts departments connect you with artists in other disciplines, providing diverse experience and perspectives that cultivate growth.

Strong Musical Foundation

At Belhaven, we value fostering the discipline and giving you the tools needed to pursue a lifetime of learning and excellent music-making.

Community Involvement

Grow in community through Belhaven. Enjoy internships with local churches and ministry organizations. Volunteer your time while making a joyful noise. Do more than just learn in a classroom.

13:1 Students to Faculty

Our instructors know and care about you.

100+ Career Opportunities

Clear ways to make music your profession

6 Inspirational Spaces

Perform, practice, produce, and study in modern facilities

Why Study Music at Belhaven University?

When you choose to earn a bachelor degree in music at Belhaven, you will get the personalized instruction and one-on-one interactions with professors you need to grow academically. We take a Christ-centered, collaborative, community approach to music. Through coursework, we emphasize the importance of a biblical worldview and how it applies to music.

What Can You Do with A Degree in Music?

  • Collaborative pianist
  • Industry arranger/composer
  • Director/conductor
  • Worship ministry
  • Arts missionary
  • Music educator
  • Music therapy (in conjunction with Psychology)
  • Private studio teacher
  • University professor

The Skills You Gain

  • Collaborative performance
  • Conducting
  • Performance practice
  • Versatility and mastery as a performer
  • Creative enterprise skills
  • Pedagogical methods
  • Educating
  • Creative process

Where Are Our Music Grads Now?

  • Andrew Horton '15 — Symphony position in Indiana and intern at Masterworks Festival
  • Skyler Bready '14 — Composer and sound engineer
  • Jocelyn Zhu ‘14 — Graduate studies at Julliard in NYC
  • Maggie (McLinden) Stith ‘13 — Staff accompanist at Auburn University
  • Joshua Nichols ‘13 — Director of worship at Westminster Presbyterian Church
  • Shellie Brown ‘12 — Graduate studies at Rice University
  • Eleana Davis ‘12 — Music teacher at Dana Road Elementary in Vicksburg, Miss.
  • Abby Wiggins ‘12 — Worship ministry assistant at Pine Lake Church
  • Ellie Honea ‘11 — Music missionary with Mission to the World in Tokyo, Japan
  • Nicole (Nutting) Harwell ‘09 — Piano teacher in private studio, vice-president of local MTNA chapter

B.A. in Music: What You Need to Know

B.A. in Music No Emphasis

The Bachelor of Arts in Music without emphasis combines the standard music core with electives. These electives allow the student to "build" their own emphasis through choosing other music and/or non-music courses. This degrees pairs well with most minors or second majors.

Composition, Songwriting & Improvisation

The Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition Emphasis combines the standard music core with individualized applied study of creative musical design and interdisciplinary collaboration. Students present new works through Composers Forum concerts and a capstone composition concert.

Music & Cross-Cultural Engagement

The Bachelor of Arts Global Music Emphasis combines a solid foundation in music with tools and experiences to prepare graduates for an international music vocation relating to peoples of other cultures. Course work includes a short-term immersion into another culture.

The Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance Emphasis contains the standard music core with more performance related courses. It is a more dedicated music degree with a primary instrument/voice focus, but still allows the student to explore other areas of interest through required electives.

Instrumental, Piano & Voice

Supplement another area of study with your love for music by adding a music minor. With a foundation in music theory and performance, you can collaborate and create through solos and ensemble performances.

The music minor consists of 18 credit hours:

  • Classes in musicianship & music theory (8 hours)
  • Performance studies (6 hours)
  • Ensemble work (4 hours)
upclose view of sheet music, chello in the background

Music Scholarships

In addition to our Visit Scholarship, you can supplement your financial aid award with an academic scholarship from Belhaven's School of the Arts!

To qualify, you must be accepted for admission, submit your high school GPA and test scores, and complete your FAFSA. When you schedule a personal visit or attend an Arts Discover Day, we'll assess your scholarship potential when you audition with one of our music professors.

It's time to make a joyful noise, so let's get started!

Apply to Belhaven Today

Plan a Campus Visit

Register for Arts Discover Day

Majoring in Music: What You Need to Know

For music majors, the audition gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your musical talents, converse with music faculty about your interests, and explore opportunities and possibilities for studying music at Belhaven.

These audition “conversations” are best accomplished in person, but a “virtual audition” is equally acceptable.

  • Performance and internships with Opera Mississippi
  • Performance with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
  • Music competitions
  • Performance and Internships in local churches
  • Teaching private lessons for church and school programs
  • Participation in professional arts organizations
  • Concert production experience

You do not need to be a music major to participate in these ensemble/program opportunities. We welcome students from all studies to develop and enjoy their God-given talents!

Voted one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast, the Singing Christmas is the epitome of Belhaven's collaborative and communal spirit. Students, faculty, staff, several departments, and community members join to present a heart-warming performance of Christmas music.

The Music Department presents a variety concerts and recitals which are open to the public free of charge.

​University clubs are great ways to get involved in campus community and grow your skills, whether you join a music club or one of the many organizations outside of the School of Music.

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Double major graduate

The Belhaven Advantage

Fuel your academic passions and expand your career options. Belhaven offers our freshmen a unique deal: double major, and we’ll pay the tuition if you need a fifth year in school. Double major in two arts programs, pair a business degree with a STEM major … the possibilities are endless!

More: Year 5 Free

Meet Our Faculty

Instructor of Cello

Nancy Bateman
Instructor of Cello

Instructor of Jazz Guitar

Dennis Bonds
Instructor of Jazz Guitar

Instructor of String Bass

Richard Brown
Instructor of String Bass

Instructor of Organ

Carol Durham
Instructor of Organ

Chapel Worship and Arts Director

Doug Eltzroth
Chapel Worship and Arts Director

Associate Professor of Music, Chair of Music and Voice Area Coordinator

Rebecca Geihsler-Chittom
Associate Professor of Music, Chair of Music and Voice Area Coordinator

Instructor of Clarinet

Ken Graves
Instructor of Clarinet

Assistant Professor of Music

Chrissy Hrivnak
Assistant Professor of Music

Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands, Coordinator of Music Education, Instrumental Music, and Recruitment

Casey Kirk
Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands, Coordinator of Music Education, Instrumental Music, and Recruitment

Instructor of Harp

Mandy Mangrum
Instructor of Harp

Instructor of Classical Guitar

Tanja Miric
Instructor of Classical Guitar

Specialty Instructor of Collaborative Piano

Katie Moody
Specialty Instructor of Collaborative Piano

Assistant Professor of Dance; Director of the International Center for Musicianship in Dance

Owen Rockwell
Assistant Professor of Dance; Director of the International Center for Musicianship in Dance

Professor of Music (Composition/Theory)

Andrew Sauerwein
Professor of Music (Composition/Theory)

Instructor of Trumpet

Lloyd Turner
Instructor of Trumpet

Instructor of Voice and Music History

Sarah Waters
Instructor of Voice and Music History

Professor of Music (Violin/Viola/Chamber music ), Director of string area, Conductor of BU Symphony Orchestra

Song Xie
Professor of Music (Violin/Viola/Chamber music ), Director of string area, Conductor of BU Symphony Orchestra

Contact Us

Office of Admission

Phone: 601-968-5940

Mailing Address:
1500 Peachtree Street, Box 153
Jackson, MS 39202

For campus visit:
Jimmy Hood Welcome Center
855 Riverside Drive
Jackson, MS 39202

Fax: 601-300-2932

admission@belhaven.edu

BU letters displayed outside admission office

Verse of the Year

God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.

Philippians 2:13