F. Ludwig Diehn School of MusicAbout Us
Invest in our students & faculty
Old Dominion University is a growing institution with an enrollment of approximately 24,000 students. The university is located in Norfolk, Virginia, a vibrant metropolitan, historic and internationally-oriented area with a population of 1.4 million.
The F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and has been an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music since 1978.
ODU Music students enjoy the resources of a large university within the closeness of a small community. With an enrollment of about 220 majors and minors, the F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music creates its own cohesive, tight-knit culture where supportive relationships are developed between students and teachers. We have a place for you at ODU!
Degree programs with several concentrations/options
6
recitals, concerts & master classes each year
130
Music Majors & Minors; 207 Undergraduate, 13 Graduate
220
Executive Director's Welcome
Greetings to music students, educators, and music lovers of all ages!
Passion and constant pursuit of excellence are the hallmarks of a professional musician. As a graduate of the Juilliard School and an internationally-concertizing musician, I know from personal experience what it takes to become the musicians we dream of becoming. As the first Executive Director of the F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music at Old Dominion University, I am proud and excited to be a part of a school of music that shares this passion, and I invite you to experience your educational journey with us.
The Diehn School of Music (DSoM) at Old Dominion University is a cultural cornerstone of the Southeastern region of Virginia and as such, it enriches the unique culture and community of the area as well as the quality-of-life for all those with whom the DSoM engages and interacts. Our faculty and students perform and learn in venues throughout the Hampton Roads area - from small, intimate venues to 10,000+ seat auditoriums. In addition to the school's inspiring and unmatched faculty, world renowned visiting artists come to the DSoM and work closely with our students; these guest artists further enhance the unique learning opportunities for developing artists that are available to DSoM students.
This year, Old Dominion University has been categorized as an R1 institution - only 140 universities in the United States have received such recognition. The energy, research, and innovation taking place on our campus is astounding. An environment such as ODU's is rich with possibility, and every day students are creating their own success stories.
While the role of the arts within communities and academic institutions may have been treated dismissively in past discourse, current research is highlighting the importance of the arts in cultivating healthy communities. The University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine states, "Throughout human history, the arts have been used to accomplish the very things public health is currently challenged to do: support wellbeing, create social connection, spark and sustain movements, communicate across difference, and transform systems and cultures." ODU is committed both to the arts and to developing the next generation of cultural leaders, and the DSoM is at the heart of the cultural discussion in our region, and the school's collaborations and partnerships weave throughout the fabric of our community. Students at the DSoM learn firsthand of the profound impact music, music education, and the arts have within communities. They know why they are studying within the field of music and the performing arts.
Visit the thriving and expanding Diehn School of Music at Old Dominion University and create your own story of success with us.
Sincerely,
Emily Ondracek-Peterson, EdD, MBA | Executive Director | F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music
Director's Welcome
Thank you for your interest in the F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music. The F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music offers the Bachelor of Music degree in Composition, Performance, Music Education and Emphasis in Sound Recording Technology, the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and the music minor with three options. The graduate program offers a widely respected Master of Music Education degree with concentrations in Performance, Pedagogy and Research.
ODU is a large public university with well over 24,000 students. The F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music, comprised of 270+ select students, enables ODU music students to expand their skills and knowledge through supportive relationships with teachers in a cohesive, tight-knit culture. Our nationally and internationally known faculty are teacher-performers in Virginia with many serving as principal musicians with the Virginia Symphony and Virginia Opera.
The recent addition to the Diehn Center for the Performing Arts features a state of the art recording studio, a one hundred-plus seat mediated Choral rehearsal hall, a computer lab with software including Pro Tools and Sibelius, a spacious percussion rehearsal studio, several chamber music studios, and a completely outfitted Music Education facility featuring Orff instruments, a Smart Board and other technology.
The F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music offers multiple scholarships annually to outstanding music students. Scholarships are awarded for exceptional performance and are available to students in all areas, including instrumental, vocal, keyboard, and composition.
We have a place for you in the F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music! To learn more, see our Academic Programs, Admission Information and Scholarship pages. If you have any questions call (757) 683-4061, contact us by email, or contact me if you would like additional information. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Nancy K. Klein, Ph.D. | Director, F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music
Vision Statement:
To model expertise, cultivate musicianship, advocate diverse approaches, and cultivate the experiential agility that leads one to a meaningful successful career in the arts and beyond.
Mission Statement:
The F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music cultivates and mentors a talented and diverse body of excellent artistic leaders to be at the forefront of the music field. As an urban center for musical resources and activity, we position our students towards a meaningful successful career through active engagement in performance, creative activity, pedagogy and education, research, and collaboration as passionate arts and education advocates within our global community.
