Performance Ensembles & Opportunities

Music at Morgan offers students a variety of performance and travel opportunities throughout the academic year and the summer months. Study at Morgan not only offers outstanding training by our world-class faculty but also provides our students a passport to the world stages. Our students perform for heads of state, collaborate with world-renowned performing artists, and have traveled on almost every continent.

Our moderatey sized program offers students ample opportunity for featured performance whereas larger university settings may have limited opportunities for undergraduate students due to the incredible competition presented by mature and seasoned graduate students. The skills developed on stage are essential to careers in music.

Applied Lessons

Music majors register for instruction on their primary voice/instrument each semester with our acclaimed faculty. Performance proficiency is assessed regularly through department recitals, concert events, juries, ensemble tours, and more.

Weekly Student Recitals

Music students are provided regular opportunities to perform solo repertoire they are studying in their applied lessons. Each semester a weekly Tuesday morning recital is presented in one of our performance venues in the Murphy Fine Arts Center. Attendance at these recitals is required of all students in the music major and is part of the final grade for the applied lesson.

Masterclasses and Studio Lessons

Each semester we offer master classes and studio classes within each concentration of our music major. Students receive diverse opportunities to work with guest clinicians who are professional artists and music scholars from all over the world and specialize in their area of concentration.

ENSEMBLES: Morgan State University Bands Program

The Morgan State University Bands Program is led by the Director of Bands, Mr. Melvin N. Miles. This ensemble consists of music major and non-music majors from across the nation. Students from all majors are eligible to audition for each ensemble. The MSU Bands Program ensembles include:

• The Magnificent Marching Machine
• Symphonic Band
• Wind Ensemble
• Jazz Ensemble
• Jazz Combo
• Pep Band

ENSEMBLES: MSU Trombone Choir

ENSEMBLES: MSU Flute Choir

ENSEMBLES: Morgan State University Choirs

The Morgan State University Choir is one of the nation's most prestigious university choral ensembles. Led by Dr. Eric Conway, the choral forces of this critically acclaimed choir include The University Choir, which is over 120 voices strong, and The Morgan Singers Touring Choir with approximately 40 voices.

While classical, Gospel, and contemporary popular music comprise the choir's repertoire, the choir is noted for its emphasis on preserving the heritage of the spiritual, especially in the historic practices of performance. 

Visit www.msuchoir.org more information.

ENSEMBLES: Opera Workshop

Opera Workshop provides students with the opportunity to learn full operatic roles and works. The group is led by music director Dr. Lester Green, Jr. and world renowned sopranist Ms. Marquita Lister, the artistic director, who has been a featured performer on Emmy nominated productions like New York City Opera's production of Porgy in her aware winning performance as Bess. Our faculty knows what it takes to build a performance career and have continued to help our students do the same.

For more information contact Ms. Lister at marquita.lister@morgan.edu.