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VWU Adds Bachelor of Musical Arts Degree
New degree enables students to choose from three areas of concentration
University News | October 22, 2020
Virginia Wesleyan seniors Serena Smith and Thomas Reinhold will be the first students to graduate from Virginia Wesleyan with a Bachelor of Musical Arts (BMA) degree in May 2021.
First approved in spring 2020, the new degree option enables students to choose from one of three concentrations. Performance, which is an expansion of the Bachelor or Arts in Applied Music, and two completely new concentrations for music students at Virginia Wesleyan: Choral and Vocal Studies and Composition and Music Technology.
Choral and Vocal Studies prepares students to consider certification in K-12 Vocal/Choral Music Education or continued studies in choral conducting. Composition and Music Technology encourages students to pursue both composition and the fields of sound recording and technology that are so often part of the modern composers' world.
Associate Professor of Music and Chair of the Fine and Performing Arts Bryson Mortensen says that the idea has been percolating for several years, ever since he and Associate Professor of Music Jason Squinobal first arrived on campus in 2015.
“We became aware of the need to develop a program of study that allowed students to expand their focus on performance studies and creative activity while still embracing the value of a liberal arts degree,” said Dr. Mortensen. “After researching available options with the National Association of Schools of Music, we came upon the Bachelor of Musical Arts degree and decided that it was a wonderful fit for Virginia Wesleyan University.”
Mortensen notes that what makes the Bachelor of Musical Arts degree unique is that students are required to design and pursue a cognate field (a course of study outside of music) in addition to their musical studies. They are then expected to integrate this into their capstone project.
Music education major Serena Smith ’21 is focusing on English as her cognate field. This semester she is taking courses in poetry and drama and a poetry writing workshop. A portion of her capstone project in the spring will include some of her original poems set to her own musical composition.
Smith has also completed an internship with the Virginia Chorale, Virginia’s premier professional vocal ensemble, to prepare her for her career. After earning her BMA, she plans to continue her education at Virginia Wesleyan and earn a Master’s degree in Education.
Thomas Reinhold 21’ thought that the Bachelor of Musical Arts seemed like a great fit for him.
“It adds a focus on to my music degree, so I can spend dedicated time working on the sub-field of my choice,” said Reinhold. “This year, I am taking courses in Japanese in addition to my senior music classes.”
Reinhold chose Japanese as his cognate field after studying away in Japan in 2019. He attended Rikkyo University (RU) in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Japan, as part of a scholarly exchange and collaboration agreement VWU has with RU. He participated in RU’s Japanese Cultural Immersion Program, which included instruction and lecture on Japanese culture and society, field trips and exploration of the country, and the opportunity to participate in a homestay. As a result, his senior capstone recital will include some solo repertoire in Japanese.
After graduating with a BMA from Virginia Wesleyan, Reinhold plans to work toward a master’s degree in education from VWU. His career plans include performing vocal music on stage and teaching young musicians.