Professional Training for Tomorrow’s Musicians: Music that Makes a Difference

Welcome to the Western Carolina University School of Music, where music really does make a difference. Our faculty of performing artists is dedicated to developing the next generation of musicians, performers, and educators.

Whether you are a future undergraduate student seeking your first degree or a graduate student returning to further your education, Western's School of Music offers outstanding academic and professional programs to help you reach your career goals.

Before you begin your musical studies at Western, you must demonstrate an appropriate level of performance skills in a live undergraduate or graduate audition before a panel of the music faculty. Our audition days are in February and March, and we strongly encourage you to audition by March 15 in order to be fully considered for admission and scholarships.

Once accepted into the program, our primary goal is for you to complete a degree that will pilot you into your professional career. Our faculty members are committed to prepare you to teach, perform, and promote music within North Carolina, throughout the Southeast, and across the globe.

Graduates who have developed and mastered their fields translate success at Western into thriving careers in education, performance, and the music business—from performing at Carnegie Hall to designing and installing high definition professional audio and video systems, working among leading country artists in the Country Music Association (CMA), or teaching music in Singapore.

We also take pride in our enthusiastic ensemble of faculty and student performers and we believe that when you meet us you will, too. Together, we perform in over seventy concerts per semester, both on campus and in the region. Whether you are looking for information about the next performance of the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band, or for help with an All-District Band solo, you’ll find the information you need on this website.

To learn more about our people and programs, read more about the School, browse our news and announcements, or contact the School directly. Whether a prospective or current student, or alumni and friend, we look forward to hearing from you.