About

Vocal Studies Program

Western Michigan University's Irving S. Gilmore School of Music is home to a decades-long tradition of excellence in vocal music. Our nine choirs provide a range of musical experiences for our students—traditional choral repertoire, chamber music, early music, vocal jazz, opera and large masterworks. Graduate and undergraduate voice students at WMU also have the opportunity to be featured soloists in oratorio and chamber works with professional ensembles, to premiere new works from our composition studios, and to hold paid singing positions with churches throughout southwestern Michigan. WMU singers annually place in competitions such as the Opera Grand Rapids Collegiate Vocal Competition, the Bach Festival Vocal Competition, and State/Regional NATS competitions. Western truly is a place where singers feel dedicated, challenged and inspired.

In addition to the bachelor of music in choral music education or voice performance, we are proud to offer the master of music degree in vocal performance or choral conducting. Our conducting students benefit from an energetic choral faculty, an abundance of podium time with multiple choirs and ample performance opportunities. 

WMU SCHOOL OF MUSIC

The Irving S. Gilmore School of Music is housed in the Dalton Center on Western's main campus in Kalamazoo. Dalton is an outstanding music facility, with excellent performance, practice, library, and computer facilities. It includes two recital halls, a multi-track digital recording studio, an electronic music laboratory, a 10,000 square foot music library, a state-of-the-art multi-media room, a music therapy clinic, a computer laboratory featuring a special MIDI station and Macintosh PowerPC computers (each equipped with a Yamaha synthesizer and a Roland sound module), and one of the world’s largest installations of prefabricated, sound-isolated practice rooms and teaching studios. The Irving S. Gilmore School of Music is recognized for its excellence in instruction and performance. With nearly 600 majors, admission is selective and competitive. Students perform with a variety of outstanding ensembles, including the University Chorale, Collegiate Singer, Cantus Femina, Gold Company, Opera Workshop/Opera Chorus, and Grand Chorus. Among the many instrumental ensembles are the University Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, the Jazz Orchestra, and the Bronco Marching Band. Our major ensembles have toured throughout the United States, South America, Europe, Australia and Asia, having favorably extended Western's distinguished reputation of excellence in the arts.

The Irving S. Gilmore School of Music is housed in the Dalton Center on WMU's main campus in Kalamazoo. Dalton is an outstanding music facility, with excellent performance, practice, library, and computer facilities. It includes two recital halls, a multi-track digital recording studio, an electronic music laboratory, a 10,000 square foot music library, a state-of-the-art multi-media room, a music therapy clinic, a computer laboratory featuring a special MIDI station and Macintosh PowerPC computers (each equipped with a Yamaha synthesizer and a Roland sound module), and one of the world’s largest installations of prefabricated, sound-isolated practice rooms and teaching studios. 

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

Located in Kalamazoo just 2½ hours from both Chicago and Detroit, Western Michigan University is in the center of the Midwestern musical scene, making it an inspirational and ideal place to study music. With nearly 24,000 students, Western is listed among the top 100 public universities in the country. If you intend to study at an outstanding university with a superb music program, we hope you will consider Western Michigan University.