A Message From The Dean

Dr. Sara Lynn Baird

Welcome to the Louisiana State University College of Music & Dramatic Arts, a national leader in comprehensive training for professionals in music and theatre. The College, comprised of the LSU School of Music and the LSU Department of Theatre, includes almost 100 faculty and staff, over 600 majors, and offers a wide array of degrees and curricular concentrations from the baccalaureate through the doctorate. The College aspires “to achieve and sustain the highest standards of performance, creativity, pedagogy, research and scholarship in music and theatre” (Strategic Plan Goal #1). Many of our esteemed faculty members are among the most celebrated in their fields around the nation.

In the College of Music & Dramatic Arts, we are proud to offer an intimate and nurturing atmosphere that offers opportunities for individual attention and regular performance for both graduate and undergraduate students. I invite you to read about our distinguished faculty, nationally acclaimed major performing ensembles, programs of study, and available scholarship, assistantship and fellowship opportunities. Information about the School of Music may be found at www.music.lsu.edu and about the Department of Theatre at www.theatre.lsu.edu.
Recent accomplishments in the college include:

Swine Palace, the University’s full-time professional, Equity theatre company received the 2006 Louisiana Governor’s Arts Award for Large Arts Organizations.

In 2002, the LSU Tiger Band won the Sudler Trophy awarded by the John Philip Sousa Society, given to the #1 college/university band in the nation The Sudler Trophy is widely regarded as “the Heisman Trophy for bands.”

LSU Opera is widely respected as among the top 10 university opera companies in the nation and recently celebrated its 75th anniversary!

In 2006, Swine Palace received the YWCA Racial Justice Award, the first for an arts organization in the State of Louisiana.

The LSU A Cappella Choir was the featured university choral group at the finale concert for the ACDA Annual Convention at the Walt Disney Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles.

In 2007, Swine Palace was awarded its third NEA grant for the world premiere of Ping Chong’s drama, COCKTAIL. That same year, the company was also the recipient of an EST Sloan Grant and its second Shubert Foundation grant; in the past five years, Swine Palace has received more than $1.2 million in unearned income.

In 2007, Swine Palace’s production of The Heidi Chronicles, directed by department chair, Michael Tick, was invited to be produced at the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre and the Beijing Central Academy of Drama.

An associate professor of musicology received a prestigious National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship.

Two opera students have won national auditions at the Metropolitan Opera. The most recent winner now has a Met contract.

A recent PhD in Music (Composition) graduate won the MNTA-Shepherd Distinguished Composer of the Year Award.

If you would like additional information about the College of Music and Dramatic Arts, the School of Music or the Department of Theatre, please contact me or my colleagues as noted below:

Dr. Jane Cassidy, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Dr. Michael Tick, Chair, Department of Theatre

The LSU College of Music & Dramatic Arts students, faculty, and staff are dedicated to the highest standards of excellence in the performing arts. As we enter our second century of service to Louisiana and beyond, we are proud of our heritage and excited about our future.

	A Message From The Dean Dr. Sara Lynn Baird Sara Lynn Baird, Dean College of Music & Dramatic Arts Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA 70803-2504 Phone: (225) 388-3261 Fax: (225) 388-2562 Email: sbaird@lsu.edu Welcome to the Louisiana State University College of Music & Dramatic Arts, a national leader in comprehensive training for professionals in music and theatre. The College, comprised of the LSU School of Music and the LSU Department of Theatre, includes almost 100 faculty and staff, over 600 majors, and offers a wide array of degrees and curricular concentrations from the baccalaureate through the doctorate. The College aspires “to achieve and sustain the highest standards of performance, creativity, pedagogy, research and scholarship in music and theatre” (Strategic Plan Goal #1). Many of our esteemed faculty members are among the most celebrated in their fields around the nation. In the College of Music & Dramatic Arts, we are proud to offer an intimate and nurturing atmosphere that offers opportunities for individual attention and regular performance for both graduate and undergraduate students. I invite you to read about our distinguished faculty, nationally acclaimed major performing ensembles, programs of study, and available scholarship, assistantship and fellowship opportunities. Information about the School of Music may be found at www.music.lsu.edu and about the Department of Theatre at www.theatre.lsu.edu. Recent accomplishments in the college include: Swine Palace, the University’s full-time professional, Equity theatre company received the 2006 Louisiana Governor’s Arts Award for Large Arts Organizations. In 2002, the LSU Tiger Band won the Sudler Trophy awarded by the John Philip Sousa Society, given to the #1 college/university band in the nation The Sudler Trophy is widely regarded as “the Heisman Trophy for bands.” LSU Opera is widely respected as among the top 10 university opera companies in the nation and recently celebrated its 75th anniversary! In 2006, Swine Palace received the YWCA Racial Justice Award, the first for an arts organization in the State of Louisiana. The LSU A Cappella Choir was the featured university choral group at the finale concert for the ACDA Annual Convention at the Walt Disney Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles. In 2007, Swine Palace was awarded its third NEA grant for the world premiere of Ping Chong’s drama, COCKTAIL. That same year, the company was also the recipient of an EST Sloan Grant and its second Shubert Foundation grant; in the past five years, Swine Palace has received more than $1.2 million in unearned income. In 2007, Swine Palace’s production of The Heidi Chronicles, directed by department chair, Michael Tick, was invited to be produced at the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre and the Beijing Central Academy of Drama. An associate professor of musicology received a prestigious National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship. Two opera students have won national auditions at the Metropolitan Opera. The most recent winner now has a Met contract. A recent PhD in Music (Composition) graduate won the MNTA-Shepherd Distinguished Composer of the Year Award. If you would like additional information about the College of Music and Dramatic Arts, the School of Music or the Department of Theatre, please contact me or my colleagues as noted below: Dr. Jane Cassidy, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. Michael Tick, Chair, Department of Theatre The LSU College of Music & Dramatic Arts students, faculty, and staff are dedicated to the highest standards of excellence in the performing arts. As we enter our second century of service to Louisiana and beyond, we are proud of our heritage and excited about our future.


College of Music & Dramatic Arts Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA 70803-2504 Phone: (225) 578-3261 Fax: (225) 578-2562