Music - Instrumental Performance (BM)

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Faculty Spotlight

At UArts, you’ll develop your individual musical voice as you learn the fundamentals through hands-on education and private lessons with our professional performing and recording artist faculty. You’ll get exposure to all styles and genres of music while having the flexibility to focus on your particular niche. There are plenty of opportunities to collaborate with other Instrumental Performance students; students in Vocal Performance, Dance and Theater programs; and guest performers.

Facilities

The School of Music offers a robust set of performance spaces, recording studios, rehearsal rooms and music labs.

• two state-of-the-art recording studios
• seven production suites
• eight rehearsal rooms
• 16 individual practice rooms
• two dedicated drum practice rooms
• four smart classrooms that double as rehearsal spaces
• one circuitry lab
• one electronic music lab featuring the 4th Moog analog synthesizer, built specifically for the School of Music at UArts
• two computer labs with keyboard controllers and audio interfaces
• two drum teaching and practice studios

Laurie Wagman Recording Studios

In November 2019, UArts celebrated the grand opening of the Laurie Wagman Music Studios on the 11th floor of Terra Hall. The two recording studios are equipped with state-of-the-art, 24-channel API consoles and Antelope interfaces. There is a surround sound system in Studio A, while Studio B has a pair of Adam reference monitors. Both studios have a number of outboard compressors, equalizers and other effects processors. Studio A will also function as a fully analog space equipped with a 16-track tape machine.

Performance Spaces

• Arts Bank features a 230-seat main stage, rehearsal and dance studio, and the Laurie Beechman Cabaret Theater on the first floor.
• The Ellen and Ronald Caplan Center for the Performing Arts includes the Caplan Recital Hall and the black box Caplan Studio Theater.
• CBS Auditorium is used primarily for meetings, lectures, and workshops and symposia.
• The Elaine C. Levitt Auditorium is located within historic Gershman Hall. Levitt Auditorium is a space for large concerts and performances.
• The Gershman Black Box Theater hosts student-led productions.

In addition to our performance and recording spaces, students have access to facilities around campus including the Arts Bank Cabaret Theater, Black Box, dance studios, film and animation studios, photography labs and the woodshop.

Ensembles

UArts features premier ensembles known nationwide, such as the Z Big Band. The styles of music in our ensembles range from jazz to hip hop and ambient to rock and include original compositions. Students can perform in the following groups. 

• Ambient Ensemble
• Big Band
• Brass Ensemble
• Chorus
• Femme Ensemble: an instrumental ensemble for women, non-binary and gender-neutral students
• Great American Songbook
• Handbells
• Hip Hop
• Jazz Composers
• Jazz Singers
• Motown
• Original Music Ensemble
• Rick Kerber Tribute Ensemble: an 18–20 piece Lab Band
• Rock Ensemble
• Saxophone Quartets
• Soul
• Stax Records Ensemble
• Transfusion Ensemble
• Vocal Session Ensemble for rhythm sections and individual vocalists

Rehearsals, Performances & Tours

Each ensemble rehearses weekly, culminating in an end of the semester performance. Some ensembles record live in the performance hall or in the recording studios. Many groups perform at regional high schools or notable events such as the Jazz Appreciation Month at Philadelphia City Hall, the Key of She Festival, the Philadelphia Jazz Summit and the Washington Women in Jazz Festival.

Awards & Accolades

• Z Big Band tied for first place at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival in 2017.
• Henry Tirfe BM ’17 won best soloist award at Monterey Next Generation Festival in 2016 and 2017.
• Z Big Band won the Downbeat Magazine Award for Best Undergraduate Big Band in 2016.

Events

Femme Ensemble will be playing in the Washington Women in Jazz Festival September 2020.

UArts concerts and events at the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Center for the Performing Arts are live streamed.

See upcoming events.

Profiles & Careers

Careers & Internships

Throughout your studies in the Instrumental Performance program, you’ll have opportunities to shadow and substitute for faculty in professional rehearsals, performances and recordings. In some cases, you may be contracted through the School of Music to perform for outside events and organizations like social functions, jazz clubs and occasional high profile TV opportunities. 

Internships ranging from administrative to teaching positions are available in a variety of professional music organizations. Companies who have hired UArts students include the Academy of Music, Bellevue Hotel, Comcast, DoubleTree by Hilton, FS Investments, Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Phillies, Philly POPS, Ritz-Carlton and the Walnut Street Theatre.

Common careers students could obtain after graduation include:

• Artist manager
• Arranger
• Composer
• Concert band member or director
• Entertainment booker
• K–12 music educator
• Military ensemble member
• Music copyist
• Music director
• Orchestral musician in a major ensemble
• Private event entertainer
• Private music teacher
• Producer
• Publicist
• Recording engineer
• Studio musician
• Touring musician
   

Featured Alumni

Scholarships & Aid

UArts recognizes the extraordinary talent of our students through a range of merit-based scholarships. All applicants are automatically considered for such scholarships—no special application is necessary.

Nearly 80 percent of UArts’ undergraduate students enrolled on a full-time basis are eligible for some type of need-based aid. Additionally, some scholarship opportunities take need-based criteria into account. All students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens and are enrolled in a degree program are encouraged to apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Learn more about financial aid.

View tuition & fees.
 

How to Apply

Admissions Deadline: There is no set deadline for applications, however the deadline for the Federal Applications for Student Aid (FAFSA) is February 15th. UArts operates on a rolling admissions basis, which means we receive and process applications throughout the year as space remains available in each program. 

Learn more about FAFSA and associated deadlines.

The following materials are required for your application. 

• A completed application for admission

• A nonrefundable $60 application fee

• A personal statement 

  • Your individual voice and personal insights play an equally important and valued role in an admissions review. Your personal statement allows you to share your story, express yourself and place a spotlight on your creative journey—past, present or future. It helps us get to know you and your dreams, ideas, challenges, opportunities and/or goals in a way your transcripts and other application materials can’t. 

  • Here are some questions to help you shape your personal statement. Interpret them as you wish. There are no right or wrong answers—there’s only your story.

    1. When and how did you realize you wanted to be an artist?

    2. How will University of the Arts help you achieve your creative and professional goals?

    3. How do you want your creativity to affect the future?

  • There is no word count requirement, but we recommend you share your story in 250 to 500 words. Upload your personal statement with your application for admission or email it to undergradcredentials@uarts.edu.

• Official transcripts

  • Official transcripts from the high school(s) you have attended are required. For transfer students, transcripts from each college you have attended are required. They must be mailed directly by your school in a sealed envelope to the Office of Admissions, emailed directly from your school, or sent through a secure electronic transcript delivery service. Transcripts sent or emailed by students are not considered official. They should be sent to the Office of Admissions, University of the Arts, 320 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19102 or via email to undergradcredentials@uarts.edu.

  • For transcripts from outside the U.S., refer to the instructions for international undergraduate students.

• An audition or interview

  • Every student applying to performing arts programs must pass an entrance audition or interview. This measures not only the student's creative and expressive facility, but also the level of skill acquired. Students are asked to select their preferred audition or interview date when completing the application.

  • You will receive an email confirming your requested audition date within 48 hours of submitting the application. An application for admission must be submitted to the Office of Admissions at least two weeks before the requested audition/interview day.

• International applicants must submit proof of English proficiency. 

• Optional materials 

  • You can also submit SAT scores, a résumé and/or letters of recommendation. None of these materials are required. Learn more about submitting optional materials.

See our audition dates and audition requirements pages to learn more.

Visit our first-year application checklist and transfer checklist for more information.

Apply now.