DePaul University School of Music: Cultivating Musical Excellence in the Heart of Chicago
DePaul University School of Music, founded in 1898 and located in the vibrant city of Chicago, Illinois, is dedicated to maximizing the talents of its students. The school offers a wide range of courses and concert performances, providing students with the tools to thrive in the highly competitive music industry. With passionate instructors, a privileged location, and a commitment to diversity and leadership, DePaul stands as a distinguished institution for aspiring musicians.
A Comprehensive Range of Programs
The DePaul University School of Music offers a diverse array of programs designed to cater to various musical interests and career aspirations. These programs are designed to be rigorous and collaborative, providing you with the experience and the knowledge to confidently pursue a life dedicated to music. The school aims to provide a thorough education in the first year, allowing students to identify their desired specialty by the second year.
Undergraduate Programs:
DePaul offers Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees in:
- Performance
- Composition
- Music Education
- Jazz Studies
- Performing Arts Management
- General Music Studies
A Bachelor of Science (BS) degree is also available in Sound Recording Technology. The Bachelor of Arts in Music program incorporates the study of music into wide-ranging liberal studies coursework. In this major, your music, liberal arts and social sciences classes will prepare you for a variety of careers in music and beyond. With this major, you will take a broad range of liberal studies courses and a year of modern language, in addition to music courses. You’ll also take advanced courses in music, develop research skills and complete a final capstone project.
Graduate Programs:
The graduate course includes Master of Music (MM) degrees in:
Read also: DePaul University's Study Abroad Programs
- Performance
- Composition
- Music Education
- Jazz Studies
The curriculum focuses on student specialties, music history, music theory, and research.
Other Programs:
- Teacher Certification Program
- Post-Masters Certification Program
- Post-Master’s Performance Certificate.
Expert Faculty and Performance Opportunities
DePaul boasts a faculty of approximately 110 instructors, many of whom are active performers and passionate educators. These include members of the world-renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Metropolitan Opera, and Chicago's professional jazz scene. Students benefit from their real-world experience and expertise.
The school hosts around 300 performances annually on campus, providing ample opportunities for students to showcase their talents. Additional performance venues include the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Symphony Center, the historic Merle Reskin Theatre, and Chicago's oldest jazz showcases. This allows students to hone their skills and experience music in real-world settings.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
To build the skills necessary for a career in music, you need a professional space to learn. The kind of space with the look and feel of the great concert halls of the world. The Holtschneider Performance Center, opened in 2018, is a 185,000 square-foot facility dedicated to performance, practice, and classroom space. The Sasha and Eugene Jarvis Opera Hall provides a dedicated rehearsal and performance space for vocal studies, combining stunning design with practical function.
Life in Chicago: A Hub for Music
Located in Chicago, there’s no better place in the world to study music. Chicago is music. The city offers a wealth of opportunities for students to immerse themselves in a vibrant musical environment. This privileged environment is full of first-class live music.
Read also: Applying to DePaul: What You Need to Know
Admission and Application
Admission requirements vary depending on the degree program. Generally, applicants must submit CD/videotape/DVD screenings or participate in live screenings. Vocal music majors and jazz guitar majors often require pre-screening with CD or cassette tape submissions. There is no audition for the master's course composition major. Submit an original 3 or higher score using a variety of instrumental music or media. It is not mandatory to submit a recording of the score. There is no audition for the master's course music education major. There is an interview.
Eligibility for admission includes a high school graduation qualification and TOEFL scores for bachelor's programs, and a master's degree or GPA and TOEFL scores for master's programs.
The application deadline is typically November 15th, with earlier deadlines for pre-screening programs like vocal music and jazz guitar.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition fees vary by program. As an example, bachelor's degree tuition is approximately $29,630 per year, while master's degree tuition is around $665 per credit. It's important to note that these figures are subject to change and may vary based on individual circumstances.
Career Services
Career Services provides information and resources for School of Music students and alumni on various music and arts-related career opportunities.
Read also: Understanding the DePaul University Calendar
A Commitment to Excellence and Diversity
The DePaul School of Music is an inclusive and compassionate community of musicians dedicated to artistry, excellence, diversity, and leadership in music. The DePaul University School of Music offers conservatory style, performance-based study within a large university in Chicago, a destination city for world-class arts.
Areas of Study
We offer undergraduate degrees in Performance, Jazz Studies, Music Education, Sound Recording Technology, Performing Arts Management, Composition, a BA in Music; master’s degrees in Performance, Composition, Jazz Studies, Music Education; and a Post-Master’s Performance Certificate.
Create your repertoire with the best.
Our faculty is comprised of over 110 top tier professional musicians who are dedicated to sharing their knowledge and expertise. Not only are they respected and admired educators, but are some of the world’s finest and most respected conductors, composers, performers, arts administrators and recording artists, including members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Chicago’s thriving jazz scene.
Music Education for the Global Stage
Step into DePaul’s School of Music and you’ll find more than magnificent performance halls and passionate mentors. You’ll be welcomed into a vibrant ecosystem of performers that’s alive to the rhythm of Chicago-and the world. Here, you’ll hone your skills, spark meaningful collaboration, fuel your artistic growth and become equipped to achieve your highest musical ambitions on the global stage.
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