Organ & Church Music


Bales Organ

Organ & Church Music at KU

With degree programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, exceptional facilities and instruments, and distinguished faculty, the University of Kansas offers an extraordinary educational opportunity for anyone wishing to study and pursue careers in organ performance, teaching, or church music

Bach at Bales

A Celebration of the Organ Works of J. S. Bach on the Occasion of the 125th Anniversary of the Organ and Church Music Program at the University of Kansas.

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Bach at Bales flyer

Kansas Organ Day

An Introduction to the Organ and Careers in Organ and Church Music for Junior High and High School Pianists and Organists.

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Kansas Organ Day flyer

The University of Kansas offers the following degree programs in organ and church music:

  • Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in organ performance or church music
  • Master of Music with a major in organ performance or a major in church music, with either a choral conducting or organ performance emphasis
  • Master of Music in Carillon
  • Doctor or Music Arts with a major in organ performance or a major in church music, with either a choral conducting or organ performance emphasis

Specialized work in the organ curricula includes courses in the history of organ literature and design, organ pedagogy, and seminars on repertory performance practice, the history of organ building, and related topics. Specialized work in the church music curricula includes courses in service playing, the history of liturgy, anthem literature, children's choirs, bell choirs, the church and the arts, theological aesthetics, the history of church music, and hymnology.

To offer quality programs in organ and church music, an institution must make an extraordinary commitment to secure facilities, instruments, and equipment for students' regular use. The University of Kansas has made that commitment and offers exceptional opportunities to those who pursue study in these areas.

Audition Information

Your audition with the School of Music is crucial. It serves as an application to the Division. It is also a contributing factor in scholarship considerations. Information on audition procedures and requirements are found on the following web pages:

Arrange organ scholarship auditions and repertoire with James Higdon at jhigdon@ku.edu or 913-708-1213.