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Music at York is internationally recognised for integrated creative, practical and scholarly approaches to music. We are active, vibrant and open to everyone.

In addition to our degree programmes, we provide opportunities for the University and wider community to engage in music across styles and genres. We host the region's leading professional concert series alongside public talks and masterclasses. We also run a rich and varied collection of ensembles and offer instrumental and vocal tuition. Whether or not you are studying music we invite everyone to get involved!

Study with us

Studying music at York gives you a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of musical experiences and to look at how music is shaping and responding to the world.

Research and practice

Our research covers a wide variety of topics in performance, composition, musicology and technology and our vibrant, busy research clusters provide focus for individual research strands and encourage collaboration across the University.

Explore our research and practice 

Get involved

Concert highlights

Music for all

Our music students run the Music Education Group (MEG) - a volunteering initiative which helps provide musical education for all. They provide free musical workshops at primary and secondary schools, hospitals, care homes and other community groups across York.

Students on our MA Music Education: Instrumental and Vocal Teaching course give lessons as part of their learning. These lessons are open to all across the University community – contact richard.powell@york.ac.uk for details.

Our history

Music at York has been re-inventing ways of studying music since its earliest days.

The original department was founded in 1964 by Professor Wilfrid Mellers, whose vision was unique and ahead of its time.

Explore our history