Newberry College Department of Music

10/05/2026

Please come out and see the Newberry College Wind Ensemble, directed by Dr. Jackie Townsend, on Tuesday, October 6. This free concert is at 7:30PM in Wiles Chapel (on the college campus) and is open to the public. This particular concert is part of a series and is a tribute to the land of the free and the home of the brave! You will not want to miss this exciting event!

09/30/2026

The Jazz Combo Concert scheduled for October 1 in the Gnann Room of the Center for Teacher Education has been cancelled due to illness and will be rescheduled.

09/29/2026

The Newberry College Big Band Plays - The Hits! This public event will be held at 7:30PM on Thursday, October 22 in Wiles Chapel (located on the college campus).

09/25/2026

Newberry College Department of Music presents Jazz Combo in Recital on Thursday, October 1 in the Gnann Room located in the Center for Teacher Education (CTE). This event is free and open to the public.

09/19/2026

A Message from Dr. Jonathan Hall...

The Newberry College Singers are raising funds to help cover travel, lodging, and participation expenses for an invited performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City on April 3, 2027. This exceptional opportunity will allow our college students to perform on one of the world’s most celebrated stages, represent Newberry College and South Carolina, and participate in a transformative musical and educational experience. The Singers have a proud tradition of musical excellence, service, and representing the College through concerts, tours, and special performances. Fundraising support will help ensure that every student can participate, regardless of financial circumstances.

Our group has great passion for what we do, and we are surrounded by some truly amazing people within the Newberry College Singers family. Our staff understands the demands on our students and the preparation needed to excel in the classroom, on the stage, and in the community. This all requires real dedication and commitment from everyone involved. My staff and I work tirelessly each day, planning, training, and preparing our students for the challenges that lie ahead this year.

Thank you for supporting Newberry College Singers and helping us achieve our goals this year.

You may use the link below or scan the QR code to give a donation to the group or an individual.

https://newberry.onlinedonations.us/home/team-view-fundraiser/8170/8170

09/17/2026

Dear fellow directors,

I hope your school year is off to a great start! Nominations for the 2026 Newberry College High School Honor Band Clinic are now officially open as of today, September 14! We are excited to welcome your students to campus November 12-14, 2026 for three days of music-making, masterclasses, rehearsals, and performances with Newberry College faculty and students.

2026 Honor Band Overview
November 12-14, 2026
Newberry College | Newberry, SC

Important Dates:
Sept. 14: Nominations form opens (linked below)
Sept. 28: Deadline for nomination submissions
Early Oct.: Selected participants announced (email sent to directors)
Oct. 19: Deadline for registration/meal plan payments
Oct. 26: NEW - Student online audition submission deadline
Nov. 12: Instrumental masterclasses + Newberry College Jazz Big Band & Wind Ensemble Concert
Nov. 13: Morning reading session + afternoon rehearsals (auditions available for prospective Newberry College music majors!)
Nov. 14: Late afternoon rehearsal + Honor Band Concert

What’s New This Year?
Online Auditions: All accepted students will submit an audition via an unlisted YouTube link by October 26.
Faculty Masterclasses: Thursday evening will feature instrument-specific masterclasses led by Newberry College faculty.
Friday Morning Reading Session: Our first full Honor Band rehearsal will now take place Friday morning rather than Thursday evening.
Later Saturday Schedule: Saturday’s events will take place later in the afternoon/evening to avoid conflict with the 1:00pm Newberry College home football game. You are welcome to join us and cheer on the Wolves!

Submit Your Nominations

You may nominate up to 10 outstanding student musicians in grades 10-12. The top 3 nominees from each school will automatically be accepted, with remaining nominees considered based on instrumentation needs. Use the link below to submit your nominees:

STUDENT NOMINATION FORM
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSccct71KiQgs6jtp14OAoXO2_Z9NLtxR2vZZurAbk3inKGi-w/viewform

***All nominations are due by 11:59pm on September 28, 2026.***

Registration
Following participant selection, accepted students will receive invitations through their band directors.

Registration: $20/student
Optional meal plan: $40/student (directors are welcome to purchase meal plans, too!)
Registration and meal plan payments are preferred as one payment per school
Payment may be made online by credit card (preferred) or by check
Full registration details will be included with acceptance notifications in early October

We would love to have your students join us for this year’s Honor Band! Thank you for everything you do for your students and for supporting music education in our region. I look forward to working with you and welcoming your students to Newberry College this November!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jackie Townsend
[email protected]

NOMINATION FORM Thank you for submitting your wonderful students for consideration in this year's Newberry College High School Honor Band Clinic! We are looking forward to hosting another great event this year! Note: The top three ranked students (grades 10-12) from each program will automatically b...

09/14/2026

Dear Directors - we would like to update our mailing lists in order to make sure you receive information about our upcoming concerts, audition days, masterclasses, and clinics. Please click on the links below to register your updated information or to share information about Newberry College and our music department with your students.
Registration Form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/q1jTLQyQF0
Newberry College Music: https://www.newberry.edu/prospective-music-students

09/08/2026

Homeschool families - we still have some openings in our Homeschool Music Program if you would like to register. Please contact Melissa Sheppard at melissa.sheppard@ newberry.edu for more information. Ages 5 & up are welcome!! Our meeting dates are as follows: 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/13, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6. Parents are allowed to sit in the lobby of the AMC or we welcome you to quietly sit in the learning space with their children.

09/05/2026

High Schoolers...Please join us for Music Major for a Day on Tuesday, October 13. Scan the QR code below for more information and to register for the event. We look forward to seeing you there!

09/04/2026

You're Next Big Step Starts Here at Newberry College!!!!
College music auditions are open and we want to hear what you have to share as a prospective Newberrian.