Vocal Performance

Your Future In Vocal Performance

Do you have a passion for singing? Do you admire opera and classical choral music? You may want to pursue a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance with a specialization in voice at the University of North Texas.

Obtaining this degree prepares you for a career as a soloist or as a member of an ensemble. In addition to performing, you may teach private voice lessons at a high school or university. You may also want to earn a master’s degree to perfect your technique as a performer.

Some of our vocal graduates have performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, the Royal Opera House, the Vienna State Opera, the Opéra National de Paris and many others. Others have worked with leading symphony orchestras and early music groups.

What we offer

UNT’s College of Music is one of the nation’s most comprehensive music schools. Our faculty members are dedicated teachers as well as nationally and internationally known artists who have performed in operas, concerts and recitals around the world.

We provide abundant opportunities for you to perform with on- and off-campus groups. Ensembles sponsored by our college are:

• A Cappella Choir
• Concert Choir
• Men’s and women’s choruses
• University Singers

The Nova ensemble specializes in contemporary music, and the Collegium Singers perform music from the Renaissance and Baroque eras. Students also participate in major choral/orchestral works such as the Verdi Requiem and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony as well as a weekly Voice Departmental Recital.

Our facilities include the Murchison Performing Arts Center, which houses the 1,000-seat Winspear Performance Hall designed for orchestra, choral and band concerts and the 400-seat Lyric Theater for opera; the Recital Hall; and the Voertman Concert Hall. Practice facilities include 300 individual rooms as well as ensemble rehearsal rooms.

To help you pursue your education, we offer scholarships based on talent and the College of Music audition.

Our college is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21; Reston, Va. 20190-5248; telephone 703-437-0700). This accreditation means we meet or exceed strict academic standards for excellence in education.

Among our prominent alumni are:

• Sopranos Patricia Racette and Emily Pulley, tenor Scott Scully and baritone Michael Mayes, who have all performed with the Metropolitan Opera
• Bass Mark McCrory, who sang the role of Marco in William Bolcom’s A View from the Bridge with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Portland Opera

Other alumni are faculty members at prominent colleges and universities or have distinguished private voice studios.

What to expect

You will need to audition to be accepted into the College of Music in addition to applying to UNT. Auditions are held on campus during the spring semester for enrollment the following fall. If you cannot audition in person, you may submit a video or audio recording.

Once accepted into the college, you will take placement exams in music theory and piano, as well as laboratory and ensemble placement auditions. More information about audition dates and admission requirements can be found at our website.

While enrolled at UNT, you will complete 20 credit hours of lessons from faculty members to accumulate a balanced repertoire of songs and arias from different musical styles and periods. You will also take courses in vocal literature (studying solo literature since the Renaissance) and classical solo vocal idioms, and the science and pedagogy of singing (studying articulation, phonation, resonation and respiration).

You must also:

• Complete diction courses in English, French, German and Italian
• Take two years of language courses in French, German and/or Italian
• Present public recitals during your junior and senior years
• Enroll in our opera theatre for at least two semesters, participating in the theatre’s productions each semester

Vocal performance is a competitive major. The curriculum is rigorous, and expectations are high. You will spend considerable time practicing and rehearsing each week while also attending concerts and recitals.

Our Career Center, Learning Center and professional academic advisors are among the many valuable resources that are available to you at UNT. The Career Center can provide advice about internships, future employment opportunities and getting hands-on experience in your major. The Learning Center offers workshops on speed reading, study skills and time management. Academic advisors will help you plan your class schedule each semester.

How to enroll at UNT

High school students

We encourage you to fulfill the graduation requirements for the Texas Recommended or Distinguished Achievement Program or its equivalent in high school.

In your junior year, take the SAT or the ACT and have your scores sent to UNT.

In your senior year, apply for admission at Apply Texas by March 1 and request that your high school transcript be sent to the UNT admissions office.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses can count toward college credit at UNT.

Transfer students

If you’re attending a Texas community college, you should consult our Transfer Articulation web page, the UNT Undergraduate Catalog and an academic counselor/advisor to review your degree plan. Proper planning will allow you to receive the maximum amount of transfer credits.

Our Transfer Center will help you make a successful transition to college life at UNT by connecting you with a peer mentor and other campus resources. More than 3,500 students transfer to UNT each year. The center is in the University Union, Room 320.