Build Connections for Life
A degree in music performance provides you with the real-world experiences you need to succeed in a competitive and demanding professional environment. Your teachers are award-winning soloists and recording artists, professional music directors, members of military ensembles, composers, and arrangers. 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.
Develop Your Artistry
Learn more about jazz at Duquesne
Music Facilities
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.
Performance Pathways
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.
Undergraduate
You've got a love for music. Our Bachelor of Music in Performance sets the stage for you to go anywhere.
Graduate
You've laid the groundwork. Now, refine your skills with a Master of Music in Performance.
Post-Graduate
You've got the foundation. You've honed your technique. Now, dive even deeper with an Artist Diploma.
Experience Being a Performance Major
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
Music Technology Centennial Celebration Master Class with Jim Anderson
Join Music Education alumni and GRAMMY Award-winning audio engineer Jim Anderson for a master class on immersive audio.
Music Centennial Alumni Homecoming Reception
Join fellow Mary Pappert School of Music alumni for a special Centennial reception celebrating 100 years of music, community, and connection. Reconnect with friends, faculty, and fellow alumni, enjoy refreshments, share memories, and celebrate the generations of musicians who have helped shape MPSOM
Brahms on the Bluff: Concert II - Lullaby
David Allen Wehr, Artistic Director
Pre-concert Discussion with Ron Samuels at 2:30 p.m.
Who Makes the Music? AI, Creativity, and Authorship
Featuring:
Community Drum Circle
The Community Drum Circle, hosted by the music therapy department and led in the fall by drum circle facilitator and music therapist Bob Miller, is a free event open to all community members.
Guest Artist Master Class: Dr. Lucy Mauro, piano
Please Note:
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.
Performance Department
As a student at the Mary Pappert School of Music, you study with professors internationally acclaimed in their fields.
