Music Department

Music Department

Jump-start your music career at Anoka-Ramsey. Our talented faculty will inspire you to prepare for a career in music and related fields. Learn more by visiting the Music Department webpage.

Who We Are

Music is alive and well at Anoka-Ramsey, where our Music program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). Our talented Music Department faculty is known for their ability to bring out the best in aspiring vocalists and musicians.

Course Descriptions
Department Directory
Admissions | 763-433-1300
Dean Greg Rathert | 763-433-1864

Meet Melissa Bergstrom

Melissa Bergstrom at piano
Meet Melissa Bergstrom
Instructor of Music
Meet Melissa Bergstrom
Instructor of Music

Master of Music (MM) in Choral Conducting, University of Minnesota; Bachelor of Music (BM) in Voice Performance, Augsburg College

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Meet Jared Waln

Meet Jared Waln
Music program
Meet Jared Waln
Music program

Elk River, MN

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Degrees & Certificates We Offer

Courses offered range from theory to music history and private lessons. Everyone is welcome to audition for choir, band, orchestra or one of our smaller ensemble groups.

The Music Department offers one degree:

  • The Anoka-Ramsey Community College Music Department now offers the Associate of Fine Arts degree (AFA) in Music. The AFA includes a complete two-year Music Theory sequence, a year of Music History, Private Individual Lessons and Performance Ensembles in Bands and/or Choirs. Students may transfer as a third year Music student in bachelor of arts, bachelor of fine arts, bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Music Education degree programs.

    Through completion of the AFA, students may prepare for careers in music teaching, music therapy, performance, composition, conducting, and music business.

    The mission of the Anoka-Ramsey Community College Music Department is two fold:

    1. To prepare students for careers and advanced study in music by offering an Associate of Fine Arts in Music
    2. To provide music as a general education offering to all students through classroom and performance courses.

    In order to fulfill this mission, the Music Department makes the following commitments:

    ♪ To offer all the courses students need to transfer into four-year music degree programs.

    ♪ To prepare each Associate of Fine Arts Degree student with a solid foundation in music.

    ♪ To prepare students artistically, intellectually, and professionally for the challenging world in which musicians now live.

    ♪ To encourage students to become supporters and advocates of music as an integral part of the human experience.

    ♪ To encourage students to develop an understanding and appreciation of the world of Art Music through general education.

    ♪ To provide opportunities for all students to participate in music ensembles.

    ♪ To provide opportunities for all students to explore individual studio instruction.

    ♪ To expose students to a diversity of global, historical and popular music.

    ♪ To offer music curricula of interest, integrity and innovation.

  • The Music Department is housed in the recently renovated Music Building. This new facility offers two large rehearsal rooms and one small rehearsal room for ensembles, a dual piano/mac lab with music writing and editing software, and eight practice rooms for individual practice. Each practice room is open to any Anoka-Ramsey student and is equipped with a Mac computer with music writing and editing software installed

  • Fall 2018
    Nov. 20 7 pm Choirs (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and Women’s Chorale) - Featuring the North American Premiere of a choral soundtrack to FRANKENSTEIN: THE MOVIE, Performing Arts Center
    Dec. 7 7 pm Jazz Ensemble, Performing Arts Center
    Dec. 10 7 pm Guitar Ensemble and World Drumming Ensemble, Performing Arts Center
    Dec. 11 7 pm Concert Band and String Orchestra, Performing Arts Center

    Spring 2018
    March 7 7 pm Annual All-Ensemble Concert, Faith Lutheran Church in Coon Rapids
    April 4 7 pm Canadian Brass, Performing Arts Center
    May 3 7 pm Jazz Ensemble, Performing Arts Center
    May 6 7 pm Choirs (Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and Women’s Chorale, Performing Arts Center
    May 7 7 pm Concert Band and String Orchestra, Performing  Arts Center
    May 9 7 pm Guitar Ensemble and World Drumming Ensemble, Performing Arts Center

  • Learn more about Ensembles here.

    Choral

    Instrumental
    Concert Choir Concert Band
    Chamber Singers Jazz Ensemble
    Women’s Chorale String Orchestra
      Guitar Ensemble
      Chamber Ensembles
      World Drumming Ensemble
      Musical Theatre Ensemble

More About The Department

The Music Department has two main goals in meeting student needs:

  1. to offer several general music courses such as rock history, world music, music appreciation, class piano, guitar instruction, and individual studio lessons to all students regardless of music background and experience, and
  2. to offer an Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) degree in Music, a program that is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.

Meet Our Students and Alumni

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  1. Meet Bridgette Gergen
    Bridgette Gergen
    Arts & Communication
    Music

    "Anoka-Ramsey was close to home, and inexpensive. Just what I needed in a college. Plus, there were great instructors who really do love music as much as I do.

    I used Advising when first enrolling at Anoka-Ramsey, and it made the enrolling process much less complicated and overwhelming."

  2. Meet Ben Kelly
    Ben Kelly
    Arts & Communication
    Music

    "I chose Anoka-Ramsey because I knew a lot of people who attended and they all turned out to be very talented and professional musicians and they all recommended Anoka-Ramsey. The faculty all really enjoy their jobs and have been some of the most supportive people in my life."

  3. Meet Katie Aiuppa
    Katie Aiuppa
    Arts & Communication
    Music

    "I chose Anoka-Ramsey because it was close to home, has a GREAT music program, and it is much cheaper than a four year school that I can just transfer to when I finish my first two years of college."

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