Core Values of the Diehn School of Music:
- Excellence
Collaboration
Outside-the-Box
Mentorship
Experiential
Global Advocacy and Engagement
Cultivate
Transform
Meaningful
Passion
Training the individual
Inclusive
Outstanding musician-scholar-teachers provide a rich, challenging, and creative environment in which students may pursue their educational dreams and aspirations. The F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music has excellent faculty who are leaders in music education and performance throughout the region. Several faculty serve as principal musicians with the Virginia Symphony and the Virginia Opera, and are established teacher-performers in the Hampton Roads area and beyond. Our faculty is comprised of 19 full-time faculty and 35+ faculty adjuncts.
Meet Some of Our Award Winning Faculty!
Mike Hall, D.M.A.
Mike Hall was appointed professor of trombone/euphonium and brass choir director at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA in 2006. Since 1998 he has served as Literature Reviews Editor for the International Trombone Association Journal. His principal teachers include Thomas Ashworth, Tom Ervin, Vern Kagarice, and Brian Martz. Dr. Hall has performed extensively throughout the United States, Mexico, Europe and CMike Hallhina covering a large spectrum of styles
Nancy Klein, Ph.D.
Dr. Nancy Klein earned the B.S. in Music Education from the University of Richmond (cum laude), M.M.E in Vocal Performance from EKU (honors), Ph.D. in Music from NYU (valedictorian). While in New York she served as the Assistant Director/ Director of the NYU Choral Program. Dr. Klein has studied conducting and has performed as a soprano with Eric Ericson, Robert Shaw, John deRevere and James Erb. Dr. Klein has directed the ODU Choral Department since 1986.
Douglas Owens, D.A.
Douglas Owens earned the Doctor of Arts degree in Music with emphases in Music Education and Jazz Pedagogy at the University of Northern Colorado in 2003. Dr. Owens earned the Master of Music in trumpet performance in 1986 and the Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1983, each from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
ODU Music Alumni are performing and teaching all over the region and the country. The Diehn School enjoys a special relationship with military music programs in all branches of the service. Graduates often enter military music programs and military musicians often pass through our BME program and become teachers after their military music career.
The F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music Alumni Chapter consists of all graduates of the F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music, which includes Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Arts and Music Minors. This free affiliate chapter promotes alumni to stay connected with their program, school, current students and Old Dominion University. Like us on Facebook to keep your contact information up-to-date and share your alumni stories and accomplishments.
Hampton Roads
The moderate winter climate and the university's proximity to the resort community of Virginia Beach makes Hampton Roads a desirable place to live. The area is home to the Virginia Symphony, the Virginia Opera, the Virginia Stage Company and the highly successful Virginia Arts Festival.
On Campus
Greetings to music students, educators, and music lovers of all ages!
Passion and constant pursuit of excellence are the hallmarks of a professional musician. As a graduate of the Juilliard School and an internationally-concertizing musician, I know from personal experience what it takes to become the musicians we dream of becoming. As the first Executive Director of the F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music at Old Dominion University, I am proud and excited to be a part of a school of music that shares this passion, and I invite you to experience your educational journey with us.
The Diehn School of Music (DSoM) at Old Dominion University is a cultural cornerstone of the Southeastern region of Virginia and as such, it enriches the unique culture and community of the area as well as the quality-of-life for all those with whom the DSoM engages and interacts. Our faculty and students perform and learn in venues throughout the Hampton Roads area - from small, intimate venues to 10,000+ seat auditoriums. In addition to the school's inspiring and unmatched faculty, world renowned visiting artists come to the DSoM and work closely with our students; these guest artists further enhance the unique learning opportunities for developing artists that are available to DSoM students.
This year, Old Dominion University has been categorized as an R1 institution - only 140 universities in the United States have received such recognition. The energy, research, and innovation taking place on our campus is astounding. An environment such as ODU's is rich with possibility, and every day students are creating their own success stories.
While the role of the arts within communities and academic institutions may have been treated dismissively in past discourse, current research is highlighting the importance of the arts in cultivating healthy communities. The University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine states, "Throughout human history, the arts have been used to accomplish the very things public health is currently challenged to do: support wellbeing, create social connection, spark and sustain movements, communicate across difference, and transform systems and cultures." ODU is committed both to the arts and to developing the next generation of cultural leaders, and the DSoM is at the heart of the cultural discussion in our region, and the school's collaborations and partnerships weave throughout the fabric of our community. Students at the DSoM learn firsthand of the profound impact music, music education, and the arts have within communities. They know why they are studying within the field of music and the performing arts.
Visit the thriving and expanding Diehn School of Music at Old Dominion University and create your own story of success with us.Sincerely,
Emily Ondracek-Peterson, EdD, MBA
Executive Director | F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music
Director's Welcome
Thank you for your interest in the F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music. The F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music offers the Bachelor of Music degree in Composition, Performance, Music Education and Emphasis in Sound Recording Technology, the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and the music minor with three options. The graduate program offers a widely respected Master of Music Education degree with concentrations in Performance, Pedagogy and Research.
