Special Opportunities
Special Opportunities
Music students at UNC Charlotte take full advantage of the incomparable experience of studying music in a vibrant cosmopolitan city. As teachers, they gain real-world experience by working alongside many of the finest music educators in the country. As performers, they frequently appear in churches, jazz clubs, and other venues throughout the region. Our students and alums contribute to a nonprofit arts and culture industry that generates $359 million in economic activity annually, supports 11,186 jobs, and generates $31.5 million in local and state government revenues.
Discover past masterclasses
One of the many advantages of studying music in a major city is the ability to interact with great artists. Our partnerships with local arts organizations, such as the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and Opera Carolina, allow students to take masterclasses with world-renowned visiting artists and participate in professional performances. Additionally, students have opportunities to hold jobs and internships with these organizations and others throughout the region. Each year, the Department hosts a Masterclass Series that brings instrumentalists, vocalists, and ensembles to campus to work with our students, featuring prominent local musicians and renowned guest artists.
2018-2019 MASTERCLASS SERIES
Kunio Hara,
Dende Macedo, percussion
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Ellie Woo, cello
Sergej Krylov, violin
Matthew Burns, bass-baritone
Alyson Cambridge, soprano
Gabriela Montero, piano
The American Spiritual Ensemble
Victor Wang, flute
Jordan Bisch, bass
2017-2018 MASTERCLASS SERIES
Mirasol Saxophone Quartet
Tom Burge, trombone
Ashraf Sewailam, bass-baritone
Benjamin Beilman, violin
Matthew Curran, bass
Erinn Frechette, flute
Diane Schoff, mezzo-soprano
2016-2017 MASTERCLASS SERIES
Esther Yoo, violin
Benedetto Lupo, piano
Kevin Langan, bass-baritone
Elizabeth Caballero, soprano
Benjamin Gellar, viola
Gordon Hunt, oboe
Kristen Sampson, soprano
Other clinicians and guest artists during the 2016-2017 academic year included Tim Armacost, Alan Black, Bonnie Draina, Lori Hicks, Jace Saplan, Marcos Sadao Shirakawa, and Arlene Shrut.
2015-2016 MASTERCLASS SERIES
Rebecca Cook-Carter, soprano
John Parker, trumpet
Andrew Richards, tenor
Christina Pier, soprano
Jonathan Boyd, tenor
Michael Collins, clarinet
William Wolfram, piano
Irina Mishura, mezzo-soprano
Angelo Xiang Yu, violin
Other clinicians and guest artists during the 2015-2016 academic year included the Army Ground Forces Trombone Quartet, Christy Banks, Tom Burge, Jeff Coffin, David Dees, Rodney Eichenberger, George Faison, Jacqueline Hairston, Ashley Hall, Kathy Lawson, Frank Portone, Jim Riggs, José Rivera, Sheila Silver-Feldman, Marga Skelly, Michael Steinel, and Reuben Zellman.
2014-2015 MASTERCLASS SERIES
Brenda Harris, soprano
Abdel Rahman El Bacha, piano
Russell Braun, baritone
Julian Schwarz, cello
Lukas Vondracek, piano
Katie Lewek, soprano
Other clinicians and guest artists during the 2014-2015 academic year included Tim Armacost, David Berkman, Mark Britt, Bonnie Draina, Rodney Eichenberger, David Finucane, Guy Fishman, Randy Gardner, Gene Jackson, Michael Janisch, Evelyn Orman, Anthony Plog, Karl Sievers, Kirsten Swanson, Don Tison, and Eric Thompson.
2013-2014 MASTERCLASS SERIES
Karen Gomyo, violin
Finghin Collins, piano
Alan Black, cello
Sarah Jane McMahon, soprano
Stephen Hough, piano
Calin Lupanu, violin
Other clinicians and guest artists during the 2013-2014 academic year included Grace Anderson, Michael Bakan, Janice Bradner, José Fernández, Marcelo Jardim de Campos, Alfredo Martínez, David Pietro, Jim Romain, Arlene Shrut, Jeb Wallace, Nathan Warner, Scott Wendholt, and Richard Winslow.
JOBS & INTERNSHIPS
Charlotte’s robust arts community provides numerous opportunities for students to supplement their musical studies with career-related jobs and internships.
PAID EMPLOYMENT (OFF-CAMPUS)
Many of our music majors work as music professionals while still in college, including paid employment as performers in churches, clinicians at high schools, and private instructors in music stores. Our students are also in demand as freelance performers. In the Spring 2018 semester alone, music majors were contracted by Opera Carolina to sing with Andrea Bocelli and Kristin Chenoweth, paid for a performance with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, and paid to perform alongside other local professionals at Central Piedmont Community College.
PAID/FOR-CREDIT INTERNSHIPS (OFF-CAMPUS)
Our Department of Music works with a number of performing arts organizations in Charlotte to create professional internships. We currently offer two paid internships with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, music majors can create their own internship opportunities for credit. Recent students have enrolled in for-credit internships with the Bechtler Ensemble, Blue Ridge String Instrument Company, the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestras, Live Nation, Opera Carolina, and Steinway Piano Gallery-Charlotte.
PAID EMPLOYMENT (ON-CAMPUS)
A number of our music majors work as Robinson Hall Technicians. These are paying jobs within Robinson Hall for the Performing Arts (and the adjacent Rowe Recital Hall) that provide professional experience on the technical side of the performing arts, including running lights and sound during performances.
PAID INTERNSHIPS (ON-CAMPUS)
The University Professional Internship Program (UPIP) is an on-campus program that provides paid internships in professional roles. Our UPIP interns typically serve as ensemble managers and music librarians, which are great ways to learn more about potential career paths while adding value to the Department of Music.
Project Harmony Intern, Charlotte Symphony
Orion Greer, Bachelor of Music with a concentration in Instrumental Performance ’22
“I will assist the lead teachers in instrumental education with kids from 2nd through 5th grade. I will be working with the Project Harmony internship and learn about the benefits of non-profit education and how music can be a positive impact at a young age. The internship is important to me because as a kid, music was a big part of my life and helped me cope with many things. I want to pass on that experience and help make sure other kids have a healthy outlet and grow through an activity that has so many benefits.”
Education Intern, Charlotte Symphony
Yovany Romero, BA Music; BS Computer Science ’21
“What I enjoy most about my internship is gaining professional experience in the Selenium testing suite for web applications and Python to automate various tasks, while saving time and improving workflow. My main focus has been improving student attendance software for Project Harmony, an after-school intensive program serving families who face challenges and seek to provide greater opportunities for their children. Project Harmony provides free instruments, ensemble music training, and homework help to Charlotte area students. I’ve helped to accurately maintain their database and grow attendance.”
Project Harmony TA, Charlotte Symphony
Michaela Meadows, BA in Music: Concentration in Violin ’20
“In my internship, my primary duties are to assist with coaching students, grades 2nd through 5th, on music theory, stringed instruments, and other musical concepts. I teach students how to properly hold the instrument and the bow, along with teaching notes and rhythms. I also set up before students arrive, and clean up after they leave. I enjoy seeing the students eager to learn about music as well as their specific instruments. Along with that, I enjoy watching their progression and growth as young musicians, and witnessing the genuine excitement of it all!”