Performing Arts at Sonoma State University

Exterior at Green Music Center

Performing Arts at Sonoma State University, develops complete artists for a changing time. Inspired collaborators engaged in their work as much with one another as with the larger world they inhabit. Vital human beings devoted to a process of discovery, seeking its ultimate expression in performance.

Performing Arts offers valuable and rewarding opportunities for serious, motivated students to develop their artistry in a stimulating and congenial environment at a campus located in a beautiful and culturally rich area. We aim to develop artists and educators who are vitally engaged with each other and the world through the performing arts.

Philosophy

At Sonoma State University, developing artists cultivate their individuality in a humane environment that emphasizes personalized instruction. Classes are small, averaging twelve students per faculty member. Studio instruction for musicians is one to one. Most ensembles and stage productions are “chamber” scaled, reflecting our belief that intimacy is the best guarantee of quality. Even our larger productions strive for this intimacy. The faculty know their students by name and are accessible to their needs and concerns.

Acknowledging that an artist’s life can be a difficult one to navigate, we ground our students in a broad range of real-world skills and perspectives and encourage innovative career planning as the best path to productive, fulfilled lives as working artists.

Opportunity

Performing Arts presents an active season of student recitals, plays, and music theatre productions, as well as a guest artist series through the generous funding of the Evert B. Person endowment fund. The departments annually award student scholarships ranging from $500-$2500 through the Person endowment, as well as support of the Performing Arts Departments. Additional grants are made in the form of private voice instruction and technical theatre scholarships.

Curriculum

Customized and interdisciplinary programs in music theatre, composition, playwriting, choreography, recording and multi-media technology are available for interested students.

Enrollment in all our major programs is open to all students, regardless of age or background. Some courses require auditions that demonstrate students’ ongoing growth in their chosen discipline.