History & Successful Graduates

A little history . . . . .

Music has been an integral part of Heidelberg for over a century. The Conservatory of Music was established in 1885, offering lessons in voice and violin to students and many community members. Piano was soon added, and course offerings could lead to a Teachers Certificate after one year of study. With membership in NCA in 1912, Heidelberg clarified degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. Students on a B.A. degree could follow a General Music Course. In 1917 the faculty approved a four-year course leading to a Bachelor of Music Degree in applied voice, violin, piano, or theory (the equivalence of a performance degree), so that students seeking a music degree would be on a par with the others. By 1923 an additional program in public school music was in the catalog for those seeking state certification. Since those early years, the Department has added additional degree programs in such areas of Theory/Composition, Music Industry and Performance/Pedagogy.

Membership in the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) was gained in 1956, and the department has been accredited ever since, undergoing reviews every ten years.

Successful Graduates

Countless numbers of Heidelberg music majors have gone on to successful careers as teachers in the public schools. They have also honored their alma mater as performers, composers and music scholars. A sample list:

• Mari Akagi Homma (’72) is a pianist/teacher in Japan
• Matt Armstrong (’80) is a teacher in the Defiance school system
• Darrin Art (’01) Director of Liturgy, St. Clare Church, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Vanessa Ayers (’76) is a professional opera performer, based out of New York City
• Dr. Lon Beery (’80) is a Professor of Music Education at the University of Syracuse
• Matthew Brazowsky (’02) Instructor, Theory/Composition, Monroe Community College
• Richard Brunner (’72) is an active opera performer and solo recitalist, based out of Germany
• John Cipiti (‘02)  is the Chair of the Department of Music at Terra Community College
• Marcus Englemann (’78) Professor, Composition/Theory St. Mary’s College, California
• Ted Groman (’40) is the founder of Groman Music Co, Findlay, Ohio
• Cynthia Heuininger (’81) is the assistant to Christoph Eschenbach, conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra
• Lynn Huenemann (’80) Music teacher, Seneca East schools
• Bernard Izzo (’48) Singer, Chicago Lyric Opera
• Dr. Al Kanwischer (’54) Professor of Piano, San Jose State University
• Dr. Patricia Lust (’66) Chair, Professor, Department of Music, Longwood College
• Dr. John Mochnick (65) Composer, Director of Choral Activities, Southern Illinois University
• Paul Monachino (’83) Music director, organist, Rosary Cathedral, Toledo
• Jonathan Miller (’94) Successful film composer, most recently for a multi-part documentary series broadcast on The Discovery Channel
• Larry Montgomery (’74) Singer, Chicago Lyric Opera
• Jacqueline Nielsen (’99) Music teacher, Oak Harbor Schools, OMEA President
• Mark Olivieri (’96) Composer-in-residence, SUNY Brockport
• Ronald Petti (’73) Vocal Coach, Florida State University
• Greg Rike (’76) Assistant Professor of Voice, University of Mississippi
• Dr. Denise Seachrist (’82) Assistant Professor of Music, Kent State University
• Tiffany Jo Sinsel (’93) Music therapist
• Lindsay Smith (’77) Director of Music Ministry, Church of the Messiah, Westerville
• Richard Zuch (’79) Orchestra Administrator, Curtis Institute of Music, professional recitalist, church musician