Friends of Music at Stony Brook

Stony Brook's Music Department has grown out of an unusual partnership between the academy and the conservatory. In addition to its overall excellence and broad training in music of various sorts, the Music Department is noted for:

A Philosophy of Musical Integration
The curriculum is built on the belief that the proper education for any musician or musical scholar must involve three things: a solid theoretical grasp of musical structure; an understanding of the historical and cultural forces that shape music; and practical experience with music-making on a professional level. The Department has a faculty equally distinguished in musicology, composition, and performance. Students are either required or encouraged to participate in musical study from all of these disciplinary perspectives.
Emphasis on the Study and Performance of Contemporary Music
Based in the belief that the vitality of our present musical culture must entail an ongoing engagement with the music of our time, the emphasis on contemporary music affects all components of the program, from curricular offerings in history, theory, and ethnomusicology, to recital programming, and to regularly scheduled concerts of student and faculty works.

Masterclasses by visiting artists such as Dawn Upshaw

Workshops in Baroque Dance and Baroque Music

Guest conductors such as Leon Fleisher, Gunther Schuller, David Stern, Kevin Noe

Lectures by Michael Beckerman, Lydia Goehr, Gary Tomlinson, Timothy Taylor, Susan McClary

Composition Workshops by Tristan Murail, Elliott Schwartz, Ross Bauer, Fred Lerdahl,

The Premieres Concert Series: an annual concert of premiers presented by the Stony Brook Contemporary Chamber Players

Composer Showcase concerts: recent concerts have focused on the music Ralph Shapey, Earl Kim, Arthur Berger.

Children’s Concerts

Pre-College and Community Music Programs—Commissioning Project, Instruments, Masterclasses

“Friends of Music at Stony Brook ” newsletter

Email notification of upcoming Departmental events, including concerts, master classes, colloquia

Opportunities to meet with faculty