During the summer of 2024, PSOA guitar students took center stage at a variety of festivals throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Everywhere our students went, they found great success and brought accolades back to Milwaukee. Leonela Alejandro (BFA 2020, Music) took first prize at the Guitar Foundation of America, …
Music, BFA BFA
Turn your passion and musical talent into a professional career in music – or set the stage for successful graduate studies in music. Whatever your goal, we’ll help you achieve it through personalized attention from faculty, diverse musical experiences and opportunities to perform and collaborate with other artists.
Our BFA program offers intensive study for you to hone your skills with your voice or principal instrument. As a conservatory-style department nestled within a leading research university, our professional artist-faculty are here to inspire, support and teach you. And because we know firsthand that the music industry is highly collaborative, you’ll frequently work alongside other students, guest artists and professionals from across campus and Wisconsin’s cultural capital, Milwaukee, and beyond.
Program Type
Major
Program Format
On Campus
What it’s like to be a student at Peck School of the Arts
When you study music at the UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts, you’ll join a supportive and collaborative community of artists. You’ll have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including performance venues, practice rooms and recording studios. In addition to performing as soloists and in ensembles, students have many opportunities to attend concerts, master classes and workshops led by world-renowned musicians and scholars. Through our strong partnerships with performance organizations in Milwaukee and the surrounding region, you’ll expand your horizons and your professional network along the way.
But don’t take our word for it. See for yourself what it is like to be a student here by scheduling a personalized tour and info session.
Program Details
Our BFA in Music is a comprehensive, four-year program perfect for students seeking intensive study to develop those skills needed for a professional career and/or preparation for graduate school across many voice or primary instrument paths.
Studios & Ensembles
Our studios and ensembles are led by our renowned artist faculty who have active professional careers. Studios and ensembles are structured to offer a wide variety of training and performance opportunities for musicians of various abilities. Whatever your level of skill and interest, you’ll benefit from our studios and ensembles.
Entrance Auditions/Interviews & Admission
Peck School of the Arts undergraduate and graduate programs may require additional steps to enter. For most dance, music and theatre programs, applicants must first be accepted to UWM, apply to Peck School of the Arts and complete entrance requirements such as an audition and/or interview.
Scholarships & Aid
UW-Milwaukee and Peck School of the Arts offer a diverse financial aid package for students, including Midwest residence savings, scholarships, grants, work-study opportunities and student loans.
Living Learning Communities
Live in campus housing on the same floor or wing as other students in your major or program. The Peck School of the Arts offers three Living Learning Communities where you can be a part of a “community within a community.” You’ll make friends, form study groups and do social activities together. And, best of all, there is no additional cost to be a part of a Living Learning Community.
Music Performances
With a season packed with music concerts, you’ll have many opportunities to put your hard work on display for live audiences in our performance venues. You can also support your fellow musicians by attending their performances and broaden your musical horizons through limited engagements from visiting artists and touring acts. Learn more about venues and performing arts events.
Student Recitals
Peck School of the Arts music students take the stage in solo and group student recitals throughout the school year. Students showcase musical technique and skill, while audience members enjoy exceptional performances by Milwaukee’s emerging musicians.
Internships & Opportunities
Located within the cultural capital of Wisconsin, students regularly perform professionally both as soloists and chamber musicians in the greater Milwaukee community while earning their degree. See where your education can take you. Learn more about internships and opportunities.
Student Organizations & Clubs
Meet like-minded people in a wide variety of student organizations and clubs who inspire creativity and will support your aspirations. Collaborate and create, network with professional artists, and deepen your connection with faculty, mentors and fellow students outside of the classroom.
Study Abroad
We believe that a complete education in the arts should take you beyond the classroom and the local community. By studying abroad, you’ll gain more than a change of scenery. You’ll embark on a transformative educational experience and bring a global perspective to your field of study. Explore upcoming trips offered in partnership with the Center for International Education.
