Music Learning Opportunities
MSU Moorhead plays a prominent role in the Fargo-Moorhead music scene, through active faculty involvement in solo performances, professional groups and the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, and through exceptional musical performances by students or visiting artists as part of the Performing Art Series offered throughout the year. You will be poised for great professional development through on- and off-campus performance opportunities as well as music industry courses that prepare you to master advanced production techniques in the studio. The immersive, hands-on learning experiences combined with one-on-one mentorship from expert faculty, provide an outstanding education for you to excel as a musician in education, production or performance settings.
A musical area of study allows you to focus on an area of great interest, such as guitar studies, percussion studies or jazz studies, among others. Every area of study has distinct strengths and exceptional opportunities that allow you to experience various aspects of being a musician. MSUM offers eight areas of study:
The MSUM Partnership with Community School for the Arts (CSA) has a Music Lesson Program that is a non-degree program offering private instrument lessons. These lessons are from music students who are pursuing degrees in music education, performance, and commercial music giving students hands-on experience in teaching music.
Join one of our three vocal and nine instrumental ensembles to pursue your love of music performance while attending MSUM. Many ensembles are open to both music and non-music majors and are highly admired in the Fargo-Moorhead community.
The Fargo-Moorhead Opera Company brings high-quality opera experiences to members of our community and region. The season includes three fully-staged opera productions with various other events throughout the year. Fargo-Moorhead is the smallest metro in America to host a full-season professional opera company. Several MSUM faculty and staff members, alumni and students have performed with the Fargo-Moorhead Opera.
The Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra is a professional orchestra that performs five pairs of Masterworks concerts, daytime Young People’s Concerts, a summer outdoor concert, and occasional other programs. Several MSUM faculty and staff members, alumni and students are members of the orchestra.
Interested in learning and living with students pursuing the same degree as you? Join the Film, Animation, Music and Entertainment Industries & Technology (FAME) Learning Community to explore career options in your field, collaborate on group projects, attend film screenings and more.
MEISA (Undeclared Records) is a student-run record label operating out of Dragon Studios within MSUM’s Music Department. Students from many disciplines work together to produce and manage student musicians like you. You can work with MEISA from start to finish — from demo to release.
You have the opportunity to perform in pit orchestras and/or on stage as featured performers (through collaboration with our Musical Theater program) as part of our University Theatre Series or our summer theater company, the Straw Hat Players.
Studying abroad is a wonderful way to learn about different cultures and bring exceptional experiences and knowledge back to your classroom. MSU Moorhead has numerous study abroad options that can fit your individual academic and personal goals.
Your courses allow you to be an integral part of the event culture on campus. Opportunities include the Cheryl Nelson Lossett Performing Arts Series, concerts, recitals and more. Each year, hundreds of live production opportunities are available.