Why Study Here?

RECORD OF EXCELLENCE

The UAlberta Department of Music has upheld its commitment to excellence in music teaching, research and creative activity for seventy years. Our faculty consistently receive major research grants and performance awards as well as recognition within local, national and international academic and artistic communities. Our students are regular recipients of competitive research and performance scholarships and awards at both undergraduate and graduate levels, providing valuable recognition in the early stages of their careers. Finally, our outstanding technical and support staff have won notable service awards within the university for their work in supporting and facilitating excellence for the student experience.

CREATIVE ACTIVITY

The department hosts over 100 concerts and events each year, from orientation and convocation activities, to concerts, speakers' series' and workshops. From our Mainstage concert series to the graduate NCounters Music Conference, UAlberta Music constantly strives to showcase and support emerging talent.

VIBRANT STUDENT ENVIRONMENT

Our department is located in the Fine Arts Building (FAB) which houses a diverse and talented student body comprised of visual artists, musicians and students of the dramatic arts. This all-under-one-roof community provides rich opportunities for students to learn about other artistic disciplines and encourages interdisciplinary activity among UAlberta faculty and students. The Bleviss Laboratory theatre showcases Department of Drama productions, Studio 2-7 offers public music performances, and the FAB gallery exhibits outstanding student work. Our graduate and undergraduate Music Student Associations also play active roles in student engagement, events curation and arts outreach activities to help further connect the student body.

MUSIC COMMUNITY

UAlberta Music students can find their place in the broader community and enjoy a wide range of high-quality musical activity year round. From our world renowned Edmonton Folk Music Festival to the experimental NextFest, Edmonton is teeming with unique national and international festivals that support our musical communities overall. The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Alberta Baroque Ensemble, and Edmonton Chamber Music Society inspire our instrumentalists; an annual Vocal Arts Festival, Edmonton Opera, and a plethora of renowned professional and amateur choirs such as Pro Coro nurture and develop our vocal community; New Music Edmonton and the BEAMS collective showcase emerging composers in innovative and interdisciplinary settings. Add the presence of CJSR, our dynamic campus radio station, and CKUA, Canada's very first public broadcaster and a staple in Alberta's arts and culture scene, and you have all the ingredients for a vibrant and inclusive musical community.

LOCATION

Situated in Edmonton, across the river from the beautiful provincial legislature, the University of Alberta North Campus is a hub for creativity and community. This vibrant campus atmosphere is enhanced by our location atop the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, one of the largest urban parkland areas in North America. In addition to abundant green space in the river valley, the North Campus is only a short bike or train ride away the downtown entertainment district and the historic Old Strathcona and Garneau districts. With its proximity to these areas, the UAlberta Music experience clearly rests in the heart of Edmonton's arts community.

FACILITIES

Our beloved Convocation Hall celebrated its 100^th season in 2015. Located in the beautiful, historic Old Arts building, this neo-classical venue is home to many of our student ensembles and solo performances, as well as countless guest artists, faculty concerts, and university-wide lectures and events. Off-campus, the Department of Music also produces several Mainstage Concerts at the state-of the-art Francis Winspear Centre for Music in downtown Edmonton, one of Canada's foremost music venues. Adjacent to the Fine Arts Building is the Timms Centre for the Arts, another outstanding facility that stages theatre, musical and community events year-round.

OPPORTUNITY

Edmonton is a growing city with a reputation for excellence and entrepreneurship. Known for its outstanding quality of life and strong economy, the city of Edmonton is a family and student-friendly city that offers abundant park space and recreation facilities, an active arts scene and a tremendous variety of professional and extracurricular opportunities.