Central Michigan University School of Music

09/01/2026

The School of Music is excited to share that registration for Honors Band Weekend is now open! 🎶🎵

Set to take place on Saturday, November 21st, and Sunday, November 22nd, 2026, this event invites students who play woodwinds, brass, and percussion to showcase their talents. Participants are encouraged to prepare a 3-5 minute excerpt and submit it as an unlisted YouTube link using the provided form.

To register, please scan the QR code or click the link below/copy and paste it into your preferred browser:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=brxxyMZ8V0qk6yIwn8NJY5ENE6YItcpIgLPf4PaDqaBUMDVUNzIwODZJMTBZQkpHVkZMVFREQkJFVCQlQCN0PWcu

Registration deadline is Monday, September 28th, so do not delay! For questions regarding Honors Band Weekend, please reach out to Dr. Chris Chapman at [email protected]. 🔥☝

09/01/2026

September is Classical Music Month, and the School of Music at Central Michigan University is thrilled to kick off the celebrations during the first week of classes! Classical music, with its diverse styles across various periods, has profoundly influenced modern music. 🎶

Initiated in 1994 by President Bill Clinton, this month acknowledges the artistic brilliance of composers and musicians, highlighting music's ability to unite people across cultures. Ultimately, music serves as a powerful medium for expressing emotions and connecting hearts like no other. Iconic composers like Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn have enriched us with classical music, a genre that harmonizes multiple instruments into a compelling melody. Celebrating Classical Music Month helps preserve these legacies and introduces this timeless genre to fresh audiences, reminding us that the music of today all draw inspiration from classical roots!

A heartfelt thank you to our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters who know the importance of classical music and strive for excellence! We cannot wait to see what is in store for this academic year! 🔥☝🎶

08/31/2026

And we are back in the building! 🔆
The School of Music warmly welcomes our dedicated music students back to campus for the exciting 2026-2027 academic year. Wishing everyone the best of luck on their first day of classes! 🔥☝🎶🎵

08/30/2026

Final Update: The Chippewa Marching Band was thrilled to present their dedication and hard work; however, the risk of lightning strikes is too significant.

Therefore, we regret to announce that the Preseason show will not take place.

We appreciate everyone's support and urge you to stay safe from the storms!

📣 UPDATE! 📣
A storm is on the horizon... ⛈

The Chippewa Marching Band might have to postpone their Season Preview performance until 2:00 PM tomorrow, or possibly cancel if the anticipated thunderstorms occur in the afternoon. Please be on the lookout for an announcement by 6:00 AM on Sunday!

08/29/2026

📣 UPDATE! 📣
A storm is on the horizon... ⛈

The Chippewa Marching Band might have to postpone their Season Preview performance until 2:00 PM tomorrow, or possibly cancel if the anticipated thunderstorms occur in the afternoon. Please be on the lookout for an announcement by 6:00 AM on Sunday!

08/28/2026

🌟ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT🌟
Michael Mikulka, an alumnus of the School of Music's composition program, is set to embark on an exciting new chapter in his career as he takes on the role of Assistant Professor of Composition at Lamar University in Texas starting in Fall 2026.

During his time at Central Michigan University, he had the privilege of studying under the esteemed guidance of Dr. David Gillingham and Dr. José Maùrtua. Following his studies, Dr. Mikulka successfully earned his Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in composition from the University of Texas at Austin.

Given the highly competitive nature of the composition field, where many doctoral students struggle to secure tenure-track positions, this accomplishment stands as a noteworthy milestone and a testament to the excellence of the CMU composition program.

Congratulations to you, Michael, on this outstanding achivement! 🔥☝🎶

08/27/2026

Be part of the excitement as we celebrate the 104th Chippewa Marching Band during our Preseason Camp. Join us on Sunday, August 30th at 1:00 PM at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. We’re eager to showcase our devotion to excellence within the ensemble! 🎵🎶

Fire Up Chips!

08/26/2026

Despite the rumbling thunder, the Chippewa Marching Band has been diligently preparing with quality sound and amazing leadership! We are excited for this season! 🔥☝🥁

📸 Director of Music Events

08/21/2026

The Leadership of the Chippewa Marching Band has put in tremendous effort this week in anticipation of band camp starting tomorrow! Kudos to each and every one of you; this season promises to be fantastic after seeing what you all are capable of. We cannot wait for the arrival of both rookies and veterans on campus tomorrow! 🔥☝🎵🥁

📸 Director of Music Events

08/13/2026

Thank you to David Nicholas, host of “All Things Considered”, for interviewing Dr. Cole Bartels and alumni Alec Love about a new upcoming album titled "Technological Eclipse" for trombone quartet & elecronics by Beltline Bones!

Formed in 2021, the Beltline Bones consist of tenor trombonists Cole Bartels, Justin Coyne, Zach Bethel, and bass trombonist Adam Nissenbaum. The group combines the traditional idiom of trombone quartet with their interests in new music and electronics, and offer a unique and thought-provoking listening experience unlike any other. “All Things Considered” is through WCMU Public Media. See the information below and click the links (or copy/paste it in your preferred browser) to see more:
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Central Focus 2631
New CD of trombone music from CMU professor is released
August 12, 2026
Cole Bartels, CMU School of Music Trombone Professor, and Alec Love, Composition student in the School of Music

Dr. Cole Bartels, Trombone Professor in CMU’s School of Music, is releasing a new CD this week, “Technological Eclipse” for trombone quartet and electronics. He came to our studio to talk with me and was joined by composition student Alec Love who wrote the title track. I learned about the formation and transformation of his ensemble…

The feature will air Wed Aug 12 @ 4:44pm during All Things Considered, Thu Aug 13 @ 8:45 am during Morning Edition, and Fri Aug 14 @ 2:34pm during Here and Now
https://www.wcmu.org/

The web version will post and the podcast will go live at 4:44pm this afternoon
https://www.wcmu.org/CentralFocus