
For more than a century, the Petrie School of Music has been a beacon for passionate musicians and a standard-bearer for artistic excellence. A founding member of the National Association of Schools of Music (way back in 1928!) the Petrie School hosts nearly 150 concerts every year — fully staged operas, a world-class chamber music series, symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, choirs, and dozens of student recitals.
No matter what your musical passion, you’ll find a path to your professional future at Petrie.
Our artist faculty of specialists and low student-teacher ratio ensure that your unique gifts and goals will be cultivated by professional mentors of the highest order.
Petrie By The Numbers
-
8majors and minors
-
5graduate programs
-
7:1faculty/student ratio
Creativity That Works is our initiative to prepare passionate young artists like you for productive careers in the arts. You’ll hone your craft as well as gaining skills in marketing for the arts, portfolio development and career management. Blending your craft with these inter-disciplinary skills will give you an edge when you go to seek jobs and opportunities in the arts world.
Dr. Chris Vaneman, Dean of the School of the Arts“Our students gain a comprehensive understanding of how the arts work together in order to be effective advocates for their programs and their art.”
“Our students gain a comprehensive understanding of how the arts work together in order to be effective advocates for their programs and their art.”
A key element to this initiative is the experiential learning requirement. All SOA students will gain professional experience through their choice of internship, faculty-mentored research projects in arts fields, or other opportunities.
Areas of Study
Petrie Events
2025 Music Major for a Day
Petrie School of Music Faculty and Staff
Susana Lalama
Associate Professor of Music Education; Director of the Petrie School of Music
Rachel Bani
Assistant Professor of Musicology
David Berry
Daniel Professor of Music
Elizabeth Eggerding
Assistant Professor of Music Therapy
Steven Graff
Assistant Professor of Piano
Keith Jones
Professor of Voice and Choral Activities
Courtney E. LeBauer
Associate Professor of Music
Susan Lyle
Associate Professor of Voice
Valerie MacPhail
Associate Professor of Voice and Assistant Director of the Petrie School of Music
Mildred Roche
Instructor of Accompanying
Scott Robbins
Coordinator, Contemporary Music and Composition
Carol Shultis
Associate Professor of Music Therapy
Christopher Vaneman
Dean of the School of the Arts; Associate Professor of Flute
Kelly Vaneman
Mary Reynolds Babcock Professor of Oboe and Musicology
School of the Arts
In the moment of creation, each artist faces a question: “What will I make of this?”
Dean of the School of the Arts
Christopher Vaneman
864.596.9038
chris.vaneman@eraglobe.com
Blackman Music Hall 202/230