Alumni Stories in Music
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Guitar students and alumni win major festivals throughout North America
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Music alum’s recording studio featured in Shepherd ExpressAlum Jacob McDonald (BFA 2013, Music: Guitar) was recently interviewed by Shepherd Express about his Walker’s Point recording studio Density Studios. As the owner and full-time engineer at Density, McDonald has utilized his more than 20 years of audio experience to help artists achieve their musical goals through professional audio services …
Careers in Music
- Accompanist
- Acoustic Engineer
- Arranger
- Artist Management
- Arts Administrator
- Audio Software Designer & Programmer
- Audio/Visual Technician
- Broadcast Engineer
- Chamber Musician
- Clinician
- Consultant
- Collaborative Pianist
- Community Arts Organizer
- Composer
- Concert Production/Promotion
- Conductor (Band, Choral, Orchestral)
- Curator
- Diction Coach
- Early Music Performer
- Editor
- Educator/Education Director
- Ensemble Administration
- Entertainer
- Ethnomusicologist
- Event Manager
- Film/Television/Theatre/Gaming Composer
- Foley Artist
- Folk Music Performer
- Instrumental Performer
- Instrument Building/Repairing/Restoration
- Jazz Performer
- Licensing Administrator
- Luthier
- Managing Director
- Mastering Engineer
- Media Developer
- Military Bands/Orchestras
- Music Cognition (Science & Medicine)
- Music Critic/Journalist/Blogger
- Music Historian
- Music Librarian
- Music Publicist
- Music Store Owner
- Music Supervisor
- Music Therapist
- Music Theorist
- Musical Theatre Artist
- Musicologist
- Multimedia Artist
- Opera Performer
- Opera Dramaturg
- Opera Management
- Opera Prompter
- Orchestral Musician
- Outreach & Educational Programming
- Peace Corps (Teaching Music Abroad)
- Piano Tuner/Technician
- Pit Musician
- Private Studio Teacher
- Producer
- Publisher
- Radio Manager/Broadcasting
- Recitalist
- Recording Artist
- Record Label Executive
- Singer/Vocalist
- Songwriter/Lyricist
- Sound Designer/Engineer
- Sound Technician
- Stage Manager
- Suzuki Instructor
- Studio Musician
- Talent Agent/Director
- Vocal Coach
- Voice Therapist
Program Faculty
Which faculty you have within this program is dependent upon your chosen courses or interests. For a list of all Music faculty and staff please follow the link below.
- Assistant Professor, Voice
- Area Head, Voice & Opera
- agulay@uwm.edu
- 414-251-7756
- Music Building 341
- Lecturer, Double Bass
- babbitt@uwm.edu
- 414-403-1526
- Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts 196
- Lecturer, Drum Set
- Director, Jazz Combos & Ensembles, Afro-Caribbean Orchestra
- Chamber Music Coach
- Associate Professor, Flute
- Area Head, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion
- Director, Flute Ensemble
- Graduate Program Representative, Music
- clipperj@uwm.edu
- Music Building 461
- Associate Professor, Horn
- Director, Horn Choir
- Chamber Music Coach
- gflint@uwm.edu
- Music Building 273
- Interim Dean, College of the Arts & Architecture
- Professor, Trumpet
- hartman@uwm.edu
- 414-229-4594
- Music Building 260
- Adjunct Professor, Trombone & Euphonium
- Chamber Music Coach
- bassbone@uwm.edu
- Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts 336
- Teaching Faculty II, Voice
- Voice Liaison, Musical Theatre
- hoffmade@uwm.edu
- Music Building 351
- Professor, Classical Guitar
- Area Head, Guitar
- Director, Guitar Ensemble
- Chamber Music Coach
- ri7@uwm.edu
- Kenilworth Square East 507
- Professor, Cello & String Pedagogy
- Area Head, String Pedagogy
- skartman@uwm.edu
- Music Building 245
- Associate Professor, Saxophone
- Director, Saxophone Ensemble
- Chamber Music Coach
- romann@uwm.edu
- 414-251-7837
- Music Building 481
- Assistant Professor, Percussion
- Area Head, Percussion
- Director, Percussion Ensemble, Steel PANthers Steel Band, Marimba Band
- Co-Director, Community World Music Ensemble
- wier@uwm.edu
- 414-251-7036
- Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts 394
- Associate Professor, Violin
- Area Head, Strings and String Pedagogy
- Coordinator, Chamber Music
- bzinck@uwm.edu
- 414-243-2884
- Music Building 441
