Not long ago an alumnus from the University of New Mexico made his conducting debut in Carnegie Hall; another became the youngest clarinet professor in the United States and another made his formal debut with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Yet another alum was named the Outstanding Teacher of the Year in New Mexico while a new graduate from the master's program became a member of the prestigious “President’s Own” Marine Band in Washington, D.C.

The Department of Music strives to give each student a quality, first-rate musical education. The special attributes of the Department are its artist faculty and a well-balanced program among the disciplines of performance, music education, composition and theory, jazz studies, string pedagogy, contemporary world music, and music history.

Our large ensembles–the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Jazz Bands, Spirit Marching Band, Opera Studio, Concert Choir, University Chorus, Dolce Suono and Las Cantantes (Women’s Chorus)–have all received national and international recognition and acclaim.

Innovative programs like “Arts-in-Medicine” and courses related to digital and recording technology at Santa Fe Center Studios provide extra-musical experiences available at few national institutions. Related programs like the UNM Music Prep School and the Suzuki Lab School provide students with an opportunity to put their musical skills to work in a supervised teaching environment.