Students sit in a row playing saxophones.

Music Department

Meet the Department Chair

Department Chair

Overview

The Hill is most definitely alive with the sound of music. The Music Department provides myriad opportunities for students to develop their talents in voice, piano, organ, guitar, brass and strings, as well as both single and double reeds. The music program also offers courses in music theory and composition, arranging and orchestration, music history, world musics, and popular musics. Recitals and concerts are performed each semester by such groups as the College Choir, Gospel Choir, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble and many others.

Meet the Department Chair

Glenn Caldwell, Ph.D.

Department Chair

Program Opportunities

About the Music Minor

The Music minor provides comprehensive coverage of music theory, history, and performance. Whether you want to learn a new instrument, brush up on your vocal skills, or keep your musical passion alive, the Music minor has something for everyone.

Covering both instrumental and vocal, the Music minor is adaptable to any student's interest. We offer ensemble opportunities — like the Green Terror Marching Band — and private lessons. From piano lab to guitar lessons, you can find your sound on the Hill.

Camps & Lessons: The McDaniel College Summer Music Camp had a 33-year run as the best summer music program in the Mid Atlantic region. We are closing our doors, but encourage all young musicians to seek out other summer music experiences.
Student Ensembles: Student ensembles on campus are excellent opportunities for performance experience. Faculty directors are accomplished performers/scholars in the Baltimore-Washington area.
Faculty Ensembles: Our talented faculty practice their craft in highly regarded professional ensembles.
Concert Series: There are many opportunities to hear our faculty and students perform live music. Keep an ear out for performances to attend.

Marching Band Scholarships Available! Green Terror Marching Band Be part of the energy that drives McDaniel athletics.

The Green Terror Band brings the noise at McDaniel College athletic events. Right now, the band performs as a Pep Band — playing on the sidelines at games, campus events, and more throughout the year. Starting in Fall 2027, it grows into a full Marching Band, taking the field at football games and performing in the stands at basketball.

Students from any major are welcome, and no prior marching band experience is required — though it's a plus. The band includes traditional instruments like brass, woodwinds, and drums, as well as guitar, bass, and keyboard, making it a one-of-a-kind performing group. No matter your major, if you love to perform and want to be at the heart of campus life, the Green Terror Band is ready for you.

Green Terror Marching Band

"[The best classes ever were] Definitely College Choir, A Cappella, and Gospel Choir. I absolutely love my Chemistry courses, but nothing beats letting go of all the day’s troubles through music. Singing is a big aspect of my life and I feel it’s the time spent relaxing and singing that truly helps me excel in my other classes. The best part about singing at McDaniel is the openness of the choirs. Anyone can join, and even if you think you can’t sing, if you have the passion then that’s all that really matters. Everybody in the choirs is amazing and it’s an extremely friendly environment. I can say for a fact that the best classes at McDaniel are the choirs!"

Lauren Logue '24

Photo of students playing drums in a classroom.

Popular class teaches students West African drumming and culture

McDaniel students are learning to groove on the djembe drum in the course West African Drumming Culture, taught by Paco Samb, senior adjunct lecturer and Senegalese griot. Through drums songs and dance, they learn about the history and culture of West Africa.

Read "Popular class teaches students West African drumming and culture"

November 2020 Westminster Symphony Orchestra Virtual Performance Project

The Westminster Symphony Orchestra presents the Largo movement from Antonín Leopold Dvořák's New World Symphony. Due to the global pandemic, members of the WSO, made up of McDaniel College students/faculty, Carroll Community College students and faculty member Cindy Rosenberg, as well as members from our surrounding community, were not able to rehearse together. It’s a “new world” for everyone, including musicians and they had to learn how to continue making music. This video is the result—their virtual performance. The WSO is supported by both McDaniel College and Carroll Community College.