Graduate Programs

Overview

The Master of Music in Performance degree at The University of Toledo provides a comprehensive education in the traditions, practices, styles and new directions of classical and jazz music. 

The UToledo Department of Music offers graduate degree, comprehensive study in voice, instruments and: 

• Composition
• Conducting 
• Jazz performance and arranging 
• Keyboard performance and accompanying  
• Music technology 
• Opera

Our graduate students get a depth of experience that gives them a leg up in the job market. They have opportunities to meet, study and work with a diverse range of musical artists, from guest jazz and classical pianists to internationally recognized composers and conductors.  

UToledo graduate music students gain experience in departmental productions, festivals, workshops and concerts. They also get opportunities to perform and work with area professional organizations and receive guidance on preparing for careers after graduation. 

Top Reasons to Study music performance at UToledo

1. One-on-one faculty interaction.

   We work closely with each student to develop your unique gifts. 
2. Real-world experience in a diverse city.

   Our graduate students benefit from UToledo's relationships with Toledo's professional arts organizations. Students learn from and perform in professional productions with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, the Toledo Opera, the Toledo Jazz Orchestra and others. They also perform in area jazz clubs, concert halls, theaters and other venues.  
3. Academic freedom.

   UToledo graduate performance students can choose electives in their areas of interest. Your studies culminate in a master's recital performance and a research paper about your recital or a related area of interest. 
4. Fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
5. A plethora of performance opportunities.

   You'll find a way to feed your passion in UToledo's Department of Music. Jazz and wind ensembles, opera and choral performances, orchestral and chamber ensembles, collaborative efforts with the UToledo Department of Theatre and Film ... the list goes on.  
6. Guest composers and performers.

   Interact and learn from artists such as Grammy Award-winners Alan Broadbent and Billy Childs; composers Mark O’Connor, Jennifer Jolley, Jake Runestad and Ola Gjeilo; internationally renowned opera singer Marilyn Horne; contemporary saxophonist Dave Liebman; and many more. 
7. Teaching opportunities.

   UToledo's Community Music Program allows graduate students to teach in classroom and one-on-one settings. Not many programs offer these experiences. 
8. The best equipment.

   Practice and perform on Steinway pianos. Work in a state-of-the-art music technology lab that features the latest equipment and software from industry leaders such as Focus-rite, Nektar, Mackie and Presonus. 
9. Internships.

   Our students land internships with area arts organizations, such as the Toledo Opera, Toledo Jazz Orchestra, The Valentine Theatre and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. 
10. Scholarships.

    The Department of Music offers scholarships to defray costs. Qualified applicants also can receive graduate teaching assistantships and gain experience teaching and managing music classes and programs.  

UToledo's experienced Music faculty members practice what they teach. They are professional musicians and composers, published researchers and members of the commercial music industry. Our faculty is regularly invited to perform in New York City, San Francisco, Detroit and Los Angeles. 

UToledo's Jazz and Classical performance faculty regularly perform throughout the U.S. and abroad. Many of our classical performance faculty perform with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and other professional ensembles. Others are members of the Dave Liebman Big Band and the SPHYNX Symphony Orchestra.

What jobs can I get with a music performance degree?

Employers love our graduate students because of the depth of experiences they have in the master's performance program. Graduates are hired as: 

• Freelance musicians 
• Higher education professionals 
• Music business and recording industry professionals 
• Performing musicians 
• Teachers/college or university faculty

Graduates of our music performance program have been hired by:  

• Audio Matrix Studios, Toledo (electronic media) 
• Detroit Symphony Orchestra 
• Michigan Music Academy 
• Michigan Opera Theater 
• The Toledo Opera 
• Toledo Public Schools 
• Toledo Symphony Orchestra 
• Universities such as Hillsdale College, Albion College, Adrian College, Bowling Green State University and UToledo