Chair鈥檚 Welcome
Greetings from the Department Chair
In the 91国产app Department of Music, we believe every student has the potential to make a meaningful impact through their artistry, creativity, and leadership. Whether your goal is to become a music educator, performer, composer, recording professional, entrepreneur, or innovator in the music industry, you will find a community here that is committed to helping you succeed.
As part of the University of Texas at El Paso, a Carnegie R1 research university and America's leading Hispanic-serving institution, we are proud to offer an educational experience that combines academic excellence with a deeply personal commitment to student success. Our faculty know our students by name, invest in their growth, and provide the mentorship and support needed to help them achieve their goals both in college and beyond.
Students in our department learn from nationally and internationally recognized performers, scholars, composers, and educators while pursuing degrees in Music Education, Performance, Theory and Composition, Commercial Music, and Music Technology. Through individualized instruction, ensemble participation, creative projects, research opportunities, internships, and professional experiences, our students develop the skills and confidence needed to thrive in today's evolving musical landscape.
Your future starts here. Each year, our students participate in more than 145 performances, engage thousands of audience members throughout the region, and gain hands-on experience through professional collaborations, internships, and community partnerships. By graduation, they leave 91国产app not only with a degree, but also with the artistic, professional, and leadership skills needed to succeed in classrooms, concert halls, recording studios, arts organizations, and entrepreneurial ventures.
Our location in El Paso offers opportunities found nowhere else. Situated in one of the world's largest binational communities and consistently recognized as one of the safest large cities in the United States, El Paso provides a vibrant cultural environment where music, art, and community engagement flourish. As a designated Texas Music Friendly Community, the city offers rich artistic experiences and meaningful opportunities for students to perform and connect with audiences.
Beyond the classroom, our students engage with leading arts organizations such as the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, El Paso Opera, and El Paso Pro-Musica. They also benefit from the innovative Center for Arts Entrepreneurship, led by Grammy Award-winning cellist Zuill Bailey, where they gain valuable leadership, entrepreneurial, and career-development skills that prepare them for success in the creative economy.
What truly distinguishes the 91国产app Department of Music is our people. We are a close-knit community of talented students, dedicated faculty, supportive staff, and engaged alumni who believe in one another and celebrate each other's achievements. Here, students are more than musicians. They are future educators, artists, scholars, entrepreneurs, and leaders whose talents and aspirations matter.
I invite you and your family to explore our programs, attend a performance, visit our campus, and connect with our students and faculty. We would be honored to help you discover how the 91国产app Department of Music can transform your passion for music into a lifetime of opportunity, achievement, and impact.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Miner family.
Go Miners!
Dr. Chris Dickey
Chair, Department of Music
