About
The Wanda L. Bass School of Music prides itself on fostering a creative environment that encourages exploration and collaboration. Faculty members at Oklahoma City University are active musicians and scholars whose first priority is teaching and mentoring. Performance opportunities abound with more than 250 events staged throughout the academic year, ranging from solo recitals to full-scale choral and orchestral works, as well as six opera and music theater productions. Few schools have produced so many graduates who excel across the musical spectrum, as performers, educators, and composers. Fewer still have had alumni recognized with Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Awards. Only one institution from that elite company is an all-Steinway school and an Apple Digital Campus that has been honored by ASCAP with its prestigious national orchestral award for adventurous programming of contemporary music.
The School of Music provides a professional education within the liberal arts curriculum and develops musicians equipped to make significant artistic contributions to society. Critical thinking, open inquiry, and artistic expression are fostered through the study of traditional intellectual disciplines and applied skills. Our degree programs stress virtuosic versatility – integrating performance skills, music scholarship, pedagogy, and professionalism – to prepare students for music careers in the 21st century.
The School of Music has been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) since 1944, and Oklahoma City University is accredited in education by the National Council of Accreditation for Teacher Education (NCATE).
Our Mission
The School of Music provides a professional education within the liberal arts curriculum and develops musicians equipped to make significant artistic contributions to society. Critical thinking, open inquiry, and artistic expression are fostered through the study of traditional intellectual disciplines and applied skills.
Core Beliefs & Values
STUDENT SUCCESS AND EXCELLENCE
We believe in an education that is student-driven. We believe that priorities and resource allocation should reflect what is best for the student. We believe that effective student learning includes ongoing feedback and the demonstration of learned skills. Our success is demonstrated by the professional achievements of our students and alumni.
FACULTY EXCELLENCE
We believe that our discipline requires lifelong learning and that this concept must be – and is – demonstrated to students through public performances, scholarship and professional development. While our faculty is performance oriented, we believe all faculty must be teachers first and foremost. We believe faculty should be caring and involved in the educational and professional development of their students.
SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
We believe in service to a global community. We believe that serving the community through music helps students become sensitive to and have respect for changing and diverse communities. We strive to educate students in their responsibility of service to the community now and in the future.
COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE OF MUSIC
We believe that the process of music making is organic. We prepare versatile students who can succeed in an ever-changing marketplace.