Music Performance students have opportunities to explore both traditional and contemporary music in an internationally recognized center for new music with a storied legacy of performing classical chamber music.
The graduate Music Theory program is one of the most successful in the U.S., with graduates now teaching at Yale, Temple, Swarthmore, Bowling Green, Ithaca College, American University, Arizona State and many other world-class institutions.
The Historical Musicology Program encourages students to explore the myriad avenues open in musical scholarship today. Training for graduate students is rigorous, demanding and specifically crafted to the needs of each students.
Our celebrated graduate composition program offers students space to mature and evolve in an atmosphere that encourages musical and technological experimentation.
For fifty years, the Music Department at the University at Buffalo has maintained and nurtured a commitment to creative and performing artists at the forefront of contemporary music. The Center for 21st Century Music, founded and directed by composer David Felder in 2006, is built on this legacy.
We are pleased to welcome several new faculty members to the UB Department of Music this spring. Composer Tiffany Skidmore joins our faculty for a two-year term as Visiting Associate Professor in Composition. Dr. Skidmore will be directing our composition seminar and teaching lessons to our distinguished PhD students in composition. A prolific composer of a range of music from operatic and orchestral works to smaller scale chamber, vocal, and electro-acoustic music, Prof. Skidmore brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to the position. She is the founder and director of the 113 Composers Collective and director of the annual Twin Cities New Music Festival. Joining her on the composition faculty this spring will be composer Paula Matthusen who will serve as our Slee Visiting Professor for the semester. Dr. Matthusen is a singular voice in music today, well known for her instrumental and electro-acoustic music as well as a number of site-specific sound installations. She is Professor of Music at Wesleyan University and will be directing a graduate seminar in computer music and providing lessons and dissertation guidance to our PhD students in composition.
This year's expanded concert season includes performances by the Sphinx Virtuosi, a new Shostakovich Quartet cycle with the Alexander Quartet, and the Parker Quartet in the legacy Slee Beethoven Cycle. Read about the Center for 21st Century Music series, our brown bag concerts, and more here.
The Department of Music at the University of Buffalo is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. Learn more about our policies on our diversity and inclusion page.
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Jon Nelson discusses the concert band's thought-provoking repertoire and professional work ethic, and the importance of establishing a musical presence in Buffalo.
Eric Huebner discusses the Music in Buffalo's Historic Places series, and working with his students on musicality, interpretation, and guiding them toward more mature performances.
George Caldwell, director of the UB Jazz Ensembles, discusses his strategy of working with students, and sharing his experiences of making music with some of the great jazz performers of the 20th century.
Jonathan Golove on working closely with students and visiting artists: "I think the greatest reward is interacting with people from a variety of traditions. It's really eye and mind-opening."
The Center for 21st Century Music frequently brings internationally recognized composers, performers and ensembles to collaborate with students, offering a variety of distinct and complementary perspectives. It's also home to June in Buffalo, one of the largest contemporary music festivals in the U.S.
We welcome students with a wide range of musical ability and interests. Within our close-knit and supportive community of musical scholars, you'll have the freedom to develop your own unique voice.