School of Music and Dance | University of Oregon

School of Music and Dance | University of Oregon
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A degree from the School of Music and Dance is foundational for any number of professional pursuits in the arts and beyond. The process of developing an artist teaches leadership, teamwork, planning and project management, verbal and nonverbal communication, as well as creative and critical thinking.
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Upcoming Events
THEME Lecture: Sounding Out Feminism in Whisperpop
Apr
24
THEME Lecture: Sounding Out Feminism in Whisperpop
Apr 24
Collier House
Oregon Wind Ensemble
Apr
24
Oregon Wind Ensemble
Apr 24
Beall Concert Hall
UO Symphony Orchestra presents “Fate and Freedom”
Apr
25
UO Symphony Orchestra presents “Fate and Freedom”
Apr 25
Beall Concert Hall
Guest Artist Recital: Beo Quartet
Apr
26
Guest Artist Recital: Beo Quartet
Apr 26
Beall Concert Hall
Anne Ferguson's Junior Recital
Apr
26
Anne Ferguson's Junior Recital
Apr 26
Berwick Hall
Chris Mothersole, Electroacoustic Clarinet Recital: "This is Me."
Apr
28
Chris Mothersole, Electroacoustic Clarinet Recital: "This is Me."
Apr 28
Berwick Hall
Oregon Wind Symphony “Revelations: Light, Voice, and Transformation”
Apr
30
Oregon Wind Symphony “Revelations: Light, Voice, and Transformation”
Apr 30
Beall Concert Hall
Small Jazz Ensembles
May
Small Jazz Ensembles
May 1
The Jazz Station
Small Jazz Ensembles
May
Small Jazz Ensembles
May 1
The Jazz Station
Wild About Oregon – A Symphonic Exploration of Oregon's Many Animals
May
Wild About Oregon – A Symphonic Exploration of Oregon's Many Animals
May 2
Frohnmayer Music Building
All Events
Live-Streamed Events
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School of Music and Dance Commencement Ceremony
Monday, June 15, 2026
2026 SOMD Commencement Information
Programs We Offer
UNDERGRADUATE
MUSIC
Music Performance (BMus)
Jazz Studies (BMus)
Music Composition (BMus)
Music Education (BMME)
Music (BA/BS)
General Music
Applied Voice
Applied Piano
Music History and Culture
Music Technology
Music Theory
Music Minor
DANCE
Dance (BA/BS,BFA)
Dance Minor
NONMAJORS
GRADUATE
Music Performance (MMus,DMA,CERT)
Conducting (MMus)
Data-Driven Music Performance & Composition (PhD)
Intermedia Music Technology (MMus)
Jazz Studies (MMus)
Music Composition (MMus,PhD)
Music Education (MMus,PhD)
Music Theory (MA,PhD)
Musicology (MA,PhD)
SPECIALIZATIONS
Collaborative Piano
Ethnomusicology
Historical Performance Practice
Jazz Pedagogy
Music Theory Pedagogy
Piano Pedagogy
Violin/Viola Pedagogy
Music Areas
PERFORMANCE AREAS
Keyboard
Strings
Percussion
Winds
Vocal, Choral, and Opera
Brass
Jazz Studies
Conducting
ACADEMIC MUSIC AREAS
Music Technology
Musicology and Ethnomusicology
Music Composition
Music Theory
Music Education
Spotlight Scholarships
Make an Impact
Come for the Beauty, Stay for the Bounty
Situated within the beauty and splendor of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, the UO School of Music and Dance offers the unrivaled acoustics of Beall Concert Hall, cutting-edge technology, and a one-of-a-kind multidisciplinary Dance BFA. Our welcoming community embodies the spirit and tradition of a performing arts conservatory, while benefiting from the academic resources of a large liberal arts college.”
100%
Placement Rate for Music Education Majors
300+
Performances Each Year
30+
Student Ensembles
A.T. Moffett, Dance MFA ’10
, recently was honored as the 2025 Distinguished Alumna for the UO School of Music and Dance. Her advice to students, “Spend time telling your arts story. Hone it and own it because it matters—how you got there, who helped you, how participating in your art form enables you to contribute to your community.”
Dennis Llinás
, director of bands, describes the community at the School of Music and Dance, "SOMD is a welcoming place. That’s one of the great things about music and dance. That someone doesn’t have to speak the same language as the other person but when they have that language of dance or that language of music, they instantly have a connection."
7:1
Faculty to Student Ratio
85
Full-time Faculty and Staff
70
Graduate Employees
Performance and Practice Spaces
SOMD has state-of-the-art recording studios, as well as numerous private practice rooms, while our performing spaces are unrivaled for the acoustics and performer comfort and safety. From the world-renowned sound balance in Beall Hall to the state-of-the-art sprung floors in all our dance studios, the SOMD provides students with incomparable support for their artistic pursuits.
Performance Opportunities
SOMD Facilities
Community Programs
Community is at the heart of the School of Music and Dance, which is why we provide a variety of enrichment activities that are available to community members of all ages.
News
February 25, 2026
OBF Announces Bold 2026 Season
The internationally renowned Oregon Bach Festival (OBF) and the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance are pleased to announce the 2026 festival lineup of concerts and artists.
February 12, 2026
Oregon Bach Festival Co-Founder Helmuth Rilling Dies at 92
Rilling’s life and career were defined by an unwavering devotion to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and a profound
January 6, 2026
Transcending culture and language with power of music
UO professor Wonkak Kim named artistic director of ClarinetFest 2026 in home country of South Korea
All News