Master's in Music Performance - Voice

The Master’s in Performance with a Voice concentration at UNC Greensboro is a 32-credit-hour graduate program providing intensive training, ensemble/opera experience, and entrepreneurial skills for careers in professional performance Unlike the vocal pedagogy concentration—which prioritizes teaching science—the standard voice concentration focuses directly on advanced, conservatory-type vocal performance training and entrepreneurial skills for active performers.

About the UNCG School of Music

• The School of Music at UNC Greensboro was ranked #1 in the U.S. by Best Value Schools in 2025.
• The UNCG School of Music offers the only comprehensive degrees in music education and music performance in the State of North Carolina, from the undergraduate level through doctoral study.
• The school is a member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

the master’s in Voice Program Distinctions

The M.M. in Vocal Performance is one of two distinctive tracks in the voice area. Vocal Pedagogy is the other. The Vocal Performance track is focused on entrepreneurship and stage mastery, while the pedagogy track fuses vocal performance with voice science, vocal health, and advanced teaching methods.

UNCG Opera Theatre is a regional powerhouse. It has won the prestigious National Opera Association Competition Award nine times. The program simulates a real professional company, putting on full, high-caliber productions rather than just small scene programs. 

The Vocal performance Graduate Student Experience

UNCG’s relationship with the local arts community offers master’s students professional opportunities with companies like Greensboro Opera, Piedmont Opera, NC Opera, and Opera Carolina. 

Beyond standard applied voice lessons, graduate singers receive specialized, individual coaching from the Collaborative Piano faculty.

Vocal Performance majors learn business and entrepreneurial skills in addition to vocal mechanics. Students graduate with experience in marketing, managing freelance books, and other gig logistics to treat their performance career as a business.

After Graduating with your master’s in Voice

An M.M. in Vocal Performance equips you with a blend of elite stage training and specific business skills. This dual focus allows you to pursue careers across several sectors of the music industry.

Some potential career pathways include:

• Professional Classical Performance
• Commercial Music & Stage Entertainment
• Studio Teaching & Arts Direction
• Military Ensembles

For those wanting to pursue tenure-track professor positions at the university level, the MM is the necessary academic stepping stone towards a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA).

How to Apply to the Master’s in Performance Program

Students interested in the MM in Vocal Performance complete the UNCG Graduate School admission process and the School of Music Master’s admissions process.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Master’s in Performance Program