About Duke Music

Whether it's the Jazz Ensemble, Wind Symphony or Symphony Orchestra sharing the stage with celebrated guest artists in Baldwin Auditorium, the Chorale singing Britten's War Requiem in Duke Chapel, engaging classes that encourage analytical and creative thinking, or world-renowned composers and performers working one-on-one in master classes, music is a part of Duke.

Whether you want to refine your skills as a performer, explore your creative potential as a composer, or deepen your understanding as a listener, come and explore the opportunities that await you at Duke:

  • A curriculum that combines theory, history, ethnomusicology, and performance
  • A low student-faculty ratio
  • A distinguished faculty of scholars, composers, and performers with expertise in a broad range of subjects
  • Ten vocal and instrumental performing groups, open to majors and non-majors alike
  • Annual concert series focusing on a wide variety of periods and styles
  • A music library with over 100,000 books, scores, journals, and microfilms, housed in the Mary Duke Biddle Music Building
  • Superb facilities and a wide-ranging collection of historical instruments

At the graduate level the Department of Music offers programs leading to the Ph.D. in CompositionEthnomusicology, and Musicology with an optional track in Performance Practice.

The programs include courses, seminars, and independent study in composition, ethnomusicology, music history, music theory and analysis, performance practice and interpretation, and interdisciplinary studies.