Being a Performance Major
Form lifelong connections with your teachers: award-winning solo and recording artists, professional music directors, members of military ensembles, composers, and arrangers. A degree in music performance provides you with the real-world experiences you need to succeed in a competitive and demanding professional environment. Simply put, you will connect and network with the best artist-teachers in the music industry from New York to LA, from Beijing to Sydney, and across Europe.
Immerse yourself in Pittsburgh's thriving arts culture. In addition to university concerts and events, many students perform regularly in the tri-state region with ensembles such as the GRAMMY Award-winning Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Ballet and Opera Orchestras, Pittsburgh Camerata, Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, Mendelssohn Choirs, Bach Choir of Pittsburgh, and numerous other ensembles in the region. We even have a Hire a Musician program that connects you with local employers and venues, so you can take your performance expertise beyond the classroom and into the field, allowing you to make money while sharpening your entrepreneurial skills.
At the Mary Pappert School of Music, you have a wide variety of horizon-expanding
performance degrees and programs to choose from at both undergraduate and graduate
levels. We will help you find the right path for your bigger goals.
You've got a love for music. Our Bachelor of Music in Performance sets the stage for
you to go anywhere.
You've laid the groundwork. Now, refine your skills with a Master of Music in Performance.
You've got the foundation. You've honed your technique. Now, dive even deeper with
an Artist Diploma.
Our unique jazz curriculum integrates foundational training in the classical tradition
with private instruction and coursework in jazz idioms. In addition to classroom spaces, the Mary Pappert School of Music has a variety of
performance, rehearsal, and practice facilities available for use. PNC Recital Hall
and the Dr. Thomas D. Pappert Center for Performance and Innovation are two of the
primary performances spaces in our building. In addition, some larger-scale events
are held in other University spaces, including the Charles J. Dougherty Ballroom in
the University's Power Center, the Student Union Ballroom, and the Chapel of the Holy
Spirit, to name a few. Degrees & Programs
Undergraduate
Graduate
Certificate
Study and Play Jazz
Featured content
Music Facilities
Applied Areas
Ensembles
Duquesne's ensembles will provide you with the finest university-level performing experiences available, preparing you for your career as a professional musician. As a member, you will perform on campus, as well as at some of the best venues for music in the city.
Upcoming Events
High School Vocal Workshop
Join us in a collaborative exploration for high school singers who love to sing and are considering careers in music! Elevate your singing in a week-long course exploring all aspects of the vocal arts surrounded by other creative and enthusiastic musicians. Registration closes Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Summer Piano Workshop (Session 1)
Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to work with our distinguished piano faculty. The workshop offers a variety of expert instruction including 1-on-1 private piano lessons, peer observation in group class environment, sight-reading sessions, and master classes, as well as an opportunity to experi
Summer Piano Workshop (Session 2)
Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to work with our distinguished piano faculty. The workshop offers a variety of expert instruction including 1-on-1 private piano lessons, peer observation in group class environment, sight-reading sessions, and master classes, as well as an opportunity to experi
Performance Department
As a student at the Mary Pappert School of Music, you study with professors internationally acclaimed in their fields.
Alumni Perspective
I will always be grateful for my education at the Mary Pappert School of Music. It was such a rich environment with world-class teachers who were connected to the current scene and present on a regular basis to share their knowledge about the music industry. It’s very rare to find teachers like this who excel in both the performance and academic worlds.