Gold Star

The Music Department of Moravian College received its first full accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Music in June. This official recognition lasts 10 years and was granted after a five-year probationary accreditation and a two-year evaluation process were completed earlier this year.

James E. Barnes, director of instrumental music and chair of the department, said the NASM certification acknowledges that Moravian’s Music Department is “among the best institutions in the country.”

Moravian is the only institution in the Lehigh Valley to be accredited in music and one of just 29 in the state. Since NASM was organized in 1924, it has accredited 584 schools.

Accreditation recognizes that the College comes up to national standards in its seven degree programs, which include the Bachelor of Arts with a major in music or in music/elementary education and the Bachelor of Music in music education, performance, composition, sacred music, or performance (jazz).

The granting of full accreditation is a seal of approval. “It means we’re headed in the right direction,” Barnes said.