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Gavin Steingo Named 2024-25 Getty Research Institute Scholar

Jun 28, 2024

The Department of Music is excited to announce that Gavin Steingo, Professor of Music and Director of Undergraduate Studies, received a prestigious year-long fellowship at the Getty Research Institute (GRI) in …

2024 Class Day remarks by key note speaker, Molly Bolten ’14

Jun 10, 2024

By Molly Bolten ’14 Good afternoon Princeton Music graduates! Please excuse my hoarse voice—I’ve been shouting over very loud music for the last three days. As Professor Snyder told you, …

Anna Yu Wang Named 2024 Luce/ACLS Early Career Fellow in China Studies

May 24, 2024

The Music Department at Princeton is proud to announce that Anna Yu Wang has been awarded a 2024 Luce/ACLS Early Career Fellowship in China Studies.

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Music opportunities abound. 

The Music Department provides all Princeton University students—whether they major or gain a certificate in music—with the opportunity to learn from a world-renowned faculty of composers, historians and theorists; and take instrumental or voice lessons in the private studios of eminent professional performers and performance courses in chamber music, opera, vocal ensembles.  


Rehearsal rooms in the Effron Music Building. Photo by Paul Warchol

Steeped in tradition and charting new pathways.

The graduate program invites students to earn a Ph.D. in composition or musicology, advancing their craft and research within the inspiring interdisciplinary, immersive spirit of the Princeton University campus. With an average of 24 students in each area of study at a time, the Music Department’s graduate program allows for fully funded, focused study with a stellar faculty, and within an intimate community that celebrates the intersection between the creation, study, and performance of music.  


Experience community through a campus full of music. Princeton is steeped in performance opportunities from dozens of ensembles — both departmental and student-led — including Symphony orchestras, multi-genre choruses, jazz, contemporary music, African music, steel band, laptop orchestra, and many more! In addition to student performances, world-renowned artists appear on the Princeton University Concerts series; leading performers of contemporary music showcase compositions by faculty and graduate composers through the Princeton Sound Kitchen; Sō Percussion, the Edward T. Cone Artists-in-Residence, perform and engage with the community.


Meet our Faculty

The world-renowned faculty of Princeton’s Department of Music are leaders in composition, musicology, and performance.

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Alexandra Rice

Before coming to Princeton, I was torn between going to a music conservatory and pursuing an academic degree. The music certificate program at Princeton, however, has enabled me to pursue both of my passions.”

Alexandra Lee Rice ’21