Briar Cliff University - The Catholic Franciscan Learning Place

Music Department

Briar Cliff takes pride in the important and active role of music in the university’s academic programs and campus life. With an annual schedule of more than 30 performances and an accomplished artist faculty whose collective teaching experience exceeds 100 years, our music department exemplifies the unity of musicianship and educational practice needed for success in the real world.

Graduates from the music department make significant contributions in their respective communities:

• They are teachers and administrators in private and public schools and institutions of higher education
• They own and operate private studios
• They work as professional concert artists, accompanists, church musicians, and directors of regional theatres
• And they are graduate students at major research universities.

There are many wonderful opportunities for you as a music major — or as a non-major — to perform with the Cliff Singers, Chamber Choir or the Jazz Ensemble. The department also goes on frequent choir tours and often joins forces with the theatre department for musical productions.  

The department maintains a philosophy of education which seeks to provide a means for spiritual, intellectual and artistic development consistent with a liberal education.