UNC Charlotte Department of Music


About the Department of Music

The UNC Charlotte Department of Music is a community of nationally recognized artists, scholars, and pedagogues committed to preparing students of diverse backgrounds and interests for successful lives as musical advocates and professionals. We leverage our location within a major research university and a vibrant cultural metropolis to provide artistic leadership through excellence in teaching, scholarly and creative activity, and service.

Located in a state-of-the-art teaching and performance facility, the Department offers majors and minors intensive professional programs in all wind, string, and percussion instruments, piano, voice, opera, musical theatre, and jazz. The Department offers numerous opportunities for students from all majors in all colleges to participate in bands, choirs, orchestras, and jazz ensembles.

UNC Charlotte is an associate member of the National Association of Schools of Music and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Our music education program is nationally accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Symphonic Band background
Jane Cho in Orchestra Performance

“My favorite thing about the Department of Music is the community. If I need any help, I know that I have friends and faculty that I can turn to. I also feel so motivated by being surrounded by so many hardworking students who have similar passions as me.

Jane Cho
BA in Music (Cello) & BA in Communications (Mass Media)
Sufian Azfar performing on stage

“My favorite thing about the Department of Music is how close everyone is with one another. As someone with another major, completely unrelated to the arts, it’s very refreshing to see this sense of community within our building. I also love going to Charlotte Symphony performances in Uptown!”

Sufian Azfar
BA in Music & BS in Computer Science
Christopher Smith

I have the Belk Performing Arts scholarship, the Marching Band scholarship, and the Vickie and Gene Johnson marching band scholarship. All of these scholarships really help me when it comes to taking job opportunities and in my grad school preparation.”

Christopher Smith
BA in Instrumental Performance

The series is an interdisciplinary demonstration of universal skills using live music.

Brian Arreola’s Zavala-Zavala is based on a true story.

Faculty and alumni from the College of Arts + Architecture are among 54 artists to receive 2024 Creative Mecklenburg Grants…

“There are so many great opportunities as a result of being in Charlotte,” says Christian Souza. “Say yes to everything…