Music at Northwest

Music at Northwest The Official page of the Music Program at Northwest Missouri State University.

The programs of the Music area at Northwest provide majors with the skills needed to become highly successful in their chosen professions. The Department of Fine and Performing Arts is especially committed to excellence in public school music; in addition to an inclusive major in music, comprehensive programs are also available in Vocal Music Education and Instrumental Music Education. These progr

ams provide instruction in private study, music theory/literature, and methodology applicable to teaching at the elementary and secondary levels. Since 1969, Northwest Missouri State University has been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. This accreditation insures that our programs are of the highest quality and that the curriculum conforms to national standards of excellence.

Please welcome our newest faculty member (Lecturer in Music Education)!Kandy Hester joins Northwest Missouri State Unive...
08/12/2026

Please welcome our newest faculty member (Lecturer in Music Education)!

Kandy Hester joins Northwest Missouri State University with 36 years of experience in music education, having taught vocal and general music in Iowa and Missouri. She is dedicated to preparing and inspiring future music educators and is committed to fostering a lifelong appreciation for music among her students.

In addition to her professional work, Hester enjoys traveling, golfing, biking, and spending time in the mountains. She is pleased to begin this new chapter as a member of the Northwest community.

Welcome back to Northwest!

Congratulations to the Northwest Missouri State Wind Symphony and conductor Dr. Katy Strickland on their selection to pe...
07/23/2026

Congratulations to the Northwest Missouri State Wind Symphony and conductor Dr. Katy Strickland on their selection to perform at the 2027 Missouri Music Educators Association Conference this January! Selection was based on a peer review of recordings from the 2025-26 school year. Office of the President Bearcat Marching Band Missouri Music Educators

Congratulations to the Northwest Missouri State University Wind Symphony and conductor Dr. Katy Strickland on their sele...
07/23/2026

Congratulations to the Northwest Missouri State University Wind Symphony and conductor Dr. Katy Strickland on their selection to perform at the 2027 Missouri Music Educators Association Conference this January! Selection was based on a peer review of recordings from the 2025-26 school year.

Audition materials for the Northwest Missouri State Wind Symphony, Northwest’s auditioned concert band, are now availabl...
07/06/2026

Audition materials for the Northwest Missouri State Wind Symphony, Northwest’s auditioned concert band, are now available on our website! Students of all majors are welcome to audition. Scholarship funding may be available for trumpet, horn, and double reed players.

Congrats to Music Education major Payton Dollins .percussion on his first place award for solo marimba at the Missouri P...
04/28/2026

Congrats to Music Education major Payton Dollins .percussion on his first place award for solo marimba at the Missouri Percussive Arts Society contest!

Huge thanks to Dan Tucker, Ryan Linke and the Lewis Central Band for sharing the stage with our Wind Symphony on Tuesday...
04/24/2026

Huge thanks to Dan Tucker, Ryan Linke and the Lewis Central Band for sharing the stage with our Wind Symphony on Tuesday and taking part in masterclasses with our faculty! A bonus treat was getting to hear Northwest Alums Paige Rodewald and Audrey Linke perform with their group.

Please welcome our newest faculty member (Associate Director of Bands/Assistant Professor of Percussion)!Dr. Erin Duke i...
04/23/2026

Please welcome our newest faculty member (Associate Director of Bands/Assistant Professor of Percussion)!

Dr. Erin Duke is a conductor, percussionist, composer, and educator joining us from the University of Memphis with a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting and a cognate in Music Education. Erin holds a Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting and Bachelor of Music degrees in Percussion Performance and Composition from Azusa Pacific University. She previously served as Band Director at Western Christian Schools in Southern California.

Erin is an active freelance percussionist and has extensive experience in the marching arts through work with high schools and independent ensembles in both WGI and DCI. She is also a composer and arranger with Tapspace Publications, where her recent works include solo marimba literature and percussion ensemble pieces. Her professional activities have included conference presentations on effective rehearsal communication and artistic conducting grants through CBDNA. Dr. Duke is excited to make music with the outstanding students and faculty at Northwest! Go Bearcats!

Welcome to Northwest, Dr. Duke!

A huge THANK YOU to these seniors on their last concert with the Northwest Missouri State University Wind Symphony! Payt...
04/22/2026

A huge THANK YOU to these seniors on their last concert with the Northwest Missouri State University Wind Symphony! Payton, Zane, Spencer, Bladen, Michaela and Isaiah, you will be missed! We are better because of you.

The Northwest Missouri State University Wind Symphony is excited to share the stage with the Lewis Central High School b...
04/16/2026

The Northwest Missouri State University Wind Symphony is excited to share the stage with the Lewis Central High School band on Tuesday, April 21! The concert starts EARLY: 6:00pm. We hope to see you there or on the live stream! https://vimeo.com/event/2493071

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800 University Drive
Maryville, MO
64468

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