After Graduation
Alumni Successes
The area has an exceptionally strong track record of placing students in top doctoral programs across the country, and MSU musicology alumni can be found among the faculties and staffs of universities, leading cultural institutions such as the Library of Congress, and regional arts administration and advocacy groups. Many of our Master’s students also choose to earn a second graduate degree in another music discipline such as music theory or music performance.
Students who double major in musicology and other degree programs often work in academic positions teaching voice, instrumental music, music education, music composition, and music theory. Our graduates also receive jobs in arts administration, journalism, and a variety of other fields in which writing skills about music are required.
Alumni Placements and Successes
- Suzanna Feldkamp (2022): Case Western University
- Kelli Smith-Biwer (2018): University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
- Jonathan Gómez (2018): Harvard University
- Trevor Nelson (2016): The Eastman School of Music
- Emily Baumgardt (2015): Indiana University
- Stephen Armstrong (2014): The Eastman School of Music
- Patrick Bonczyk (2014): University of California at Los Angeles
- Vanessa Tonelli (2013): Northwestern University
- Monica Hershberger (2011): Harvard University
- Laura Donnelly (2010): University of Pennsylvania
Kelli Smith-Biwer (MA, 2018) defended her PhD dissertation and joined the faculty of Ohio University in fall of 2023 as Professor of Instruction in Music History. Read more about Smith-Biwer’s work.
Monica Hershberger (MA, 2011) published her first book, Women in American Operas of the 1950s, and in fall 2023 joined the faculty at Lehigh University as Assistant Professor of Music. Read more about Hershberger.
Jonathan Gómez (MA, 2018) joined the faculty at the University of Southern California as Assistant Professor of Music. Read more about Gómez.
Patrick Bonczyk (MA, 2014) joined the Princeton University Writing Program as a full-time lecturer.