ODU is a large public university with well over 24,000 students. The F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music, comprised of 270+ select students, enables ODU music students to expand their skills and knowledge through supportive relationships with teachers in a cohesive, tight-knit culture. Our nationally and internationally known faculty are teacher-performers in Virginia with many serving as principal musicians with the Virginia Symphony and Virginia Opera.
The recent addition to the Diehn Center for the Performing Arts features a state of the art recording studio, a one hundred-plus seat mediated Choral rehearsal hall, a computer lab with software including Pro Tools and Sibelius, a spacious percussion rehearsal studio, several chamber music studios, and a completely outfitted Music Education facility featuring Orff instruments, a Smart Board and other technology.
The F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music offers multiple scholarships annually to outstanding music students. Scholarships are awarded for exceptional performance and are available to students in all areas, including instrumental, vocal, keyboard, and composition.
We have a place for you in the F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music! To learn more, see our Academic Programs, Admission Information and Scholarship pages. If you have any questions call (757) 683-4061, contact us by email, or contact me if you would like additional information. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Nancy K. Klein, Ph.D. | Director, F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music
Vision Statement:
To model expertise, cultivate musicianship, advocate diverse approaches, and cultivate the experiential agility that leads one to a meaningful successful career in the arts and beyond.
Mission Statement:
The F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music cultivates and mentors a talented and diverse body of excellent artistic leaders to be at the forefront of the music field. As an urban center for musical resources and activity, we position our students towards a meaningful successful career through active engagement in performance, creative activity, pedagogy and education, research, and collaboration as passionate arts and education advocates within our global community.
Core Values of the Diehn School of Music:
- Excellence
Collaboration
Outside-the-Box
Mentorship
Experiential
Global Advocacy and Engagement
Cultivate
Transform
Meaningful
Passion
Training the individual
Inclusive
Outstanding musician-scholar-teachers provide a rich, challenging, and creative environment in which students may pursue their educational dreams and aspirations. The F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music has excellent faculty who are leaders in music education and performance throughout the region. Several faculty serve as principal musicians with the Virginia Symphony and the Virginia Opera, and are established teacher-performers in the Hampton Roads area and beyond. Our faculty is comprised of 19 full-time faculty and 35+ faculty adjuncts.
Meet Some of Our Award Winning Faculty!
Mike Hall, D.M.A.
Mike Hall was appointed professor of trombone/euphonium and brass choir director at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA in 2006. Since 1998 he has served as Literature Reviews Editor for the International Trombone Association Journal. His principal teachers include Thomas Ashworth, Tom Ervin, Vern Kagarice, and Brian Martz. Dr. Hall has performed extensively throughout the United States, Mexico, Europe and CMike Hallhina covering a large spectrum of styles
Nancy Klein, Ph.D.
Dr. Nancy Klein earned the B.S. in Music Education from the University of Richmond (cum laude), M.M.E in Vocal Performance from EKU (honors), Ph.D. in Music from NYU (valedictorian). While in New York she served as the Assistant Director/ Director of the NYU Choral Program. Dr. Klein has studied conducting and has performed as a soprano with Eric Ericson, Robert Shaw, John deRevere and James Erb. Dr. Klein has directed the ODU Choral Department since 1986.
Douglas Owens, D.A.
Douglas Owens earned the Doctor of Arts degree in Music with emphases in Music Education and Jazz Pedagogy at the University of Northern Colorado in 2003. Dr. Owens earned the Master of Music in trumpet performance in 1986 and the Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1983, each from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
ODU Music Alumni are performing and teaching all over the region and the country. The Diehn School enjoys a special relationship with military music programs in all branches of the service. Graduates often enter military music programs and military musicians often pass through our BME program and become teachers after their military music career.
The F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music Alumni Chapter consists of all graduates of the F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music, which includes Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Arts and Music Minors. This free affiliate chapter promotes alumni to stay connected with their program, school, current students and Old Dominion University. Like us on Facebook to keep your contact information up-to-date and share your alumni stories and accomplishments.
Hampton Roads
The moderate winter climate and the university's proximity to the resort community of Virginia Beach makes Hampton Roads a desirable place to live. The area is home to the Virginia Symphony, the Virginia Opera, the Virginia Stage Company and the highly successful Virginia Arts Festival.
On Campus
State of the Art Facilities
The F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music is housed in the F. Ludwig Diehn Center for the Performing Arts. In 2014, Old Dominion University opened a new addition to the Diehn Center for the Performing Arts.
Visit the F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music Facilities Page
