University of Rochester

What you'll study

The Bachelor’s in Music at the University of Rochester is delivered through the Eastman School of Music and through Arts, Sciences & Engineering pathways, offering both professional and liberal-arts routes. Core study areas include instrumental or vocal performance, ensemble work, private lessons, and rehearsals. Students also take courses in music theory, ear training, harmony, counterpoint and analysis, and study music history and ethnomusicology to develop critical and contextual understanding.

Composition, arranging and contemporary practices are available, together with music technology courses covering recording techniques, digital audio workstations and music production. Applied music options often include chamber music, orchestral or operatic repertoire and solo recital preparation. For students interested in theatre, there are cross-listed modules and collaborative projects in musical theatre, dramaturgy, stagecraft and scoring for performance.

The programme structure typically combines weekly private lessons, ensemble participation, academic seminars and performance commitments. Degree pathways may culminate in juries, public recitals, senior projects or written research papers depending on whether a professional Bachelor of Music or a liberal-arts Bachelor of Arts route is chosen. Additional opportunities include masterclasses, chamber festivals, community outreach performances and collaborative productions with the Drama and Dance departments.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a recognised secondary-school qualification and meet the University of Rochester's general admissions standards. Prospective performance-track students must prepare for a live or recorded audition; requirements typically include prepared solo repertoire, sight-reading and possibly an orchestral excerpt or vocal art song, depending on instrument.

Other requirements may include academic transcripts, a personal statement, and letters of recommendation. Composition applicants usually submit a portfolio of scores and recordings. For the liberal-arts music degree, theoretical placement tests or preparatory coursework may be requested. International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency and provide documentation equivalent to the standard entry qualifications.

Career prospects

Graduates pursue a wide range of careers across performance, composition, scholarship and the creative industries. Common immediate pathways include orchestral or ensemble performance, solo careers, choral and operatic work, freelance musicianship, and positions in music education at various levels.

Beyond performance, alumni work as composers, arrangers, music producers, audio engineers, and music directors for theatre and film. Graduates also move into arts administration, curation, music publishing, and community and educational outreach. Many students go on to further study — postgraduate performance diplomas, master’s degrees in performance, composition, conducting, musicology or music technology — or teacher certification programmes for classroom music education.

Why study at University of Rochester

The University of Rochester is home to the Eastman School of Music, a conservatory with a long history of high-level instruction, distinguished faculty and strong performance traditions. Students benefit from access to dedicated performance venues, rehearsal spaces, recording studios and the Sibley Music Library’s specialised collections.

The university’s structure encourages interdisciplinary study: music students can easily collaborate with theatre, film, computer science and liberal-arts departments, supporting careers that combine performance with technology, media and scholarship. Regular masterclasses, visiting artists, community partnerships and professional ensemble residencies provide practical experience and industry connections. The balance of conservatory rigour and a research-university context makes the programme particularly suitable for students seeking both artistic excellence and academic breadth.