Your Future In Vocal Performance
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 graduates have performed with the Royal Opera House, the Vienna State Opera and the Paris Opera. Others have worked with leading symphony orchestras and early music groups, are faculty members at prominent colleges and universities or have distinguished private voice studios. Our prominent alumni include:
- Sopranos Patricia Racette and Emily Pulley, tenor Scott Scully and baritone Michael Mayes, who've all performed with the Metropolitan Opera
- Bass Mark McCrory, who sang the role of Marco in William Bolcom's A View from the Bridge in the world premiere at the Lyric Opera of Chicago
What we offer
UNT's College of Music is one of the nation's most comprehensive music schools. You'll learn from faculty members who are dedicated teachers as well as nationally and internationally known artists who've performed in operas, concerts and recitals around the world.
We provide abundant opportunities for you to perform with on- and off-campus groups. Vocal 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 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 degree, 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.
What to expect
In addition to applying to UNT, an audition to be accepted into the College of Music is required. Auditions are held on campus during the spring semester for enrollment the following fall. If you can't audition in person, you may submit a video or audio recording.
Once accepted into the college, you'll take a placement exam in piano and participate in laboratory and ensemble placement auditions. More information about audition dates and admission requirements is available at our website.
Required coursework includes completing 20 credit hours of lessons with faculty members to accumulate a balanced repertoire of songs and arias. You'll also:
- Study vocal literature (reading solo literature since the Renaissance) and classical solo vocal idioms, and the science and pedagogy of singing (learning articulation, phonation, resonation and respiration)
- Complete diction courses in English, French, German and Italian
- Take two years of language courses in French, German 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'll spend substantial 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 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.