FSC’s prestigious music programs have earned their great reputation by consistently emphasizing performance.
Here, you’ll study with artists whose firsthand experience on the stage shapes how they teach and what you’ll learn in the classroom. Along with individual lessons and classes in theory, you’ll participate in a variety of individual and group performance opportunities such as solo recitals and high-level ensembles.
Top Reasons to Study Performance at FSC
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Our artist-level faculty bring to their teaching a combination of academic expertise and extensive performance experience. This means you’ll be learning performance techniques from people who know the pressures and joys of being on stage.
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As a student musician, you’ll perform in our 1800-seat Branscomb Auditorium, one of the finest concert halls in North America.
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Weekly Performance Labs provide opportunities for performance instruction, group recitals, group critiques, single-instrument or vocal ensembles, instruction in pedagogy, and performance sectionals.
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Unlike large universities where graduate students sing lead roles and take first-chair instrumental parts, at FSC you’ll be involved early and stay involved throughout your college career.
Our artist-level faculty are active performers and conductors.
Engaged Learning in the Classroom
FSC’s music programs thrive on engagement. Here, you’ll join a community where students and faculty work closely together. Our intimate faculty-student ratio provide you with constant teacher interaction and advice. And because practice rooms are steps away from teaching studios, answers and assistance are just across the hall.
In chamber and large-scale ensemble experiences, you’ll learn to collaborate with other students, with musical coaches, and with conductors in the analysis, preparation, and performance of significant works of music.
Along with our Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, and Jazz Ensemble, we have additional performance opportunities through numerous small ensembles that include:
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Chamber Singers
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Choral
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Clarinet Choir
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Flute Choir
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Horn Choir
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Men’s Chorale
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Percussion Ensemble
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Saxophone Choir
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Symphony Orchestra
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Trombone Choir
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Trumpet Choir
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Tuba Choir
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Women’s Chorale
Through our Festival of Fine Arts, you will learn from our accomplished faculty and the world-class artists who perform with our students.
Our Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, Concert Chorale, Women’s Chorale, and Chamber Singers have performed alongside André Watts, Sylvia McNair, Nat Adderley, Bobby McFerrin, Marvin Stamm, Carol Channing, and Beverly Wolff.
Course Information
Through comprehensive studies and individual lessons in your applied music area, you’ll develop and apply advanced skills. You’ll also explore the structure of music and the historical context of musical genres with courses in theory, music history, and piano proficiency.
To take your studies deeper, throughout the year, we host guest artists who offer recitals and master classes to students.
Get complete descriptions of all our
music courses »
Departmental Clubs & Organizations
We host numerous organizations on campus. These include:
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The Music Educators National Conference student chapter, which all interested music students are encouraged to join;
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Audition-based performance groups for both music majors and non-majors; and
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Delta Omicron, an international professional fraternity open to music majors and minors, and Phi Mu Alpha, a music fraternity open to anyone with a professional interest in music regardless of major.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
We offer talent-based music scholarships for students intending to pursue a degree program in Music. These scholarships require an audition.
Ensemble scholarships are available by audition for non-majors participating in Mixed Chorale, Men’s Chorale, Women’s Chorale, Symphony Band, or Orchestra. Students may not hold more than one ensemble scholarship at any given time.
Other talent-based awards are available to current music majors by competitive auditions.
Learn how you can audition »