UMBC Department of Music

UMBC Department of Music We seek to foster a society that values music both as part of a universal education, and as an essent We look forward to meeting you—

Yours,
Dr. Lisa Cella

UMBC’s Music Department provides the one-on-one attention undergraduates need to flourish as young musicians within the resources of a small research university. We provide excellent large ensembles that unite musicians from across campus, regardless of major (the UMBC Symphony, the UMBC Wind Ensemble, Camerata, the Jubilee Singers, and the Jazz Ensemble), balanced with small classes in music theo

ry, musicianship, music history, and music education. In addition, small performing ensembles such as Chamber Players, the New Music Ensemble, the Percussion Ensemble, the Vocal Arts Ensemble (opera scenes), and a number of jazz combos, allow students to hone their musical skills in a small group setting. Our new state of the art facilities include recording studios, the Earl and Darielle Linehan Concert Hall, and The Music Box. Our music technology major is the only one in the State of Maryland, and produces professional recordings and videos of the highest quality as a training ground for our student technologists. UMBC music faculty are renowned musicians who also love to teach. We are especially keen to build entrepreneurial skills in our students so that they are prepared to contribute as musicians to societies of the 21st-century as highly-skilled innovators. Examples of this initiative include our Arts in Education course (modeled on the Lincoln Center program in New York), a Careers in Music course, and a number of internships and side-by-side collaborations with our faculty and other professional musicians. UMBC Music also values international experiences for our students. The Department has established an exchange program with the Nicolini Conservatorio in Piacenza, Italy, where students can study for a semester. Sam Winnie, a composition major and Linehan Artist Scholar, recently completed a spring semester there and now is applying for a Fulbright grant to return! So, whatever your musical interest or expertise, please visit us!

The UMBC Choirs are on their way to Europe! They'll begin their tour with a concert in the beautiful city of Paris, and ...
06/19/2025

The UMBC Choirs are on their way to Europe! They'll begin their tour with a concert in the beautiful city of Paris, and then head to Prague, where they'll perform with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra at the Summer Proms concerts. You can read more about their tour and support their fundraising effort here: https://give.umbc.edu/umbc-choirs-abroad

Please help us meet our goal!  The Choirs are heading to Europe and are working hard to raise the money they need. 10 da...
06/10/2025

Please help us meet our goal! The Choirs are heading to Europe and are working hard to raise the money they need. 10 days to go - they are so excited for this once in a lifetime experience. Please consider donating!

Join me in supporting the UMBC Choirs Abroad!

06/03/2025
06/03/2025
We are delighted to introduce Liana Harron who will join the UMBC faculty in Fall 2025 as an Assistant Professor of Pian...
05/23/2025

We are delighted to introduce Liana Harron who will join the UMBC faculty in Fall 2025 as an Assistant Professor of Piano.

Dr. Liana Pailodze Harron, blending her Georgian heritage with an American spirit, captivates audiences with daring performances that breathe life into contemporary classical music. Praised by Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Tim Page of The Wall Street Journal as 'smashingly effective,' her latest album with Vesna Duo mesmerized audiences, showcasing her passionate interpretations. Her artistry has graced esteemed venues across the United States and Europe, including iconic stages like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the New World Center, and the United Nations.

Dedicated to pushing the boundaries of music, Dr. Harron has shared stages with artists across the spectrum—from rock star Steven Tyler to classical virtuosos—thriving on diverse collaborations fueled by her unending artistic curiosity. Whether as a soloist with orchestras like the Shilakadze Chamber Orchestra, the Georgian Television Orchestra, or the Frost Symphony Orchestra, she's continuously championed contemporary compositions.

An avid recording artist, Dr. Harron’s repertoire spans from contemporary compositions by György Ligeti and Archil Giorgobiani to cherished classics by Hindemith and Respighi. Her versatility shines through modern works by John Adams and Ólafur Arnalds, which she skillfully arranged for piano and Loopstation. Her solo album, 'Light-Year,' is an emotive collection that weaves together intimate pieces from cinematic composers like Jóhann Jóhannsson, Max Richter, Philip Glass, Ólafur Arnalds, and Kris Lennox. And her latest album,’Kartli: Stories of Georgia,’ a collection of 20th-century Georgian classical music, was featured on Billboard Georgia.

Dr. Natalie Groom, Affiliate Artist of Clarinet, has been awarded a Dresher Center Summer Fellowship to research, engrav...
05/18/2025

Dr. Natalie Groom, Affiliate Artist of Clarinet, has been awarded a Dresher Center Summer Fellowship to research, engrave, and perform Trio for Clarinet, Horn, and Bassoon by Pauline Oliveros. One of Oliveros' first works composed while she was a student, the piece only exists in manuscript and does not appear to have been performed beyond its premiere ca. 1956.

Congratulations to Dr. Groom!

05/11/2025

Our new Afro-Cuban ensemble led by Mark Merella had its first performance tonight!

Congratulations to our newest UMBC ensemble, the Afro-Cuban ensemble directed by Mark Merella, on their debut performanc...
05/11/2025

Congratulations to our newest UMBC ensemble, the Afro-Cuban ensemble directed by Mark Merella, on their debut performance tonight! They were followed by the UMBC percussion ensemble performing works by Sam Pluta, Andy Akiho, Johanna Beyer, and more. It was a spectacular night of music!

05/07/2025
This Wednesday evening, May 7th at 7:30pm! Join us as the UMBC New Music Ensemble under the direction of Patrick Crossla...
05/06/2025

This Wednesday evening, May 7th at 7:30pm! Join us as the UMBC New Music Ensemble under the direction of Patrick Crossland performs the music of Jennifer Walshe, called "the most original compositional voice to emerge from Ireland in the past 20 years" by the Irish Times.

Tickets are Free!

Address

1000 Hilltop Cir
Baltimore, MD
21250

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(410) 455-2942

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