Woodwinds
Bassoon, Clarinet, Flute, Oboe & English Horn, Saxophone
Brass
Horn, Trombone (Bass & Tenor), Trumpet, Tuba & Euphonium
Percussion
With 140 students studying 11 instruments at all degree levels, Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion represents one of the largest departments at the School of Music. So whether it’s a lesson or coaching with one our 39 faculty members, or orchestral techniques class down at Symphony Hall, the Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion department offers world-class instruction for students seeking meaningful careers as orchestral and chamber musicians, soloists, and teachers.
Woodwind Faculty
Brass Faculty
Percussion Faculty
Program of Study
Applied Study
Our faculty members provide weekly private lessons for all music majors in 11 specialty instrument areas. All BU music majors study private lessons with a professional teacher, never a student assistant.
Let one of our 119 state-of-the-art practice rooms be your laboratory to learn repertoire, build technique, and experiment musically. Fortify ideas and test yourself through our ample performance opportunities in both formal and informal settings.
An annual series of guest masterclasses puts students in contact with a variety of distinguished artist-teachers to gain insight to many pedagogical styles and approaches.
Chamber Music
BU School of Music is dedicated to the study of chamber music at all levels. Our program instills in students the professional skills and entrepreneurial spirit necessary to have chamber music be a meaningful part of their careers. Empire Brass, Atlantic Brass, Boston Brass, and Synergy Brass were all started in our program, and the Grammy-nominated Imani Winds was founded by BU alum Valerie Coleman.
The woodwind and brass chamber music program provides each chamber group with 12 hours of coaching from our internationally recognized faculty-artists, as well as numerous performance opportunities each semester. BU students further their studies through master classes, open rehearsals, and residencies with renowned guest artists.
Many chamber groups perform in Boston and the Boston-area at medical centers, area churches, and other venues.
Additional Chamber Music opportunities include:
Trumpet Ensemble
Trombone Choir
Horn Choir
The Herd Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble
Percussion Ensemble
Orchestral Studies
With 9 faculty members playing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, BU students learn from some the best orchestral players in the country. Our students focus on mastering the standard orchestral excerpts and learn to prepare for the complete orchestral experience through rep readings and repeated mock-auditions.
BU maintains both a symphony orchestra and a chamber orchestra where students continuously perform both new and standard masterpieces as well as play in the pit for our superb opera productions.
Oh, and about that world-class symphony next door? You can go for free. Being exposed to great performances is crucial to growing as an artist. With the BSO College Card you will gain access to free concerts and open rehearsals at the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Audition Requirements
Thinking of applying? Find out more about prescreening, repertoire, and audition details by instrument.
Performance Opportunities
During the course of their studies, students participate in a range of performance opportunities at a variety of venues at Boston University, in the city of Boston, and beyond. With hundreds of performances per year at the School of Music, students are always just a few steps from taking the stage. From recitals to orchestra concerts, students perform regularly including annual performances at Symphony Hall in Boston and Carnegie Hall in New York City.
- BU Symphony Orchestra
- BU Chamber Orchestra
- Woodwind Ensemble
- Opera Orchestra
- Chamber Music
- Annual Soloists’ Competition
- BU Baroque Orchestra
Notable Alumni
Next Steps for Applicants
The best way to determine if BU is right for you is to explore our admission requirements, financial tools, and resources to determine if the program is the right match.
Reach out to Graduate Admissions at visitSOM@bu.edu with any questions along the way or to request information. We are happy to discuss your educational interests and career goals.
