Music Performance DA
- Doctoral
- DA
- In-Person
- Greeley
- Collaborative Piano
- Conducting
- Music Composition
- Instrumental
- Vocal
Program Overview
Whether you want to take your performing career to soaring heights or plan to teach at the college level, our highly flexible Doctor of Arts in Music Performance will help you excel creatively and professionally.
You’ll study with a diverse group of internationally accomplished faculty and musicians and collaborate with talented classmates across disciplines. Throughout your program, you’ll develop deep expertise in your chosen area and find many chances to perform, present, conduct and compose.
The Music Performance D.A. is different from the Doctor of Musical Arts degree because it trains students to be both top-level performers and college teachers. Students take classes in their main area of music and also choose a secondary area to broaden their skills and improve their job prospects. This wide training helps graduates become well-rounded musicians who are ready for both teaching and performing careers.
With a Doctor of Arts in Music Performance, you’ll be prepared to:
- Perform and conduct professionally
- Pursue original scholarship, research and academic publishing
- Lead a community arts organization or nonprofit
- Teach music at the college level
Concentrations
This is where you define yourself as an artist-scholar. UNC’s Doctorate in Music Performance gives you the freedom to design a program as unique as your vision—choosing from five primary concentrations while deepening your expertise in a secondary area that enriches your artistry. Your doctoral journey is yours to shape.
Whether you’re advancing as a performer, researcher, educator or innovator, you’ll work closely with distinguished faculty to craft a plan of study that reflects your artistic voice and career aspirations. This isn’t about fitting into a predetermined mold—it’s about discovering and expressing the full power of your musicianship.
With a DA focused on Collaborative Piano, you’ll get comprehensive preparation to excel as an educator, performer and music scholar.
Sample courses:
- Techniques in Vocal Coaching for Pianists
- Vocal Literature Courses
- Chamber Music Literature for Keyboard
- Individual Instruction in Collaborative Piano
Concentration Highlights: Doctoral students in Collaborative Piano gain real-world experience coaching singers and working with instrumental chamber groups.
As a conductor, you will choose a focus area: choral, wind, or orchestral. All doctoral conducting students get hands-on experience conducting our award-winning ensembles.
Sample courses:
- Individual Instruction in Conducting
- Wind Literature and Techniques
- Vocal Literature and Styles
- Instrumental Literature and Styles
- Score Reading and Analysis
Your experience as a Music Composition doctoral student culminates with a written dissertation and a recital of your original compositions. You’ll also gain hands-on experience in college-level teaching via a supervised practicum.
You’ll learn:
- Advanced music theory
- Structure and analysis
- Music pedagogy
- Research methods
- History of music
Sample courses:
- Music History Seminar
- Music Theory
- Individual Performance
- Studies in Effective Teaching
The DA in Instrumental Performance is designed to produce well-rounded performer-educators. With its dual emphasis on performance and pedagogy, our graduates are well-positioned for teaching at the college level.
Sample courses:
- Individual Lessons
- Individual Studies in Effective Teaching
- Supervised Practicum in College Teaching
- Instrument-specific literature courses
Learn more about Brass Performance
Learn more about Percussion Performance
Learn more about Piano Performance
Learn more about String Performance
The DA in Vocal Performance is designed to produce well-rounded performer-educators. With its dual emphasis on performance and pedagogy, our graduates are well-positioned for teaching at the college level.
Sample courses:
- Individual Lessons
- Individual Studies in Effective Teaching
- Supervised Practicum in College Teaching
- Vocal literature courses
Why Choose UNC for Music?
Performances Annually
UNC's music scene is powerful and thriving. You'll perform alongside accomplished faculty, internationally recognized guest artists and talented students at every level—all in state-of-the-art venues right on campus.
All-Steinway School
You'll play on more than 90 Steinway & Sons pianos throughout our classrooms, practice rooms and performance spaces. UNC was the first publicly funded Colorado university and one of only a few schools in the region to earn this prestigious All-Steinway School designation—and we maintain that standard of excellence because you deserve the best instruments for your education.
Graduate Assistantship Positions
Your graduate education shouldn't come with overwhelming debt. UNC offers competitive funding opportunities — including assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships — to help you pursue your doctorate without sacrificing your financial future.
Program Requirements
Ready to take the next step? Explore admissions requirements, application deadlines and the curriculum that will shape your journey in the Music Performance DA program.
The D.A. in Music Performance requires a primary and secondary concentration. Your specific degree requirements will vary based on your chosen path, but here’s a typical breakdown:
- Primary Concentration – 18 credits
- Secondary Concentration – 8-10 credits
- Research Core – 15 credits
- Required Credits (teaching practicum) – 3-9 credits
- Research Proposal/Dissertation – 16 credits
- Electives – 4-7 credits
View Full Degree Requirements – Collaborative Piano
View Full Degree Requirements – Conducting
View Full Degree Requirements – Composition
Music Performance D.A. candidates must take the following Placement Exams:
- Music theory
- Aural skills
Students who do not pass these exams must complete additional prerequisite courses.
To apply to the Music Performance DA program,
- Complete your UNC online application
- Complete the College of Performing Arts form
- Submit required supplemental materials, which may include:
- Resume
- Statement of goals
- Writing/research samples
- Score composition samples
- Submit a pre-screening audition video, if applicable (view audition requirements)
- Complete your interview or audition, if applicable (live or by video)
Your Music Performance DA application requires either an audition or an interview, depending on your concentration.
Our Students + Alumni
Student
“Conducting is like doing magic for me. We all start in different places, like a puzzle, and with leadership, during the rehearsals we all put together that puzzle where everyone has an important role to play."
Jolie González Masmela
Music D.A. - Conducting
PhD student from Colombia
Student
"The most challenging aspect of my research has been analyzing African American music within the framework of European theory and determining the appropriate level of disclosure and tone to convey my perspective on the music’s impact on the human condition."
Edward Hardy
Music D.A. - Music Performance
PhD student
Create. Perform. Engage.
UNC offers more than two dozen ensembles, from choirs to opera theatre.
Learn, practice, produce and perform in state-of-the-art facilities, including our newest space, Campus Commons Performance Hall.
Research Opportunities
Pursue independent research alongside faculty experts. You’ll also be surrounded by curious, ambitious peers from across academic disciplines.
Locally grown festivals. Nationally touring acts. Ever-changing exhibits. Across the university and throughout Northern Colorado and beyond, you can immerse yourself in the arts.
Have Questions? We’re Here to Help!
- PVA@unco.edu
- (970) 351-2993
- Frasier Hall