Student Bulletin: September 2026

From University Health and Wellbeing:

We invite you to join us for the 3rd Annual Disability Summit on Friday, October 2, 2026, where students, faculty, and staff will come together for a day of learning, collaboration, and dialogue focused on accessibility, belonging, and innovation in higher education.

The need for disability access and inclusion continues to grow. In 2025 alone, RCPD supported more than 5,500 students and 600 faculty and staff, demonstrating the important role accessibility plays in learning, working, and thriving at MSU.

Hosted by the University Health and Well-Being Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD), the Office for Civil Rights and ADA Coordinator, and MSU Libraries, this year’s theme, The Future of Disability in Higher Education, builds upon previous Summits by looking ahead to what’s possible when disability perspectives are centered across teaching and learning, technology, employment, and campus life. Featuring keynote speaker, Dr. Sami Schalk, panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, participants will engage in meaningful conversations, share ideas, and help shape a more accessible and inclusive future at MSU.

Following the Summit, and in celebration of MSU Disability Pride Month, virtual sessions will be offered on Fridays throughout October to continue the conversation.

Learn more about the Disability Summit and explore the keynote program schedule, event details, and register to join us on October 2, 2026.

Together, we can help shape a campus where every Spartan has the opportunity to succeed, contribute, and belong.

Learn how to stream and record your recital in College of Music facilities!

In-person training sessions are being held for new and returning students as well as faculty and staff.

All trainings are on September 15, 2026 at these times and locations:

• 5:15 pm, Cook Recital Hall
• 6:15 pm, Hollander Hall
• 7:15 pm, Murray Hall

See the Recording Training F26 pdf for more details.

Help MSU showcase what it means to be a Spartan

Over the next year, MSU University Communications and Marketing is looking for Spartans to include in content, branding and recruitment efforts.

This might include participation in a photo session, TV production, videos on campus or contributing to user-generated content in social media.

If you are interested, please fill out the participation form below to connect.

Spartans Will.

Attention College of Music International Students:

There have been some major changes regarding the Visa and CPT process. The Office of International Students (OISS) and the College of Music are working hard to keep up with the changes in policy and procedures and relay that information to all international students.

With that in mind, the OISS office and College of Music will be hosting an informational/Q&A session for all international students, and we request that you attend!

The Information Session will be held TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 at 4:30pm in Cook Recital Hall.

Please direct questions or concerns to Michael Armendariz.

Arts Administration Internship Program application deadline is September 8

Open to College of Music students only

New Music and Arts Forum: Arts Administration and Production Intern – AIAP

Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra: Social Media Marketing Intern – AIAP

MSU University Arts & Collections Intern – AIAP

Detroit Symphony Strategy Intern – AIAP

Detroit Opera: Arts Education Administration Intern – AIAP

Community Music Schools

CMS-East Lansing Children’s Choir Internship | Apps due by 8AM on Sept. 4th

*Paid | Starts Sept. 15th and meets Tuesdays from 4:45-5:45PM (one internship available; working with grades 2-5). Interested candidates should contact Karen Salvador at ksal@msu.edu. Please send her a note of interest (interest in the role; strengths related to teaching) and your resume.

CMS-East Lansing Children’s Singers Internship | Apps due by 8AM on Sept. 8th

*Paid | Starts Sept. 16th and meets Wednesdays from 6:00-7:30PM (one internship available; working with grades 6-9). Interested candidates should contact Karen Salvador at ksal@msu.edu. Please send her a note of interest (interest in the role; strengths related to teaching) and your resume.

Voluntary Student Audition Opportunity

A music recruiter for the Marine Bands will be on campus early this fall to host auditions for The President’s Own and 12 other traveling bands. This is an additional opportunity for students to practice auditioning in a real-life setting and learn what a musical offer/career with the Marines Bands would entail.

Auditions are open for ALL instruments and voice types. Auditions are ~30 minutes and open to domestic and Green Card holding students. A sign-up link for audition spots will be shared shortly.

Auditions will be hosted at the MSU College of Music during the following dates/times:

• Tuesday, September 8, 1:50 pm – 6:40 pm, MPB103
• Wednesday, September 9, 12:40 pm – 2:40 pm in MPB103 and 3:20 pm – 7:00 pm in Cook Recital Hall
• Thursday, September 10, 4:00 pm – 9 pm, Large Rehearsal Hall

This year, our annual Fall Convocation will be held on Friday, September 18 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm. Held outdoors on Adams field, right next to the Music Building, this fun event includes food, beverages, door prizes, student group information, an MSU Jazz Student Ensemble performance, welcome addresses from the Deans, and a chance to meet a lot of members of our close community.

University Health of Well-Being’s Mindful STATE Day is on September 9, and among several events around campus it includes a carillon concert right next door at Beaumont Tower. See the flyer for details or visit the website.

Spartan Impact Framework

On behalf of the General Education Council…

The Spartan Impact Framework, a draft of a proposed model for MSU’s core curriculum, is now available on the MGE Resources SharePoint site and linked from the public Modernization of General Education website at “MGE Resources.”

Feedback will be gathered until September 21 in the “Fall 2026 MGE Comment Collection Form” and the MGE comment box. Virtual feedback sessions will be held during the week of September 14, with details also on the SharePoint site.

