All music majors enrolled in applied lessons (MUSIC 2XX) are required to attend a specified number of professional concerts per semester and per academic year. A list of approved events, determined by Conservatory faculty at the beginning of each academic year, will be distributed to students. Additional events may be added during the year; students and faculty will be notified via email of any additions. The addition of events after this list is distributed at the beginning of the academic year will not affect the total number required for the year.
Attendance will be recorded at the conclusion of each event for events held in Schmucker Hall. For events held outside of Schmucker Hall, attendance will be recorded in the Conservatory office for seven days following an event. Students must present their Gettysburg College ID to be swiped on the card-swipe reader. As with all other academic requirements, recital attendance is covered by the Gettysburg College Honor Code.
Failure to attend the full number of required concerts will result in the lowering of a student's private lesson grade by one plus or minus increment. For example, if a student earns a B+ for lessons but does not attend the required number of professional concerts, their grade will be lowered to a B.
Students can petition to have events not on the required professional events list count towards their required number. Petitions must be submitted to the Conservatory Director at least two weeks prior to the event. If approved, the student is responsible for ensuring the event is tracked by their applied instructor. It will not be part of the card-swipe system due to technical limitations.
Sunderman Chamber Music Foundation Concert Series
Each year the Conservatory sponsors three to four concerts of chamber music by renowned performers through an endowment established by Dr. F. William Sunderman in 1983. Most groups remain on campus for a short residency to work with students in teaching activities such as master classes, rehearsals, classroom visits, lessons, and coaching sessions. Recent performers have included the Harmonious Blacksmith, Third Coast Percussion, SHUFFLE Concert, Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Cantus, Piffaro, the Brentano Quartet, Boston Brass, Jeremy Denk, the Da Capo Chamber Players, eighth blackbird, the Eddie Palmieri Octet, Hesperus, and Imani Winds.
Musselman Music Workshops
An endowment given by the Emma G. Musselman Foundation in 1977 supports an annual workshop or presentation by guest artists and scholars. Most recently, violist and NPR music commentator, and founder of the American Chamber Players, Miles Hoffmann; Beatles scholar, Walter Everett; Benjamin Britten specialist, Michael Sells; and fortepianist, David Breitman.
Guest Artists and Master Classes
The Conservatory frequently invites guest artists and scholars who perform and facilitate master classes.
Faculty Recitals
Sunderman Conservatory faculty often perform recitals, and these faculty recitals are an important part of our musical community.