UNC-Asheville students playing jazz at Isis. Photo by Matt Rose

Music – Jazz and Contemporary

Who We Are

At UNC Asheville’s Music Department, the classical co-exists with the contemporary. We explore the many connections and interactions between music and all facets of human life through instruction and performance. Students learn in cutting-edge classrooms at the only university where music pioneer Bob Moog – inventor of the Moog Synthesizer – ever taught. In addition to being dedicated teachers, our faculty are active musicians who enrich Asheville’s thriving music scene and the cultural life of our campus.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program in Jazz and Contemporary Music is intended for students wishing to pursue careers as singers, instrumentalists, composers and arrangers. These students also make up the various jazz, funk, blues, rock, R&B, fusion, and world ensembles as well as a wide range of vocal groups.

What You’ll Learn

All students must pass an instrumental or vocal audition to be accepted into a music degree program. Our highly selective music technology program combines music, engineering, math, computer science, music business, and electronics to teach students how to professionally mix and record music, while our jazz and contemporary music performance program is ideal for those pursuing careers as singers, instrumentalists, composers, and arrangers. Our Bachelor of Arts degree merges music analytical training with history, anthropology, natural sciences, and philosophy to prepare students for a range of careers or graduate studies. The University Singers, one of several student ensembles, have performed at the White House, while many graduates have found dream jobs working with top artists like R.E.M. and Alison Krauss.

Auditions for Prospective Music Majors

All prospective music majors are required to audition. Please visit our Auditions page for upcoming auditions and more information.

Auditions

 

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Art student Kristen Sorensen hangs a self portrait in her studio

Art

Who We Are

Bring your creative visions to life at UNC Asheville. With a faculty of acclaimed artists and art historians within the thriving arts scene of Asheville, UNC Asheville’s art and art history programs offer rigorous training in the creative sector. Our close-knit, supportive department encourages imagination and experimentation while challenging you to integrate content, concept, and technique to discover your own unique voice. Studio art majors can choose from six areas of concentrations: ceramics, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, or sculpture. Related majors include art history and arts management and entrepreneurship.

What You'll Learn

Context and communication are key to learning how to be an effective artist, so you'll begin your art education by building a foundation of technical and writing skills in art history, design, and drawing. Through class critiques, you’ll learn how to give and receive valuable feedback on your work from faculty and classmates. Most of your time will be spent working in our facilities, which include six art concentration studios, firing kilns, dark rooms, and digital labs. Our newest interdisciplinary makerspace, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) Studio, exemplifies UNC Asheville's liberal arts mission by bringing art and science together to create collaborative pieces of art and technology.

We also have multiple galleries across campus to host student, faculty and visiting artist exhibitions. All senior-level students produce a major body of work in the form of a solo or group exhibition and portfolio, which serves as strong preparation for postgraduate work. All students are also encouraged to learn outside of the studio and gain professional experience through internships at local museums and galleries.

Visit the Department of Art and Art History Website Here