Department of Music
Welcome to the Otterbein Department of Music!
As you walk through the Otterbein University Department of Music, you’ll notice that it’s alive with music, with laughter, with students in the lounge, with professors talking to students. Whether it be from our talented students, our actively practicing faculty and staff, or from a guest ensemble, there is always music playing at Otterbein. You can find our schedule of student and guest artist performances on the “Music Department Concert Calendar” page.
The music department offers a wide variety of music performance opportunities that are open to students of all majors. More information can be found on the “Performance Opportunities” page.
Otterbein University applications and Otterbein Music audition registrations for Academic Year 2026-2027 are now open!
Students interested in majoring in Music or auditioning for Participation or Athletic Bands scholarships must first apply for admission to Otterbein University using the Common App. You will be prompted to register for an audition when you select the Music Major or indicate an interest in Music in your application. You can find more information about auditioning for Otterbein Music on the “Audition & Scholarship Information” page.
Experience a day in the life of an Otterbein Music Major!
Join us for Music Major Experience Days on October 17, 2025 and Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
Programs of Study in Music
B.M.E.
Music Education
The Bachelor of Music Education degree at Otterbein is a four-year degree with K-12 licensure in all musical areas. The curriculum provides in-school placements in each year of study, and a full array of methods courses including guitar and ukulele methods.
B.M.
Performance
The Bachelor of Music in Performance Degree puts primary emphasis on the skills, concepts, and sensitivities essential to the life of the performing musician. The Bachelor of Music curriculum requires intensive energy, preparation and dedication to the applied music performance area.
B.F.A.
Musical Theatre
Our interdisciplinary BFA combines courses in Acting, Voice, Dance, Movement, and Music. Musical Theatre majors audition for all productions including plays, musicals, dance concerts, advanced directing projects, and workshops. A senior showcase for industry professionals is produced annually in New York City.
B.A.
Commercial Music
Explore the exciting world of contemporary music with the Commercial Music concentration, designed to cultivate mastery in performance, popular music theory, and industry practices. This pathway prepares graduates for diverse roles as performers, promoters, and innovators in commercial music.
B.A.
Music Theory & Composition
Create the music you’ve been imagining with the Music Theory & Composition concentration, designed to hone students’ skills in music composition and advanced music theory while grounding them in musicianship and performance. This pathway prepares students for diverse roles in music writing, scoring, and directing.
B.A.
Music History & Literature
Deepen your study of music history with the Music History concentration, designed to grow students’ curiosity and mastery of music research practices, scholarly writing, and advanced music theory. This pathway prepares graduates for diverse roles as researchers, archivists, and music writers.
Minor
Music Minor
Our music minor is a great way to nurture your passion for music while pursuing a different major. It is available to any student on campus, and encompasses basic experiences in theory, applied instruction, history, ensembles, and electives. Non-music majors may audition to study in any applied area within the department and may take several music courses if a pre-requisite pattern is followed.
Student, Faculty, and Alumni Spotlights
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Otterbein has given me the support and resources for me to not only grow as an individual, but to prepare me to be the best future educator I can be.
Julia Jablonski ’22
Bachelor of Music Education
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
The Otterbein Department of Music is a place of opportunity in every sense. It is a strong community among students, faculty, and alumni where personal relationships are coveted. Our world-class faculty members are incredibly supportive and show a great desire to see every student succeed!
Alec Arnett ’22
Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Bachelor of Arts in Music History & Literature
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Otterbein has given me the best preparation for becoming a music educator that I could have ever imagined! Between giving us hundreds of hours teaching in real classrooms starting freshmen year and the extremely talented and esteemed music faculty, I couldn’t have asked for more!
MK Schloss ’22
Bachelor of Music Education
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
I came into Otterbein, for lack of a better word, terrified and leaving behind my entire support system. But Otterbein had my back. The music faculty were – and still are – amazing and so, so kind and welcoming. It’s been an amazing and fun couple of years.
Isabelle Lindsey ’23
Bachelor of Arts in Music and Bachelor of Arts in Theatre double major
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Otterbein has allowed me to pursue my passions in music performance, offering a variety of ensembles, performance opportunities, and a close-knit environment where I get to work side by side with professionals who are willing to make the effort to help prepare you for future success in your career outside of Otterbein.
Matthew Boles ’23
Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance
Otterbein Music’s performance season is made possible through the generous financial support of the Ohio Arts Council.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
What stood out to me as a student was how much the faculty and staff go above and beyond to really help their students succeed.
Miranda Martin-Hecker ’15
Miranda earned a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) at the Ohio State University and is an adjunct faculty member in Otterbein’s Music Department
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
One of the most meaningful experiences at Otterbein was getting to perform a lot of my own compositions during my final recital.
Ryan Loth ’15
Bachelor of Arts in Music, Theory and Composition Concentration
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
The most meaningful, hands-on experiences I had were with the partnerships with local schools, travelling to share the love of music, and the encouragement to pursue my own opportunities.
