The Department of Music regularly hosts programs for high school musicians and members of the community.

Events include
Choral Festival: United We Sing 
High School Composition Competition
Susquehanna University Honors Band Festival

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.

A Susquehanna student playing the flute during rehearsal.

High School Composition Competition

Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Maryland high school students currently in grades 9-12 are invited to enter a composition competition hosted by the Department of Music at Susquehanna University. Learn more about Composition at SU.

The composer of the winning piece will receive a $1,000 prize and an invitation to the premier of their piece at Susquehanna in the spring of 2023 (March/April).

Submission Deadline: Friday, Jan. 20, 2023 at 6 p.m.

Submission Specifications

  • Works must be for two to seven performers and three to 10 minutes in duration.
  • Instrumentation is flexible, although standard classical instruments are preferred. For example, a work for two singers, piano, flute, violin and percussion would be preferred over a work for four electric guitars and organ, although that work would still be eligible.
  • Submissions must be made electronically and should include both a notated score (PDF) and a recording (mp3). The recording may be computer-generated or from a live performance or reading session.
  • Submissions will be evaluated based on musical quality, originality and appropriateness for performance by undergraduate music majors (student chamber ensemble).

Submission Form

Winners will be contacted by February 20, 2023. Winners and runners-up will receive feedback from the jury.

Questions?

Please contact Patrick Long, professor of music, with any questions.

High school students playing the trumpet at a Honors Band rehearsal.

Susquehanna University Honors Band Festival

February 17–19, 2023

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. We look forward to working with you on our beautiful campus!

To ensure your safety while you are guests of Susquehanna University, all high school musicians accepted to the Honors Band Festival are required to be fully vaccinated for Covid–19. Students requesting a Covid-19 vaccination exemption on medical or religious/philosophical grounds should submit a Covid-19 Vaccine Exemption Request Form.

Application process

  1. Students apply via the online form deadline extended to Friday, Dec. 9.
  2. Requests for vaccination exemption can be downloaded here and submitted via email to Dr. Eric Hinton at hinton@susqu.edu or Betsy Magill at magill@susqu.edu
  3. Band directors upload recommendations and rankings for students.
  4. Accepted students, students’ families and students’ band directors will be notified by Friday, Dec. 16, 2022.
  5. Accepted students can access seating audition material on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022.
  6. Students upload their Covid–19 vaccination cards to Dr. Eric Hinton at hinton@susqu.edu by Feb. 3, 2023.

Important Information 

Unite We sing at Susquehanna University.

Susquehanna University Choral Festival: United We Sing

 

The first annual Susquehanna University Choral Festival was held Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, with great success!

Check back for the 2023 event date and details.

About the event: Susquehanna University’s Music Department invites high school choral ensembles to participate in United We Sing, a one-day clinic and festival concert. Choral directors can register their full ensemble to perform a song for the clinic and participate in the festival concert, or can elect to bring any number of singers to observe the onstage clinic and participate in the festival concert.

 

Contact Us

Music

514 University Ave.
Selinsgrove, Pa. 17870

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Location

Cunningham Center for Music and Art

Campus Map

Phone & Email

570-372-4281
Admissions and auditions: adamss@susqu.edu
General information: boggsj@susqu.edu