PUC Announces New Degree Program in Music Composition

Pacific Union College is excited to announce theintroduction of an exciting new bachelor’s degree program focused on music composition.The inaugural class will enroll this fall and has already been accredited bythe National Association of Schools of Music. PUC will be the first Adventistcollege or university in North America to offer a program to specifically servestudents interested in this burgeoning field.

Building on the firm foundation of a well-establishedundergraduate music program, the new major expands PUC’s music portfolio andcomplements the college’s existing degree in music education and performance.Students can expect to gain a solidfoundation in techniques and current trends associated with the creation of newmusic. Additionally, PUC students will have the unique opportunity to collaboratewith and compose for PUC student filmmakers in the College’s film andtelevision program.

“USA Todaydescribed music composition as one of the top 10 fastest growing jobs in theUnited States this decade,” shares Asher Raboy, resident artist of music andassistant department chair. “We created the new major in response toa growing interest in composing among current students and recent graduates.” According to Raboy, current students haveshown a strong desire to compose, to use composition in their capstone courses,and to make composition the focus of their college careers.

PUC’s Bachelor of Music with an emphasis composition wasdesigned for students looking to forge careers in creating and producing musicfor worship, film, television, orchestration and arranging, theatre, animation,video games and more. It reflects the current and evolving nature ofprofessional music making in the digital age, where the job description of today’scontemporary musician often includes live and studio performance, audioengineering/editing and mastering, as well as music synthesis and programming.

“Today's composers have a vast new spectrum of employmentpossibilities,” said Dr. Edwin Moore, associate academic dean and interim chairfor the department of music. The major is a perfect choice for students seekingcareers as recording artists, music producers, sound designers, arrangers,orchestrators, music editors, musical directors, and performing artists. “Thisprogram will prepare students for these occupations, and also facilitates entryinto graduate programs that are gateways into good positions for composers,” Moorefurther explained.

Courses in music theory, music technology, counterpointform, arranging, orchestration, composition for visual media, and conductinggive the student a thorough preparation in comprehensive musicianship. And,with access to guest artists, internships, and the thriving Bay Area music andmedia arts scene, PUC students will be connected to the industry beforethey graduate. 

For more information about the program, contact AsherRaboy at 707.965.7137 or araboy@puc.edu.Students interesting in applying should visit www.puc.edu/apply.