No more MT at WCC?

NotMamaRose · 11-09-2010, 11:16 AM

I have a young friend who is interested in an MT major and who has heard great things about the program at WCC. However, someone recently told me that there will no longer be an MT major at WCC -- that the major is moving to Rider. Does anybody have any information about this, and what impact, if any, the change will have on the program?

soozievt · 11-09-2010, 11:39 AM

To my knowledge, there is some change in where programs are located. Westminster Choir College is now part of Westminster College of the Arts, which is part of Rider University. So, Westminster Choir College is just a division of Westminster College of the Arts. The BM in Musical Theater is in the School of Fine and Performing Arts (division) of Westminster College of the Arts at Rider. I just think this is a restructuring of divisions and locations of programs. Westminster Choir College (division) has a MT Minor. But the BM in MT is now in the School of Fine and Performing Arts. I doubt it is like one program ended and a new one has begun but more of a restructuring of the college and divisions and where programs are located. I believe this started in the school year 2008-2009.

The BM in MT program in the School of Fine and Performing Arts (division) in the Westminster College of the Arts at Rider University states:

Quote:

The Music Theater Program offered by the Westminster College of the Arts provides thorough preparation in the fundamentals of acting, singing and dancing. Majors pursue a Bachelor of Music degree program that offers the rigorous musical and vocal training that has long been a hallmark of Westminster Choir College. This quality of voice instruction and the priority placed upon vocal health lie at the heart of the program.

Music Theater | Rider University

NotMamaRose · 11-09-2010, 01:49 PM

Color me more confused than ever, soozie! My daughter's friend is a vocal performance major (with an MT minor) at Westminster Choir College and she wrote me to and said that there will no longer be an "MT major at Westminster Choir College." She said "The major is moving to Rider."

wb4 · 11-09-2010, 02:37 PM

Rider/WCC just scored the (ex) head of the MT department at Syracuse:
Nathan Hurwitz | Rider University

NotMamaRose · 11-09-2010, 03:42 PM

He wasn't the HEAD of MT as SU, was he? It says he was a faculty member. I seriously doubt the HEAD of the entire SU department would come to Rider as an ASSISTANT professor. He would certainly seek a position at least as prestigious.

evasmom · 11-10-2010, 01:32 PM

WCC is a part of Rider University. Starting with the class that began in 2008 (one year after my D) the MT major and classes are located at the Lawrencville campus. Some curriculum changes were also made which sound positive. (more dance and less general music theory, I think).
I don't know Nathan Hurwitz, but the music director of the MT program was on the faculty of SU in the past.
Just to update, my D is a senior in the program at WCC and has had a very positive experience.

soozievt · 11-10-2010, 02:47 PM

NMR....Westminster Choir College is now just one division of Westminster College of the Arts at Rider. The BM MAJOR in MT that used to be at Westminster Choir College is now in The School of Fine and Performing Arts within Westminster College of the Arts at the Rider campus. So, the MT Major changed to be in a new division and on the Rider campus. The Westminster Choir College just has the MT Minor now. But the MT Major that is now in the School of Fine and Performing Arts basically moved from Westminster Choir College two years ago. So, it is not like a brand new program. You could say that Westminster Choir College no longer has the MT MAJOR (just a Minor) but the Major just moved into another division of Westminster College of the Arts at Rider (as well as campus location). Westminster Choir College is also a division of Westminster College of the Arts, however.

soozievt · 11-10-2010, 02:53 PM

I don't think Syracuse has a "head" of a "MT Department." Syracuse is a School of Drama and there is a dept. head for that. They offer a BFA in MT. There is no "MT Dept." that I know of or head of it. Nathan Hurwitz was on the faculty at SU. While there, he directed and musically directed musicals as well.

wb4 · 11-10-2010, 04:05 PM

Yes, that’s what I meant. I misspoke, sorry for the confusion!

purple9 · 11-10-2010, 11:06 PM

We visited Rider last Spring and had the opportunity to meet with the head of the dept. She came from Oklahoma's program (i think). She told us that they where in process of re-vamping the program and looking to make it a BFA program instead of a BM. She thought that it would change to BFA for the 2011 or 2012 incoming class. They where also improving their theater complex. We loved Rider and really wanted our son to go there - he chose a different school, but I highly recommend students visiting the campus / program. They were so warm and welcoming with a beautiful campus!