800-837-1290
412-419-3772 (standard text/SMS rates will apply)
At Chatham, students engage with music from myriad perspectives. They receive a strong foundation in musicianship, music theory, and music history, and participate in private vocal, instrumental, or composition instruction with some of the region’s best performers. Musical training is complemented by a solid liberal arts foundation, with critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills, as well as thoughtful career preparation. All students complete at least one internship and take courses in areas such as music technology that further diversify their professional skills. Majors and minors are available in Music Technology and Music Business.
On-campus ensembles include choir, jazz ensemble, a growing concert band, and student-initiated chamber ensembles. Chatham students can also audition for the University of Pittsburgh’s orchestra and marching band.
All Chatham students can take private music lessons for credit in nearly every area, including voice, piano, guitar, strings, woodwinds, brass, and composition.
In Chatham's music program, you will receive instruction from experienced professional musicians through private lessons and comprehensive classes.
Majors and minors are offered in Music (performance and composition), Music Technology, and Music Business, with many Chatham music students choosing to double major in an additional field.
Chatham University’s music program is both thorough and flexible. We provide performance and composition students with a firm grounding in their own area of specialty, as well as music history and theory, while allowing them to customize their course of study to fit their own interests.
— MICHAEL BOYD, Professor of Music
Chatham's music major provides a solid foundation in musicianship, music performance, composition, theory, and history. Click the button below to explore sample courses and curriculum.
Explore Music Curriculum : Checkerboard 1 - Courses & Curriculum
Chatham’s music technology program sets you up for success through allowing mastery of industry-leading technologies for editing and sequencing, putting on the final touches—taking a piece of music all the way from recording through to producing a finished product.
Explore Music Technology : Checkerboard 2 - Music Technology
The music business major is an interdisciplinary program, combining courses from music and business to set students with a passion for music apart in the business world. This major is designed to prepare you for leadership roles through expertise in strategic planning, management, marketing and artistic planning.
Explore Music Business : Checkerboard 3 - Music Business
Students often combine music with another academic area of interest to create a double major or interdisciplinary major. Recent combinations include music and English, music and psychology, and music and mathematics.
Explore Undergraduate Degrees : Checkerboard 4 - Build A Custom Double Major
The Chatham Choir, which sponsors the all-campus winter celebration and the annual Cabaret Benefit, can be heard at the opening and closing convocations, the spring concert, and the choir tour. The choir has performed in New York City, Baltimore, Washington D.C., and West Virginia, while select members have performed with Marvin Hamlisch and the Pittsburgh Symphony Pop’s All-Star College Chorus.
Explore Choir : Checkerboard 5 - Chatham Choir
Chatham's instrumental band program includes a jazz ensemble, small concert band, and other chamber ensembles. In addition, Chatham students can audition for and perform with large instrumental ensembles off-campus for credit, such as the University of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Marching Band. Auditions are held before the start of the fall semester; interested students should contact the music faculty in advance.
View Clubs & Organizations : Checkerboard 6 - Instrumental Ensembles
Students have had internships at institutions including Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Pittsburgh Concert Society, WQED Radio, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Afro American Music Institute, ZeroFossil Energy Outfitters, and more.
In addition to Chatham’s university-wide merit- and need-based financial aid, the music program offers the Minna Kaufmann Ruud Scholarships in Voice. This scholarship recognizes and supports students with outstanding talent and is awarded to qualified vocalists interested in studying music as a major or as part of an inter-departmental major. Scholarship awards are based on audition results.
View Scholarships : Checkerboard 8 - Vocal Scholarship
Chatham's music faculty, all of whom are professional musicians with strong artistic achievements, work closely with all students and are strongly committed to the highest standards in teaching. Click the button below to meet our faculty members.
Meet the Faculty : Checkerboard 9 - Music Faculty
Experience the vibrant sounds of Chatham University's Music Department. From our Music for Food performances benefiting the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to concerts by the Chatham Choir and instrument ensembles, plus performances by renowned visiting artists, there's always something to inspire. Explore our upcoming events and join us for an unforgettable performance.
View Calendar : Checkerboard 10 - Music Events
