Welcome!
The music curriculum is intended to meet the general needs of liberal arts students while providing students interested in a music major or minor with the skills needed to excel in their area of concentration (performance, education, history, composition). In keeping with a liberal arts philosophy, the department encourages interested students campus-wide to participate in its varied ensembles. Individual ensembles are designed to meet the students' musical needs while providing a positive educational experience. Private instruction (instrumental, vocal and composition) is intended for those students desiring to raise their musical skills to a higher level. Acknowledging the need to examine the contributions of various cultures, the curriculum exposes students to a broad spectrum of musical influences (western European, jazz, world music, American folk, African- American, computer music). The department also generates or sponsors concerts throughout the academic year to make music an important aspect of life at Denison.
- Scholarship Application [pdf]
6th Annual Bluegrass Festival - February 5 & 6, 2010
Saturday evening's concert has been moved to 7:30 p.m. in Burke Hall.
Infamous Stringdusters - Appearing February 5, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in Swasey Chapel
Allen Shadd
February 5, 2010
6th Annual Bluegrass Festival with Special Guest: Infamous Stringsdusters
Andy Carlson and Casey Cook, directors
Swasey Chapel - 7:00 p.m.
February 6, 2010
6th Annual Bluegrass Festival Workshops (Burke Rehearsal Room)
9:30 a.m. - Banjo
10:15 a.m. - Mandolin
11:00 a.m. - Fiddle
12:00 p.m. - Contest Guitar with Allen Shadd
February 6, 2010
6th Annual Bluegrass Festival - The Andy Carlson Band CD Release
with Keith Morris, Michael Smith, Greg Earnest, Casey Cook
and Allen Shadd, National Flatpicking Champion
Please note: This concert has been move to Burke Hall at 7:30 p.m.
Andy Carlson - The Andy Carlson Band appearing on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in Swasey Chapel
The Andy Carlson Band performs music ranging from traditional Old-Time Appalachian, Bluegrass, Swing, Blues, “New” Grass, Classical, and Contemporary Acoustic. The band was featured at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, TX and has opened for Grammy award winning bluegrass artist Ricky Skaggs. Their 2004 release “Log-a-Rhythm” was voted one of the top 50 bluegrass CD’s of that year. The Andy Carlson Band members (from the Atlanta, GA area) are Michael Smith on Mandolin, Greg Earnest on Banjo, and Keith Morris on Bass. Guitarist Casey Cook joined the Denison music department as instructor of bluegrass guitar and co-director of the Denison Bluegrass ensemble in 2007. Fiddler/Violinist Andy Carlson has twice been named the Georgia State Champion Fiddler and was the 2000 Ohio Grand Champion fiddler. Andy is currently an Associate Professor of Music at Denison University in Granville, OH.
Their latest CD “Fiddlehead” is a collection of 9 original instrumental compositions and/or arrangements and 3 tracks featuring Michael Smith, Casey Cook and Keith Morris on lead vocals. “Fiddlehead” was recorded and mixed by John Keane in Athens, GA and mastered by Randy LeRoy in Nashville, TN. Copies are available for purchase online at breakingband.com