To be a graduate student in the UB Department of Music is to be immersed in a vibrant and diverse group of musicians who have come from all over the globe to study the past and create the future of music.
The department has developed an internationally-recognized niche for new music, emphasizing the creation and performance of recent works of the highest quality, as well as a long legacy of the performance of chamber music.
Graduate students in the department represent some of the brightest new talents in the disciplines of composition, historical musicology, music theory and performance. Mentored by an extraordinary faculty cohort, our students have the freedom to engage in instructor-led initiatives or construct their own music projects, such as, most recently, Wooden Cities, Null Point and Sotto Voce Vocal Collective. Additionally, students regularly interact with professional artists and scholars via the department's concert series, visiting lecturer series and the Center for 21st-Century Music.
From day one, graduate students receive individualized advising regarding their course of study, and stimulating graduate seminars introduce students to a variety of topics in contemporary scholarship. Graduate students have opportunities to act as teaching assistants, assisting in and teaching courses throughout the department, and are encouraged to participate in experiential learning opportunities which enhance their skills and broaden their exposure. Further elevating our students' potential to succeed is access to an array of invaluable resources, including the Computer Music Studios, the 670-seat Lippes Concert Hall and the UB Music Library, which holds over 220,000 items including scores, sheet music, performance parts, periodicals, journals, books, sound recordings, videos and online databases and indexes.
If you share a drive and passion to take your musical pursuits to the highest levels of achievement, we invite you to learn more about our department and hope you will join our community of scholars.