Music Festivals & Workshops
Explore Our University’s Dynamic Music Scene
The Department of Music regularly hosts programs for high school musicians and members of the community.
These events encourage students to strengthen musicianship and provide a great introduction to department programs. Programs and festivals topics rotate regularly. Information on current programs and festivals can be found below.
Symposium on Historic American Music
Oct. 16–18, 2025
Diverse Sounds for a Young Nation celebrates and explores American music from 1860 to 1920, featuring spirituals, brass bands, popular songs, ragtime, banjo and string bands, “jass” and more, spanning vernacular and classical traditions. The symposium includes performances and workshops by leading professional musicians and lectures and presentations by renowned scholars.
Choral Festival: United We Sing
Nov. 6, 2025
Susquehanna University’s Director of Choral Activities, Amy Voorhees, invites high school choral ensembles to participate in United We Sing, a one-day clinic and festival concert featuring guest conductor Dr. Julie Yu.
Choral directors may register their full ensemble to perform a piece during the clinic and participate in the festival concert, or they may bring any number of singers to observe the onstage clinic and take part in the festival concert. Both options include a performance by the University Choir. Detailed information about each option is provided in the sections below.
Event registration closed.
Dr. Julie Yu (she/her/hers) is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at the Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University, and the Artistic Director of Canterbury Voices.
She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Central Oklahoma, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Oklahoma State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of North Texas. Before joining OCU and Canterbury Voices, she taught at Norman North High School in Oklahoma, San José State University, and Kansas State University.
She has presented, conducted, and led choirs in performances for state and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, DoDEA Europe Honors Music Festival, and the European Music Educators Association. She is a past president of the Southwestern Region of the American Choral Directors Association and served as an International Conducting Exchange Fellow to Kenya.
Her favorite area of research and performance is serving as a guest clinician and conductor for honor choirs and professional organizations.
Susquehanna String Session
Nov. 7, 2025
The music department at Susquehanna University invites talented high school string players (grades 9 – 12) to participate in a one-day festival & concluding concert led by Zachary Levi. This event will include the opportunity to work with distinguished Susquehanna faculty, connect with dedicated high school musician and college music majors, and explore Susquehanna University. The closing program will be presented in the impressive Stretansky Concert Hall.
The deadline to apply is September 19, 2025. For more information, contact Dr. Levi at or 570–372–4287.
Honors Band Festival
Feb. 13–15, 2026
This unique event is designed to give talented high school woodwind, brass and percussion players an opportunity to share their passion for music with similarly motivated students.
Music Summer ProgramS
Expand your musical knowledge at our Summer Pre-College Programs! Susquehanna offers weeklong, on-campus workshops for high school students interested in improving their musicianship, polishing their choral repertoire or developing their own voice as they gain skills in music recording and production.
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