Department of Music

A collage of four pictures. The first one on the left is a blonde, white young woman in black, playing the piano. A beautiful black piano is in the foreground, its opening framing the woman. In the background is the Conrad Prebys Music Center, lined with rows of red seats. The next picture is of another young woman in black with brown hair. She is playing the violin, the instrument tucked under her chin and on top of her left shoulder. She sits in one of the red seats of the Conrad Prebys Concert Hall. The next picture is of a young Asian man with short black hair. He blows into his flute, which he carries to his right side. Behind him is the stage of the Conrad Prebys Concert Hall. Above his head are stage lights that beam downward. The next picture on the right is of another young woman with long black hair. She touches a microphone close to her mouth, the stand holding up the microphone. Behind her are the red seats, dimmed in the darkness of the hall.

A white background. On the left is a large circle with a spray-painted pattern of blue, aquamarine, and yellow. In front of it is a hand, holding up a smart phone that displays the UC San Diego Department of Music's Instagram page. To the right reads "Follow us on social media." Below that are icons for Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and YouTube. Below each of these icons are the username "@ucsdmusic."

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Welcome to UC San Diego Music

Providing a unique environment where composers, performers, improvisers, computer-music researchers and scholars engage with the most vital ideas and newest technologies, students in the UC San Diego Department of Music work hand-in-hand with distinguished faculty to push the boundaries of contemporary music.

Undergraduate Course Information

Music Majors can choose a course track with an emphasis in Composition, Performance, Jazz, Technology and Literature. Non-majors can take courses if they satisfy prerequisites, and audition for ensembles.

Course Information

In the News

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June 2025

UC San Diego Department of Music Alumnus Receives 2025 Excellence in Stewardship Award

A picture of a scene from 'Central Park Five." A repeating image of a Black man yelling is projected on the walls, like a never ending reflection. Sitting on the stage are 3 men stage left, right, and center. On stage left is a table, where a man and woman are arguing.

May 2025

Tense, powerful 'Central Park Five' a must-see at Detroit Opera: Review

A series of square images of people who have earned the following awards: DANCE: Paloma McGregor, David Thomson FILM/VIDEO: Nazli Dinçel, Ja’Tovia Gary MUSIC: Mikel Patrick Avery, Yvette Janine Jackson THEATRE: Becca Blackwell, Hansol Jung VISUAL ARTS: Azza El Siddique, Sondra Perry.

May 2025

Yvette Janine Jackson Wins 2025 Herb Alpert Award

Concerts & Events Calendar

View upcoming Department of Music concerts and events

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Watch Live

Watch livestreams of Department of Music concerts taking place in the Conrad Prebys Music Center.

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CONNECT with @UCSDMUSIC

Subscribe to our Newsletter to receive up-to-date information and visit our Concert & Events page to learn about the upcoming performances and events.

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