Hone your craft. Music performance at the University of St. Thomas offers a rigorous curriculum designed to prepare you for a career in the performing arts. Throughout your undergraduate career, you develop a deep appreciation for diverse cultural and artistic traditions, engaging with faculty in their scholarship along the way.
Throughout our program, you become a better performer while engaging with and adapting to various artistic settings. You develop needed entrepreneurial skills to navigate a career as a performer and a vast knowledge of music creation at the same time. Our graduates have gone on to lead successful performance and teaching careers, and some are pursuing advanced degrees as well. You will enhance your musical skills and theoretical knowledge with the help of our renowned faculty and in the company of your accomplished peers.
In addition to performing in various ensembles throughout your time at St. Thomas, you will dive deep into courses focusing on music theory, entrepreneurship, music media, the history and literature of music and more. You create a bond with faculty inside and outside of the classroom, nurturing and challenging your creative and intellectual capabilities through your interactions.
You will need to submit an audition video if you plan to major in music performance at St. Thomas. The audition should include up to 10 minutes of music showcasing at least two compositions or movements of contrasting style in one continuous video. Incoming students are also considered for a music major scholarship if they submit their audition video by February 1.
We recommend connecting with a member of our faculty to plan your degree early on in your college career at the University of St. Thomas.
Bachelor of Music in Music Performance
Certificate in Music Performance
You have the opportunity to hone your craft through a variety of solo and ensemble performance opportunities. For example, you can audition to perform a concerto accompanied by a professional orchestra as part of our Festival Orchestra program. We host special events on-campus each year, and you have access to a vibrant arts scene in the Twin Cities as well. There are international touring opportunities available too.
In addition to performing in various ensembles throughout your time at St. Thomas, you will dive deep into courses focusing on music theory, entrepreneurship, music media, the history and literature of music and more. You create a bond with faculty inside and outside of the classroom, nurturing and challenging your creative and intellectual capabilities through your interactions.
You will need to submit an audition video if you plan to major in music performance at St. Thomas. The audition should include up to 10 minutes of music showcasing at least two compositions or movements of contrasting style in one continuous video. Incoming students are also considered for a music major scholarship if they submit their audition video by February 1.
We recommend connecting with a member of our faculty to plan your degree early on in your college career at the University of St. Thomas.
Bachelor of Music in Music Performance
Certificate in Music Performance
You have the opportunity to hone your craft through a variety of solo and ensemble performance opportunities. For example, you can audition to perform a concerto accompanied by a professional orchestra as part of our Festival Orchestra program. We host special events on-campus each year, and you have access to a vibrant arts scene in the Twin Cities as well. There are international touring opportunities available too.
Faculty are your mentors and teachers. Alumni are here to help you connect with the world outside of St. Thomas. Your peers? They will push you to nurture your performance skills and musical knowledge.
Dr. Cornett is the director of keyboard studies at St. Thomas. She specializes in performance psychology, anxiety management and contemplative practices for performing musicians. She has presented workshops and master classes across North America and the world, including Taiwan, South Africa, Argentina, Finland, the United Kingdom, Croatia and more. She is the author of The Mindful Musician: Mental Skills for Peak Performance.
Tommy Glass ’14 double majored in music performance and music business at St. Thomas, and has gone on to pursue a successful career as an opera singer. Throughout his undergraduate career, Tommy had an internship with the Minnesota Opera, attended a conference in Chicago and joined St. Thomas Choir on a trip to Ireland. He was in an apprenticeship program for young singers at the Houston Grand Opera Studio, and has also performed for opera companies in Iowa and Arizona. Tommy recently won the Metropolitan Opera Finals in New York where he sang with the Metropolitan Orchestra and has signed with IMG Vocal Arts Group. He will have a notable international career in the world of opera.
Belinda is triple majoring in music performance, computer science and French. She performed a concerto with the Festival Orchestra twice, and has arranged traditional Lao folk songs for solo piano. She performs in various ensembles on-campus, and is one of 20 students selected for Google’s Women Techmakers Scholars program.
Our program will prepare you for a fulfilling career in various industries with academic knowledge and practical skills.
We offer renewable competitive and performance-based scholarships for four years of study at St. Thomas.
The Music Major Scholarships range from $1,500 to $10,000 per year. Admitted students planning to major in music, music performance, music business or music education are encouraged to apply. Supporting materials are due by February 1, and selected applicants receive an audition invitation for the scholarship invitational in the spring.
This award is available to any current St. Thomas student demonstrating great potential in their ability to instigate and sustain artistic creativity through music performance, composition or production. Music faculty can nominate any candidate.
This scholarship is available to any current St. Thomas student pursuing a major or minor in music. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrate financial need. Music faculty can nominate candidates, and students participating in ensembles receive preference.
Dr. Cornett-Murtada is the director of keyboard studies, and teaches piano and piano pedagogy courses.
Dr. George is the director of the bands and orchestra at St. Thomas, as well as the symphonic wind ensemble and string orchestra.
Dr. Schmalenberger teaches music history, and leads wind, brass and percussion studies.
You will enhance your musical skills and theoretical knowledge with our top-of-the-line instruments, and through interactions with our renowned faculty and your accomplished peers.
We have four organs on-campus, including the spectacular Gabriel Kney organ.
Interact and collaborate with national musical arts organizations in the Twin Cities.
Over 100 new works have been commissioned in the last 25 years by St. Thomas students and faculty.
Our program not only prepares you for recitals throughout your time at St. Thomas, but we also offer opportunities to get out and see other parts of the world as part of our ensembles.
Our annual Christmas Concert brings all of our ensembles and orchestras together to perform for the community around the Twin Cities at the Minneapolis Orchestra Hall.
Students work closely with faculty on enhancing their performance skills throughout their college career.
We provide numerous international travel opportunities with our ensembles, allowing you to see another side of the world.
The Festival Orchestra is a unique opportunity to perform with other students accompanied by a professional orchestra.
Whether you are a member of one of our many ensembles or engaging the community in service, you will find we have a variety of ways to get involved at St. Thomas.
You can perform at great venues such as the Minneapolis Orchestra Hall, Ordway Arts Center and more.
We bring music to underserved communities as part of our commitment to community service.
You can perform in world music ensembles such as the Indonesian Gamelan Ensemble or African Music Ensemble.
There is more to learn about St. Thomas; including our ranking as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report, the many classroom and extracurricular activities that will be part of your student experience and so much more. Schedule a visit to see our beautiful campus or start your application today.