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At a Glance

Virginia Tech’s School of Performing Arts offers comprehensive music studies within the context of a leading U.S. public research university. Guided by our motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), we support the development of creative leaders, musicians, and innovators.

The Virginia Tech Advantage: Program Highlights

  • Institutional Prestige

    Burruss Hall.

    Virginia Tech is ranked as a Top 15 Public University (Wall Street Journal) and Top 50 Overall (U.S. News & World Report). The university is also ranked in the top 10% of over 1,000 music programs nationwide (College Factual & EduRank).

  • Fully Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music

    Professor instructing students in a classroom.

  • Undergraduate Focus

    Trumpet student in front of a music stand.

    Our undergraduate-first culture ensures students receive weekly, one-on-one private lessons directly from faculty artists, not graduate teaching assistants.

  • Good Eatin’

    A salad bowl.

    Virginia Tech is consistently recognized for award-winning dining, securing the #2 spot on Niche’s 2026 Best College Food in America list and a permanent home in the top ten of The Princeton Review.

  • Premier Performing Ensembles

    Virginia Tech Philharmonic.

    Open to all student musicians regardless of major, Virginia Tech’s diverse ensemble ecosystem includes the Virginia Tech Philharmonic Orchestra, three Concert Bands, two Jazz Ensembles, and two Choirs. These groups regularly perform off campus including recent performances at Carnegie Hall, and the Virginia Music Educators’ Association Conference.

  • Elite Athletic Bands

    MV member being lifted by other MVs.

    Our students perform with the 330-strong Marching Virginians (the "Spirit of Tech"), performing for 66,000+ fans at Lane Stadium, and the Hokie Pep Band, the driving force behind the home-court advantage at Cassell Coliseum.

  • World-Class Facilities

    Center for the Arts exterior.

    Students have access to state-of-the-art creative facilities, including the 1,200-seat Fife Theatre at the Center for the Arts and The Cube, a premier multi-channel spatial audio environment.

  • Double Major Without Compromise

    A classroom full of people laughing.

    A flexible curriculum allows motivated musicians to pursue a Double Major in Music paired with another discipline.

  • Flexible Applied Study

    Music score on a tablet.

    Formal applied study and auditions are reserved for students in degree options where high-level performance is a core requirement (e.g., Music Performance or Music Education). Programs like Music Engineering Technology, Composition, and Production prioritize a creative portfolio over a traditional audition, and students may pursue private lessons for elective credit.

Accelerated Graduate Degree Pathways

Virginia Tech offers integrated undergraduate and graduate pathways designed to maximize efficiency. Motivated students can complete both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in as few as four years.

  • Music Education Pathway (4+1 or 3+1): Earn a Bachelor’s degree in music teacher preparation and a Master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with full K-12 Virginia licensure. This path is designed to yield higher starting salaries and higher levels of career satisfaction for alumni.

  • Accelerated Options in Business or Public Administration (4+1 or 3+1): Designed for students in performance, technology, production, and composition, tracks. Options include the M.S. in Business Administration – Business Analytics (MSBA-BA), focusing on data analysis and strategic decision-making; and the M.P.A. (Master of Public Administration) for leadership in nonprofit and arts administration.

Career Development

Professor Charles Dye speaking to a group in a classroom.

The School of Performing Arts' signature Arts Forward Industry Open House helps bridge education and careers. This annual spring event brings visiting industry executives, tech founders, studio engineers, and arts leaders to campus, offering direct networking for internships and post-graduation careers across music education, technology, performance, and arts administration.

Faculty

Derek Shapiro conducting an ensemble.

The music faculty are recognized leaders in performance, scholarship, and technology. They maintain a dedicated undergraduate-only focus, ensuring students receive direct mentorship from accomplished artists and scholars.

Alumni

  • Danielle Talamantes (Professional opera singer)
  • Kelley Corbett (Principal trumpet, “Pershing’s Own” US Army Band)
  • Bryson Baumgartel (Broadway Music Director and Arranger)
  • Col. Scott McKenzie (Leader and Commander of “Pershing’s Own” US Army Band)
  • Jeff Midkiff (Professional mandolinist, recording artist, and Orchestra Director, Roanoke City Schools)

  • Vee Pophat (Director of the Greenville County Fine Arts Center (SC))
  • Darren Kirsch (Grafton High School, and Past President of the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA))
  • Laura Moniuszko (Director of Percussion, Flint Hill Schools and managing director, City of Fairfax Band Association)
  • Joey Ballard (Guitar Instructor, Montgomery County (VA) Schools and Master Teacher, Virginia Tech String Project)
  • Nicole Schmitt (Freelance choral director and clinician, Adjunct faculty, Hollins University)

  • Peyden Shelton (Associate Professor, University of Utah)
  • Timothy Altman (Professor, University of North Carolina-Pembroke)
  • Daniel Galyen (Director of Bands, University of Northern Iowa)
  • Elizabeth Schultz (Assistant Professor, University of Florida)
  • Dakota Corbliss (Associate Professor, Appalachian State University)

  • Galina Belolipetski (Senior Software Engineer, Niantic)
  • Abi Starr (Audio Technician, Cirque du Soleil)
  • Jack Scheibe (Audiovisual Designer, Pershing Technologies)
  • Andrew Papastephanou (Music Production, Red Bull Media)

  • Peter Pickett (Founder, Pickett Blackburn, a builder of brass instruments and equipment)
  • Hannah Lee (Marketing Assistant, New York Philharmonic)
  • Katherine Forbes (Founder of Designing the Row, a Nashville-based design and marketing firm focused on the music industry)
  • Mimi Zhang (Founder, St. Augustine Piano Academy)

Admissions

Fall Audition Dates (Early Action)

  • October 23 (String Auditions only - alongside Honor String Orchestra Festival)
  • October 24 (Voice Auditions only - alongside Honor Choir Festival)
  • November 7 (All majors welcome)
  • December 12 (Off-site auditions at John Champe High School)
  • January 22 (All majors welcome - alongside Honor Band Festival)

Spring Audition Dates (Regular Decision)

  • February 15 (President's Day - All majors welcome)

Portfolios and  Transfers

Portfolios are due within two weeks of application milestones. Community college transfers from the VCCS system are fully supported with clear course equivalency tracks.