The 2008-2009 academic year will be an exciting time around Samford as we bring together powerful programs in the Arts. Our School is growing, the quality of student and faculty work continues to rise, and the future of Samford Arts is bright.

The new School of the Arts gathers together majors in aspects of Art, Graphic Design, Theatre, Church Music, Music Education, Music Theatre, Instrumental Music (Band and Orchestra), Theory, Music History, Vocal/Choral Music, Piano, Pedagogy, Organ, Composition, the Preparatory Music Department, and the Wright Performing Arts Center together as one unit. We have recently added minors in Dance, Film, and the Arts. The School offers Graduate Degrees in Church Music, Music Education, and a new degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy.

Since the earliest years of Samford’s history, music and the dramatic arts have been a vital part of campus life. The college Glee Club sang at commencements, and seniors and dramatic arts students performed in campus productions during the year. The Masquers Club, organized in 1933, invited all students to be a part of their dramatic productions. Within five years, the popularity of The Masquers Club increased to such a degree that their productions were limited to drama students only.

In 1948, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the establishment of the Department of Music to offer the bachelor of music degree. Prior to that time, music was taught on campus by professional musicians from a local music school through a cooperative agreement, but a bachelor’s degree was not offered. By 1952, the music curriculum was so successful that more teaching space was required to accommodate the demand for music courses. In 1970, the department was elevated to School status.

In 2001, dramatic arts, known as the Theatre Department, moved to the School of Music, and the school was renamed the School of Performing Arts with a Division of Music and a Department of Theatre. A new major, musical theatre, was introduced, in both the music division and the theatre department and a dance curriculum was added. The Department of Art joined the School of Performing Arts in June 2007. The School of the Arts was officially announced on April 30, 2008.