Bachelor of Music Performance — Voice
Music performance is a degree program focused on the mastery of performance skills. Ohio State offers four tracks within the Bachelor of Music in Performance: orchestral instruments, piano, voice and jazz studies.
Pursuing Vocal Music Performance at Ohio State
Students interested in music performance should develop performance skills in preparation for the entrance audition. Piano lessons are highly recommended, if available. All students planning to pursue a music major complete an entrance audition and the Theory Placement Exam (TPE). Normally students do this during the senior year in high school on a scheduled Audition Day. Transfer students and students already at Ohio State should also plan to complete an audition and the TPE.
Career Prospects in Vocal Music Performance
Some graduates establish private studios for giving music lessons or perform professionally either as soloists or in groups as opportunities arise. Others pursue musical performance opportunities in armed forces bands, orchestras, or choirs. Some take professional auditions or participate in performance competitions. Some graduates move into business and industry or other music-related careers, such as arts management. Students in music performance have a variety of career opportunities.
Those interested in pursuing a professional career as a performer often continue directly into graduate study upon completion of the undergraduate degree. The same is true of students interested in securing a position as an applied music teacher at a college or university. In addition, some music performance majors continue into graduate school in another music field, such as conducting, music history or music theory.
More About Vocal Music Performance
The School of Music’s Opera Program has won first-place awards from the National Opera Association. Students have performed in Graz, Austria, and have held roles in opera companies across the country. Graduates have won numerous competition awards and perform leading roles with national and international companies. Ohio State vocal ensembles often tour, performing in international and domestic venues and have garnered critical acclaim. Read more about choral and opera/musical theatre opportunities in Ensembles.