Wanda L. Bass School of Music
About Us
The Wanda L. Bass School of Music prides itself on fostering a creative environment that encourages exploration and collaboration. Faculty members at Oklahoma City University are active musicians and scholars whose first priority is teaching and mentoring. Performance opportunities abound with more than 250 events staged throughout the academic year, ranging from solo recitals to full-scale choral and orchestral works, and including six opera and music theater productions. Our degree programs stress virtuosic versatility – integrating performance skills, music scholarship, pedagogy, and professionalism – to prepare students for music careers in the 21st century.
Since opening in 2006, the $38.5-million, 113,000-square-foot Bass Music Center addition of the Bass School has hosted artists and educators from around the world, including the International Society of Bassists; the National Association of Teachers of Singing; the Society of Composers, Inc.; and the NEA-sponsored Arts Education Partnership. This world-class facility, built to the highest acoustical standards, features 60 practice rooms, 40 teaching studios, high-tech music labs, ensemble rehearsal rooms and a black box theater.
Few schools have produced so many graduates who excel across the musical spectrum, as performers, educators, and composers. Fewer still have had alumni recognized with Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Awards. Only one institution from that elite company is an all-Steinway school and an Apple Digital Campus that has been honored by ASCAP with its prestigious national orchestral award for adventurous programming of contemporary music.
That school is the Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University.
Mission
The School of Music provides a professional education within the liberal arts curriculum and develops musicians equipped to make significant artistic contributions to society. Critical thinking, open inquiry, and artistic expression are fostered through the study of traditional intellectual disciplines and applied skills.
Core Beliefs & Values
STUDENT SUCCESS AND EXCELLENCE
We believe in an education that is student-driven. We believe that priorities and resource allocation should reflect what is best for the student. We believe that effective student learning includes ongoing feedback and the demonstration of learned skills. Our success is demonstrated by the professional achievements of our students and alumni.
FACULTY EXCELLENCE
We believe that our discipline requires lifelong learning and that this concept must be – and is – demonstrated to students through public performances, scholarship and professional development. While our faculty is performance oriented, we believe all faculty must be teachers first and foremost. We believe faculty should be caring and involved in the educational and professional development of their students.
SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
We believe in service to a global community. We believe that serving the community through music helps students become sensitive to and have respect for changing and diverse communities. We strive to educate students in their responsibility of service to the community now and in the future.
COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE OF MUSIC
We believe that the process of music making is organic. We prepare versatile students who can succeed in an ever-changing marketplace.
21st Century Milestones
2011- More than 350 Bass School singers and orchestral musicians join forces for Berlioz’s Requiem; performance commercially recorded as CD and DVD.
- Bass School celebrates 60th anniversary of Oklahoma Opera and Music Theater Company.
2010- Bass School presents inaugural six-concert Distinguished Artist Series, debuting with organist Louise Bass and concluding with pianist Vladimir Feltsman.
- Master classes for year include artists ranging from Midori to Kristin Chenoweth.
2009- OCU, Poland’s Padereweski Academy co-sponsor international composition competition.
- OCU hosts annual convention of Society of Composers, Inc., performing 72 new works in three days; invited to host national SCI convention.
- Washington National Opera names Sarah Coburn (MM ’01) 2009 Artist of the Year.
- Kristin Chenoweth autobiography, A Little Bit Wicked, makes New York Times bestseller list.
2008- Ann Hundley Hoover endowed chair established for dean of Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University.
- The Bass School of Music signs partnership with Poland’s I.J. Paderewski Music Academy to begin cultural exchange with faculty and performers.
- Oklahoma Music Teachers Association relocates annual 2,000-musician state achievement auditions to Bass School of Music.
- Texoma National Association of Teachers of Singing holds competition at Bass School of Music.
- Project 21: Music for the 21st Century, OCU’s new music group, premieres 750th OCU-created work since its founding in 1997.
2007- Oklahoma City University hosts more than 1,000 musicians at first-ever international conference: International Society of Bassists.
- Mark Parker becomes world’s first academic dean to be named an Apple Distinguished Educator.
- Bass School of Music hosts National Endowment for the Arts symposium, “Arts Education in 21st Century America," under auspices of Arts Education Partnership. Featured speaker on the arts and technology: Mark Parker.
- Broadcast Music, Inc., (BMI) presents alumnus Mason Williams with Citation of Achievement as his composition, Classical Gas, named BMI’s top instrumental composition, logging more than six million broadcast performances.
- Alumni, including Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth and three-time Tony nominee Kelli O’Hara, join forces for Civic Center fundraiser for endowed faculty chair in honor of OCU’s legendary Professor Florence Birdwell.
2006- Wanda L. Bass Music Center opens April 1, doubling facilities of music school with 106,000-square-foot, $38.5 million addition.
2005- Bass School appoints first endowed chairs.
- Bass School of Music becomes an All-Apple Campus.
- Kelli O’Hara (BM ’97) lands first of three consecutive Tony Award nominations.
- Faculty musicians and alumna Marquita Lister record OCU-created works on university’s first commercial CD: Where the Sunsets Bleed, released by Albany Records.
2004- Music school officially adopts new name: Wanda L. Bass School of Music.
- OCU Symphony Orchestra represents United States at “Meet at Beijing” International Arts Festival, kicking off historic 18-day tour of China.
- Bass School of Music becomes world’s first Conn-Selmer School.
- Kristin Chenoweth (BM '91; MM '93) nominated for second Tony Award.
2003- Bass School of Music signs partnership agreement with Tianjin Conservatory of Music, China.
- Bass School of Music celebrates 10th anniversary of partnership with HED School of Music, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- Ron Raines (BM ’75) receives first of three Emmy Award nominations.
2002- School earns All-Steinway designation with record-breaking purchase of 105 Steinway pianos.
- Groundbreaking begins on Wanda L. Bass Music Center.
- Percussion Ensemble makes Civic Center debut, performing with Ballet Oklahoma and Canterbury Choral Society.
2001- Oklahoma City University formalizes partnership establishing shared choral artistic director with Canterbury Choral Society.
- Bass School hosts Summit on the Future of American Music Theater, featuring industry leaders and showcase for new works.
- Bass School celebrates golden anniversary of Oklahoma Opera and Music Theater Company with commission and premiere of main stage musical, Night of the Comets.
- Graduate student Sarah Coburn (MM ’01) is National Grand Finalist in the nationally broadcast Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
- OCU Flute Choir performs at National Flute Association Convention.
2000- ASCAP and the American Symphony Orchestra League present the Oklahoma City University Symphony Orchestra with the National Adventurous Programming Award, recognizing its commitment to new music.
- Gerald Steichen (BM ’86) conducts grand finale 7,485th performance of CATS on Broadway.
- OCU alumni Barbara Fox DeMaio, Beverly Hoch, Kristin Chenoweth, Leona Mitchell and Lara Teeter return for season-long Golden Recital Series, celebrating 50 years of Oklahoma Opera and Music Theater Company.
