Build a life on stage, starting your very first semester. Florida Southern's Bachelor of Music in Performance delivers conservatory-level applied training, faculty who still perform professionally, and the rare chance to take lead roles and first-chair seats as an undergraduate, not after you graduate.
Do you dream of a life on stage? With a focus on technique and artistry, FSC's Music Performance program prepares you for a successful career as a professional musician.
Your Bachelor of Music in Performance will allow you to develop advanced skills on your primary instrument or voice through comprehensive study in your applied music area. With studies in music theory, history, and piano proficiency, you will explore the structure of music and the historical context of musical genres. In chamber and large-scale ensemble experiences, you will collaborate with peers, coaches, and conductors in the analysis, preparation, and performance of significant works of music. Unlike large universities, where graduate students take the lead roles and first-chair positions, FSC offers you opportunities to perform from your very first day on campus.
Study with artists whose firsthand experience on the stage shapes how they teach and what you will learn. Performance labs, individual lessons, and recitals will help you develop your artistry and prepare you for the professional world, while ensemble participation and collaboration with dance and musical theatre productions further expand your abilities.
There is a separate audition requirement to be accepted into the Music Performance major. Upon application to and acceptance by the Florida Southern College Office of Admissions, a student may be accepted into the music major program only through an audition in their applied music area. Auditions are offered throughout the school year on an appointment basis. All programs of study in music are structured in four-year formats; students intending to major in any music area should consult the department concerning appropriate courses for their first college semester.
Learn More About Music Auditions
All freshman applicants to Florida Southern Colleges full-time degree programs must submit the following information:
Applying to Florida Southern as a transfer student is easy. Submit:
If transferring fewer than 24 credits, also include your official high school transcript and SAT/ACT scores.
Learn More about transfer admissionsFSC's Bachelor of Music in Performance provides comprehensive training in applied music, enabling graduates to enter graduate school for further study, teach applied music privately, and pursue professional performance careers.
Core coursework develops advanced skills on your primary instrument or voice alongside studies in music theory, music history, and piano proficiency. Weekly performance labs offer opportunities for group recitals, peer and faculty critique, instruction in pedagogy, and performance sectionals. Solo recitals provide milestone performance experiences throughout the degree, building toward the professional standard expected by graduate programs and performing organizations.
Progress Requirements
Music majors are subject to supplementary departmental policies outlined in the Department of Music Student Policies Guide, available on the FSC website and from the department office.
Core areas of study include:
Hone your skills in every style of music, from sacred and classical to jazz and contemporary, through FSC's numerous ensembles. Collaborate on dance and musical theatre productions to further develop your versatility as a performer.
Along with the Concert Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Band, and Jazz Ensemble, students participate in a wide range of additional ensembles: Chamber Singers, WW Quintet, String Quartet, Brass Quintet, Opera Theatre, and Jazz Chamber Ensembles.
Music Performance students at FSC are part of a vibrant, close-knit artistic community. Get involved with:
FSC Music Performance graduates have gone on to some of the country's finest music schools, including Bard, Duke, Eastman, Peabody, and the Manhattan School of Music. They also hold positions with professional companies and ensembles, serve as faculty at major universities, and freelance as performing musicians in venues nationally and internationally.
FSC's Bachelor of Music in Performance prepares graduates for the full range of professional music careers. Within six months of graduating, 98.6% of FSC students are employed or in graduate school.
FSC graduates have been accepted to some of the country's most prestigious music conservatories and graduate programs, including Eastman, Peabody, Bard, Duke, and the Manhattan School of Music. FSC's rigorous applied training, faculty mentorship, and solo recital experience make graduates highly competitive candidates.
Professional orchestras, chamber ensembles, and performing groups depend on musicians with advanced technique and ensemble experience. FSC's large and small ensemble opportunities, combined with faculty connections to the Florida Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, and Sarasota Orchestra, opens doors to professional performing careers.
For musicians who aspire to a career as a soloist or touring artist, FSC's performance-from-day-one philosophy, solo recital requirements, and master class opportunities with visiting artists build the artistry and professional presence that solo careers demand.
The teaching skills developed through performance labs, pedagogy coursework, and faculty mentorship prepare FSC graduates for private studio teaching and, for those who continue to graduate school, positions on the faculty of colleges and universities.
Many professional musicians build careers as versatile freelancers, performing across genres, venues, and contexts. FSC's training in sacred, classical, jazz, and contemporary styles through diverse ensemble participation prepares graduates for exactly this kind of career flexibility.
"I love how close-knit the community is and how the faculty push me every day to learn and challenge myself."
"The opportunities to perform are fantastic, and the staff in both the music and theatre department are dead set on making you the best you can be. The small class sizes make you feel like you're not just another number."
From weekly performance labs and solo recitals to master classes with visiting artists and ensemble performances on and off campus, FSC Music Performance students are always in the work. Every performance builds the artistry, confidence, and professional network that a career in music demands.
Central Florida boasts a dynamic arts community, and FSC's faculty are an active part of it. With faculty members serving as principal players in groups including the Florida Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, and Sarasota Orchestra, students have a multitude of opportunities to attend performances, observe rehearsals, and interact directly with working musicians. Each semester, renowned artists also come to campus to share their experiences, offer insights on performance techniques, and provide career guidance.
"As a passionate music educator, my main goal has always been student success. In the orchestral program, I strive to give my students the opportunity to perform standard symphonic and string orchestra literature and contemporary music in a positive and inclusive environment. I work diligently to create a sense of belonging so that students feel that they are part of a family and as such, they play an equal role in performing music together."
Get an inside look into the Florida Southern College experience with on-campus tours and events designed to show you what it will be like to live, study, and play at FSC.
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Meet FSC Mocs before a fun-filled experience at Southern Select! You can enjoy light refreshments...
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Read the latest from FSC's Department of Music, from solo recital announcements and graduate school acceptances to visiting artist master classes and ensemble performances.
At FSC, you are the focus. Our team loves connecting with prospective students to answer questions about the Bachelor of Music in Performance, audition requirements, and what life as a Music Performance major at FSC looks like.
Department Chair, Director of Orchestra and String Studies
A career in music performance starts with training at the highest level. Take your next step toward a Bachelor of Music in Performance at Florida Southern College.
