About the Department of Music

Welcome! At the University of Nevada, Reno, Department of Music you can count on a culture of innovative music creation, engaging performances and high standards. Located within a thriving community with a rich cultural musical life, our students are guided by world-renowned faculty members recognized internationally for their performing, scholarship and teaching.

Our breadth of programs includes a full complement of bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in performance, music education, composition, musicology, orchestral studies and music industry. We offer nationally competitive undergraduate talent scholarships and graduate assistantships which can be combined with additional awards such as the University’s prestigious Millennium Scholarship or the Dean’s Fellowship.

As a U.S. News Tier 1/Carnegie Research University we are widely regarded as a leader in undergraduate music education for the western United States, boasting a 100% placement rate. In addition to leading in K-12 placements, our graduates can be found among the ranks of professional orchestras, service bands, prestigious graduate programs and instructing at universities across the country.

Our beautiful new University Arts Building presents one of the finest acoustic environments for practice, rehearsal and performance in the United States. The building features acoustically tuned practice rooms, large ensemble rehearsal spaces, state-of-the-art recording and electroacoustic compositions labs and the magnificent 280-seat Harlan O. & Barbara R. Hall Recital Hall. Along with the venerable Nightingale Concert Hall and additional teaching spaces in the Church Fine Arts Building, Nevada provides the perfect place to learn, grow and perform.

Affectionately nicknamed “The Biggest Little City in the World,” our city supports two professional symphony orchestras, a professional jazz orchestra, theater and ballet companies and a multitude of festivals and cultural events. Our campus is connected internationally by the Reno-Tahoe International Airport and is within driving distance of Lake Tahoe, the majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range and the San Francisco Bay area.

See first-hand what the University of Nevada, Reno has to offer. We invite you to explore our site, engage in conversation with our open and welcoming faculty, fill out our online music inquiry form and visit us.

The Department of Music at the University of Nevada, Reno offers students a world-class education through a variety of high-impact resources. We offer some of the most sophisticated practice rooms and concert halls in the country that enrich the lives of our students and the work they perform.

The department has 16 full-time and 30 part-time faculty and approximately 200 music majors. The department offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Master of Arts, Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees and is a member of the National Association of Schools of Music. In addition, the music education program is a member of the  Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The University of Nevada, Reno has approximately 22,000 students and is a land-grant institution of Nevada. The Reno-Tahoe area, with a population in excess of 300,000, supports the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, the Reno Chamber Orchestra, the Reno Jazz Orchestra and many other arts-oriented events throughout the year, including Reno's immensely popular month-long Artown celebration. And of course, Reno is renowned for its wonderfully varied climate and extensive outdoor recreation opportunities.

Each year, the department hosts the Reno Jazz Festival, bringing together many of the finest jazz students, musicians and musicologists in the United States and beyond. The Festival attracts thousands of jazz enthusiasts and is considered to be one of the largest, most prestigious jazz music events in the nation.

To our students:

The faculty of the Department of Music at the University of Nevada, Reno affirm our commitment to equality, justice and democracy in society, on campus and in our classrooms. We reject ideas and movements of inequality based on background or identity, whether visible or not.

We uphold the University's mission, which states that the University of Nevada, Reno "recognizes and embraces the critical importance of diversity" and "is committed to a culture of excellence, inclusion, and accessibility” as we condem white supremacist, anti-Semitic and racist thought and actions. We recognize that this type of thought is antithetical to our values and often endemic to our society and institutions. We pledge to understand and overcome it, including through our teaching, performance, scholarship and service.

As people who are dedicated to participating in a musical life, we are aware of how some voices have been silenced while others privileged. We want you, our students, to know that we are committed to creating a campus where all can learn. We welcome all members of our extended community regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic background and political or institutional affiliation. We are fully dedicated to promoting diverse voices and views as an academic and artistic department. The doors to our musical community are open to all students and we pledge to provide support and guidance to them in all possible ways.

Facilities

Hall Recital Hall
Nightingale Concert Hall
Hall Reservations