About the Swinney Conservatory of Music

On behalf of our students, faculty, and staff, I invite you to read about our programs, check out the Conservatory Schedule and visit our beautiful campus in Fayette.

The Swinney Conservatory has a long history of excellence in music education, and many of our graduates are now teaching in classrooms across Missouri. Students have also gone on to further their studies in graduate school, and are employed in many areas including studio teaching, performance, church work, and music business. We offer a Bachelor of Music Education degree (Instrumental or Choral), Bachelor of Music performance degree (Voice or Keyboard), and Bachelor of Arts in Music degree. We also have a 17-hour music minor. Degree Information

The Central Methodist University Swinney Conservatory of Music has been a member of the National Association of Schools of Music since 1950, with our last formal review in April 2010. We are currently housed in the Conservatory building and in T. Berry Smith Hall. We are excited about renovations currently happening in Classic Hall, an older building on campus that is being updated and will include The Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art, classrooms, rehearsal spaces for the band and choir, offices, practice rooms, and storage space.

To prospective students who are visiting our website, we can tell you that we are distinctive in our small classes, taught by dedicated faculty who engage in one-on-one instruction and mentoring with the next generation of musicians. Our students can engage in numerous student organizations and leadership opportunities including SNATS, Phi Mu Alpha, SAI, and NAfME-C. CMU students perform in public often and are encouraged to participate in both band and choir. Music scholarships are available to all qualified CMU musicians, regardless of academic major. In addition to marching band, concert band, and choir, we have a variety of small ensembles, including opera workshop, brass quintets, woodwind ensembles, jazz band, and jazz choir. Ensemble Options

To others visiting our website, please check out the pages devoted to alumni, information on the Classic Blog, Friends of Music, choir, and band. We hope you find the information helpful, and please feel free to contact us anytime!

Dori Waggoner
Dean, Swinney Conservatory of Music
Chair of Fine Arts Division