Points of Pride
Accolades
- Irving S. Gilmore School of Music ranks in the top 15% of 1476 music schools in the United States, "Music Colleges" https://music-colleges.com/western-michigan-university
- Irving S. Gilmore School of Music ranks in the top 5 for number of awards received in the annual DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards for jazz students. https://www.downbeat.com/?/sma/
- In 2022, our music therapy program ranked #5 in “The 20 Best Music Therapy Bachelor Programs” by The Best Schools. https://thebestschools.org/rankings/bachelors/best-music-therapy-bachelor-programs/
- WMU ranked #16 on Great Value College's “60 Great Value Colleges for Music Majors.” https://www.greatvaluecolleges.net/affordable/music/
- Our University Chorale became the first choir from the U.S. to win the Grand Prix in the 2017 Kaunas Cantat choral festival in Lithuania. https://www.wmuk.org/local-music/2017-08-28/trip-to-the-baltics-an-incredible-experience-for-university-chorale
- Our University Symphony Orchestra received third place in the college/university category of the 2015 American Prize competition. http://theamericanprize.blogspot.com/2015/12/orchestra-winners-professional-division.html?q=wmu
- Our University Symphony Orchestra named one of "The 20 Most Impressive College Orchestras in America" by Online Schools Center. https://www.onlineschoolscenter.com/20-impressive-university-orchestras-america/
Alumni Success
Our alumni attend graduate school, perform in professional music ensembles, work as music therapists, teach in grades K-12, and join the faculty of collegiate programs.
Graduate Programs
Arizona State University
Boston University
Bowling Green State University
Brevard College
Carnegie Mellon University
Cleveland Institute of Music
Eastman School of Music
Florida State University
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
The Juilliard School
Loyola University
Manhattan School of Music
Michigan State University
Missouri State University
Northwestern University
Ohio State University
Peabody Institute
Rice University
Roosevelt University
Texas Christian University
University of Arizona
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
University of Illinois
University of Massachusetts
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota
University of Oklahoma
University of South Carolina
University of Tennessee
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Western Michigan University
Wichita State University
Yale University
and many more!
Professional Music Ensembles
Alarm Will Sound
Alpena Symphony Orchestra
Buffalo Philharmonic
Cantus
Chanticleer
Conspirare
Dayton Symphony Orchestra
Dede and the Dreamers
Disney
Dubuque Symphony Orchestra
Dubuque Community String Orchestra
Farmer’s Alley Theater (Kalamazoo)
Fort Wayne Symphony Orchestra
Gaylord Community Orchestra
Gilmore International Keyboard Festival
Glen Miller Orchestra
Grand Rapids Symphony
Heartside Harmony Chamber Music Society
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
La Catrina Quartet
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Orchestre Symphonique du Montreal
Orquesta Sinfonica de Xalapa
Prince George Symphony Orchestra
Seraph Brass
Seraphic Fire
Spire
Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers in Las Vegas
Toledo Symphony Orchestra
United States Army Field Band/Army Reserves
United States Marine Band
VOCES8
Washington National Opera
West Michigan Symphony
and many more!
Universities/Colleges/Camps (Teaching)
Andrews University
Ball State University
Bellas Artes School of Music
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music
Central Washington University
Florida State University
Indiana University
Jacksonville State University
Louisiana State University
Manhattan School of Music
Music for the Sake of Music
New Mexico State University (NMSU)
Northeast Iowa School of Music
Prince George Conservatory of Music
Rutgers University
San Jose State University
Seattle Pacific University
Southern University
St. Cecelia Orchestras
University of Alaska
University of Louisiana-Monroe
University of Massachusetts
University of Texas at Austin
University of the Pacific
University of Toronto
Westminster Choir College
and many more!
K-12 (Teaching)
Allendale High School
Alpena High School
Battle Creek Central High School
Battle Creek Harper Creek High School
Battle Creek Pennfield High School
Bellaire High School
Brandon High School
Brandywine High School
Cassopolis Public Schools
Chesaning Union High School
Chippewa Hills High School
Coloma High School
Comstock High School
Dowagiac Union High School
Dundee Public Schools
East Kentwood High School
Forest Hills Central High School
Forest Hills Eastern High School
Grand Rapids Northview High School
Grandville High School
Greenville Public Schools
Gull Lake Public Schools
Hartford Public Schools
Hastings Public Schools
Hopkins Public Schools
Jenison Public Schools
Kalamazoo Central High School
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School
Kenowa Hills High School
Lakewood High School
Lansing Catholic Central High School
Macomb Dakota High School
Manistee Catholic Central High School
Marine City High School
Mattawan Public Schools
Mendon High School
Mona Shores High School
Novi High School
Okemos High School
Olivet High School
Onekama High School
Parchment High School
Pine River High School
Plainwewll High School
Portage Central High School
Portage Northern High School
Portland High School
Reed City High School
Rockford High School
Saint Joseph High School
Schoolcraft High School
South Lyon High School
Stevensville Lakeshore High School
Sturgis Public Schools
Three Rivers Public Schools
Troy High School
Vicksburg Public Schools
Watervliet High School
Webberville Public Schools
West Ottawa High School
Westland John Glenn High School
Westside Music and Dance Academy
Wyoming Lee High School
Zeeland Public Schools
and many more!
Music Therapy Positions
Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children
Battle Creek Lakeview School District
Fairfax County (VA) Public Schools
Forrest Hills West High School
Greenville Public Schools
Jenison Public Schools
Kalamazoo Suzuki Academy
Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital
Metro Music Therapy
Michigan State University Community Music School
Music Therapy Center of California
University of Northern Iowa Community Music School
and many more!
This list does not include all alumni careers or graduate programs.