Career Paths
Where a Music Degree Can Take You
Undergraduates who study Music at UNC Asheville develop both artistic excellence and professional versatility. Through performance, composition, and critical study, students strengthen their creativity, collaboration, and communication skills while gaining practical experience in the field. This foundation prepares graduates to think critically, adapt to a dynamic industry, and pursue diverse career paths in performance, education, arts management, sound production, and beyond.
Median annual wage of a Music Director or Composer
according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
job openings are projected each year, on average depending on occupation
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Projected growth from 2023 to 2033, depending on occupation
Projected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics
Alumni Spotlight
Alumni William Hinson started his own record label, Something Out Of Nothing Records, while still a student. His most recent album uses cheery, poppy music and a reassuring title.
Alumni Larkin Dodgen's 2020 EP Touch Me focuses on melancholy love songs.
Folk-based string duo Mama Danger members Nick Cameron and Gabriela Rose met at UNC Asheville and released their first EP in 2018.
Career Preparation
Career Preparation
The Music major at UNC Asheville offers a comprehensive and flexible curriculum that encourages students to explore performance, composition, music theory, history, technology, and cultural context through both creative and critical lenses. With a strong emphasis on artistic expression, collaboration, technical proficiency, and interdisciplinary study, students gain the tools to engage deeply with music as both an academic discipline and a professional practice. Combined with hands-on experience through performance ensembles, studio work, and community engagement, graduates are well-prepared to succeed in a variety of careers—from performance and composition to music education, audio production, and arts administration—or to pursue competitive graduate and professional programs.
Ready for what's next?
Earn a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of North Carolina Asheville and prepare for a successful career in performance, composition, music education, arts administration, audio production, and beyond.