About the Department

The University of Arkansas Department of Music is housed in the George and Boyce Billingsley Music Building in the heart of the University's beautiful campus in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Department has been a chartered member of Pi Kappa Lambda since 1984, and the University of Arkansas has been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music since 1951. Home to over 300 music majors and minors and more than 35 graduate students, the department has a faculty of 50 nationally and internationally recognized scholars, pedagogues, and musicians. Our program offers degrees at the bachelor and master levels and offers an intensive one-year performer's certificate. Through generous support from alumni and friends, the Department of Music became an All-Steinway School in 2010. The University of Arkansas is the third SEC school to gain this distinction and one of only 150 universities worldwide with the honor.

The Music Department offers a number of recognized ensembles, many of which have toured nationally and internationally. The Razorback Marching Band, originally formed as a Cadet Corps Band in 1874, is the largest and most visible of the ensembles, performing for thousands of Razorback fans most weekends in the fall semester. Schola Cantorum, the University's longest running choral ensemble, was founded more than 50 years ago. This musically rich ensemble has performed in tours across the United States and abroad and presents numerous concerts in Fayetteville each year. The Department also offers Inspirational Chorale and three additional choirs, University Symphony Orchestra, Opera Theatre, Latin American Music Ensemble, New Music Ensemble, Jazz Orchestra, four concert bands including the Wind Ensemble, and a variety of chamber music groups for students.

The University of Arkansas boasts two full-time, on-campus performance halls. The Jim & Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center — a renovation of the old Field House, which is on the National Register of Historic Places — is named in honor of the couple’s major gift to the project. Completed in September 2015, this world-class performing arts center provides a seating capacity for up to 588 patrons. The Faulkner Performing Arts Center is the main performance venue for the university’s musical organizations and hosts guest musical activities for the university and Northwest Arkansas community. The Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall is located in the Fine Arts building adjacent to the Music Building. The 200-seat Concert Hall offers an intimate setting for chamber and solo recitals throughout the year. In total, the Department offers over 400 ensemble, student, faculty, and guest artist concerts each year.