Jared Joseph ’13
“Music Education brings together a person’s deep love of music with the passion to change young peoples’ lives. Having had a career in music education, I believe few things could be more fulfilling.”
Dr. Jim Bates
Professor of Music and Music Education Program Director
Our students benefit from a supportive and caring faculty in a small campus setting and participate in a robust array of ensembles. Our active student OMEA chapter provides interaction with a variety of guest speakers and presentation topics.
COMMERCIAL MUSIC FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Gregory Wolfram is an in-demand guitarist, educator, and lecturer in Columbus Ohio. He regularly can be seen performing with the top musicians around the jazz scene. Along with teaching at Otterbein, Gregory maintains a strong relationship as a teaching artist with Jazz Arts Group of Columbus, and also works as a guitar sub for the Springfield Symphony Jazz Orchestra.
Greg Wolfram, B.M.
Part-Time Faculty in Commercial Music
COMMERCIAL MUSIC FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Dr. Michael Yonchak currently serves as the Director of Bands and the Commercial Music areas for the Otterbein University Department of Music. An active freelance percussionist in the greater Columbus Area, Dr. Yonchak has strong research interests in performance practices and the interpretation of the music of Frank Zappa, leading to publications and clinical presentations on Zappa’s music and other topics within American popular music.
Michael Yonchak, D.M.A.
Associate Professor of Music, Director of Bands and Commercial Music
Department Features and Student Opportunities
Auditions and Talent Awards
We reward the talent, dedication, and academic achievement of our majors and non-majors alike with generous scholarships to support their studies in music. Auditions are available in person and online.
Performance Opportunities
The music department offers a wide variety of music performance opportunities that are open to students of all majors. Click the link below to learn more about our performance ensembles and applied music lessons.
Music for Non-Majors
You don’t have to be a music major to participate in music at Otterbein. Non-majors may join any of the music ensembles or take private lessons and are eligible to audition for music participation awards.
Concert Calendar
Experience music at Otterbein with our rich and varied selection of guest artist recitals, performances by the Westerville Symphony as well as student ensemble concerts and recitals. All are free and open to the public.
Music YouTube Channel
Whether you like jazz, opera, chorals, or something else, check out the various playlists in our YouTube channel to watch recordings of recent performances featuring our students and faculty.
Music Facilities
The historic Battelle Fine Arts Building houses our concert hall, Riley Auditorium, along with state-of-the-art classrooms and labs. Quiet peaceful village we may be, but our facilities are warm, welcoming, and always buzzing with activity.
Music Department News
Flute Instructor Lindsey Goodman Premieres New Album
News - November 6, 2025
A free, public album release concert will be held at 2 p.m. on Nov. 9 in Riley Auditorium at the Battelle Fine Arts Center with support from the Johnstone Fund for New Music. Goodman would like to extend a warm invitation to the entire community: “The #OtterFlutes will be there, and I hope that you, reader, will be, too!” Lindsey Goodman, Professor of flute studies Lindsey Goodman, Otterbein adjunct professor of flute, made her Carnegie Hall debut to a sold-out…
Cool Courses: From Banjos to Beyonce – The Music That Made America
News - June 13, 2025
By Drakko Harper ’26 From the 12-bar blues that inspired jazz all the way to modern icons like Jay-Z and Beyonce, Otterbein is the place where students can learn both the practical theory of music and the complex cultural history behind it with the American Pop Music course (INST 2623/ MUSC 3046) taught by Associate Professor of Music Michael Yonchak, PhD. This 15-week course is not your typical history lecture. Yonchak inherited this course from a former faculty member but…
Otterbein University to Host Piano Sale March 13-16, 2025
News - February 27, 2025
Pianos and Digital Pianos Available for Public Purchase. Each year, the Otterbein University Department of Music receives an annual loan of new Yamaha pianos for its rehearsal, teaching, and performance needs. These pianos are provided at no charge to the university. These pianos are essential to providing quality experiences for Otterbein’s students and our community. To support this loan program, these and other fine pianos are annually offered for sale and then replaced with new ones. All pianos will be sold at…Mission Statement
The mission of the Department of Music is to develop professional musical competencies, as well as a deep appreciation of music, that students can later utilize in music careers or a life-long enjoyment of the art. All students in the music program should gain a broad knowledge and appreciation of important music within historical, cultural, and global contexts; achieve proficiency in aural, reading, and keyboard skills; learn music theory and apply that learning to critical analysis and musical creation; and develop expertise as solo and ensemble performers. The Department strives to foster a community of musicians who care about music for the aesthetic and affective richness that it brings to the world, and conversely, who value their knowledge of the world and its relationship to music.
Our Institutional Partners
Otterbein University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
National Association of Schools of Music
11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21
Reston, VA 20190-5248
(703) 437-0700
info@arts-accredit.org
Contact Us
30 South Grove St
Westerville, OH 43081
music@otterbein.edu
Coordinator of Music Operations and Programs
Nico Lawson
614-823-1508
lawson10@otterbein.edu