A COM Prom’s Midsummer Nights Dream

April 18, 8-10pm, Eichler Hall

Join us for NAfME’s Annual College of Music Prom!

In collaboration with TBS, SAI, PMA, and Color Me Music, it will be an evening of community, dancing, and fun! Refreshments will be provided.

Admission is FREE and is open to anyone interested! Bring your people.

It will be a “dreamy” night! Can’t wait to see you there!

Stop by Billman Pavilion on Tuesday, April 21 from 11am-1pm for the final OSAS Lobby Takeover of the school year! Grab a snack, chat with an academic advisor, and explore the various resources offered right here at the College of Music. (Plus, redeem your free scoop of MSU Dairy Store ice cream after completing the Health & Wellness Survey!)

Don’t miss the final Dean’s Lunch of the year taking place on Thursday, April 23 from 11AM – 1PM in Billman Lobby. 

Free food. Stop by as you have time.

Sunday, April 12 | 1:00 PM | Cook Recital Hall

Join fellow students, friends, and faculty for an afternoon of chamber music featuring MSU music majors competing in the annual Barbara Wagner Chamber Music Competition. This showcase offers a great opportunity to support classmates while enjoying performances by a wide range of chamber ensembles, representing diverse instrumentations such as strings, brass, woodwinds, and mixed chamber groups.
Six ensembles will compete for prizes:

• Brown Squirrel Brass Quintet
  Calvin Pfund and Spencer Clark, trumpet; Zora Alfredson, horn; Korie Brewer, trombone; and Brian Wiik, tuba
  
• Tayovan Trio
  Hannah Hsu, violin; Te-Fen Cheng, clarinet; Shih-Wen Chiu, piano
  
• Red Cedar Quartet
  Arianna Argentieri and Daniella Greene, violin; Jiajing Fang, viola; and Yu-Chen Lin, cello
  
• Leonidas Brass Quartet
  Jordan Dove, trombone; David Grimes, trombone; Jonah Weller, bass trombone; Anderson Johnson, tuba
  
• Astra Quartet
  Parker Fritz, soprano saxophone; Emma Allen, alto saxophone; Ethan Roberts, tenor saxophone; Alex Lee, baritone saxophone
  
• Lumière Trio
  Runqi Weng, violin; Cheng-Hung Chung, cello; Jingxuan Shen, piano
  

Each group will perform a prepared set of repertoire (approximately 20 minutes), with brief breaks between performances. Judges will announce which selections each ensemble will perform. Audience members are welcome to enter and exit the hall between groups.

Visit the event web page to learn more about each ensemble and their prepared repertoire.

Entrepreneurial Musical Artist in Residence: Ryan McKinny

Acclaimed bass‑baritone Ryan McKinny—recognized by Opera News as “one of the finest singers of his generation”—joins the College of Music as our final Entrepreneurial Musical Artist in Residence of the academic year. Known for compelling performances on leading opera and concert stages, McKinny brings a broad perspective on performance, career development, and artistic collaboration. Learn more about McKinny at his website.

Students are invited to take part in the following events:

• Lunch & Learn
  Wednesday, April 8, 11:00 AM, Atrium, Billman Music Pavilion
• Voice Recital Hour
  Thursday, April 9, 11:30 AM, Cook Recital Hall
• Career Seminar
  Thursday, April 9, Room 241, Music Building
• Coffee Chats
  Friday, April 10, Atrium, Billman Music Pavilion
• Composition Studio Masterclass
  Friday, April 10, Room 103, Music Practice Building

Your Input Matters: Survey Deadline, April 21

We invite students to share their perspective by completing the Health and Wellness Survey. Your feedback plays an important role in helping us better align services, resources, and programming with your needs and priorities.

The College of Music’s focus on Health, Safety, and Wellness supports students through initiatives that promote physical and mental well‑being, injury prevention, healthy practice habits, and overall wellness support throughout your academic experience.

As a thank-you for participating, students who complete the survey will be eligible for fun incentives, including priority sign‑up for chair massages and treats from the MSU Dairy Store.

Learn more about the College of Music’s Health and Wellness initiatives.

Summer Micro‑Internship Opportunities

The Running Start Office is offering micro‑internship opportunities this summer for students interested in gaining hands‑on experience in arts administration. These short‑term, project‑based internships are designed to be flexible and manageable alongside other summer commitments.
Micro‑internships involve clearly defined projects with measurable goals, typically taking about 40 hours total to complete. Start and end dates are set by the internship supervisor in consideration of a student’s workload and availability. Most projects can be completed remotely, though some may include in‑person components.

These opportunities build transferable professional skills while allowing students to explore career pathways and professional interests at their own pace.
Examples of current micro‑internship opportunities include:

• Music Internship: Advancement Database & Mailing List Management
• DSO Discography and Recordings Web Page Project
• OSAS New Student Orientation Micro‑Internship

Additional opportunities will continue to be collected and shared. Students are encouraged to connect with the Running Start Office to learn more about current and upcoming micro‑internships and how to express interest or apply.

Scan the QR code to take the MSU College of Music Health and Wellness Survey.

There are incentives!

Next week, the final Entrepreneurial Musical Artist in Residence of the school year, bass-baritone Ryan McKinny, will be in our building for five different engagement opportunities. Check them out!