Music at NC State

Our first music concert of the season is this Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Stewart Theatre. ♪♫♪ Come enjoy the NC State Choral Artists present OCHRE, a choral journey of transformation from primordial harshness to beauty, color and freedom. Featuring North Carolina-native composer Caroline Shaw's new work, Ochre, Veljo Tormis' iconic Curse Upon Iron and Joel Thompson's The Caged Bird Sings for Freedom. Also featuring the NC State Chorale. The NC State University Choral Artists is a public-private partnership between the NC State University choral music program and professionals in the vocal music industry that brings excellent and innovative choral music to NC State. 👉 Students: You can claim a FREE ticket by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3! Get the details and list of qualifying concerts at go.ncsu.edu/performances

The day has arrived! 📣🎉 Our Fall 2025 Music and Dance concerts tickets are ON SALE NOW! Check out our packed lineup and get your tickets at go.ncsu.edu/concerts (link in bio) 👉 Students: You can claim a FREE ticket to certain concerts! Get the details and list of qualifying concerts at go.ncsu.edu/performances

Welcome back - now join your pack! In all the #NCStateWWW fun, make time to audition for a music ensemble! 🎶 Friday, Aug. 15, 4:30-6 p.m. - Jazz Audition Clinic and Open Jam 🎶 Monday, Aug. 18 - Friday, Aug 22 - Choir Auditions (sign up for a spot between 10 a.m.-5 p.m.) 🎶 Monday, Aug. 18 and Wednesday, Aug. 20 - Orchestra Auditions (sign up for a spot between 7-9 p.m.) 🎶 Tuesday, Aug 19 - Friday, Aug. 22, and Monday, Aug. 25 - Jazz Auditions (sign up for a spot between 10 a.m.-5 p.m.) 📍Location: Price Music Center Details at go.ncsu.edu/auditionartstech

Welcome, Colby Vasquez, our new assistant director of bands! 🎉 Originally from Tollhouse, a small town in California's Sierra Nevada foothills, Colby's education and experience has had him crisscrossing the country. He joins us most recently from the University of Florida, where he is currently a doctoral candidate, pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting. While at UF, he conducted the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Brass Band, New Music Ensemble, and Trombone Choir. Colby also worked with the Gator Marching Band and the athletic pep bands, including directing the band for the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship Game in San Antonio, Texas. 🎶 Colby brings a wealth of experience. Prior to his time in Florida, he was an instrumental music director at two California high schools where he was recognized as "Teacher of the Year" and awarded the "Crowd Award: Medal of Merit." Colby earned his BA in Music Education from California State University Fresno, where he was a member of the Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band and the Bulldog Beat scholarship pep band. He earned his Masters of Music Education with a focus in Wind Conducting from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. And he continues to serve as Drill Writer for the 400-member UMass Minuteman Marching Band. Plus he marched in the Santa Clara Vanguard and is a former staff member. We're so thrilled for Colby to join us, and look forward to an exciting year!

We have our last performances of the semester next week! If you're looking for a fun way to relax before finals start, come check out our music and dance performances! 💃🪈 🎟️ Jazz Orchestra and Cates Avenue Jazz have their spring combo concert! They will be playing an amazing mix of jazz standards and modern classics 🎷 (Free tickets for NC State students) 🎟️ Wind Ensemble has its second concert of the spring semester! Performing challenging wind ensemble and traditional concert band repertoire, you don't want to miss this show! (Free tickets for NC State students) 🎟️ Symphonic Band is performing a night of "Fantasy and Wonder!" The band will transport us to the worlds of Harry Potter, How to Train Your Dragon, Wicked and more! (Free tickets for NC State students) 🎟️ Spring Dance Sharing will feature a variety of dance works hosted by the Dance Repertory and Performance Spring '25 Cohort. The performance will feature works by Assistant Teaching Professor Brianna Forbes, Guest Artists Bernadine Fields, Hannah Harris, Myaja Watson, Southern Durham High’s Dance Company and student choreographer Jordan Kaplan! (Free for everyone! Claim your ticket through the link in our bio) For NC State students wanting to claim their free tickets, head to: http://go.ncsu.edu/freeticket

Next week, we have another amazing set of performances, from two nights of dance, to choir a cappella and an orchestra performance! Come join us for these great shows! 🤍 🎟️ First up is Terrain Dance Project, which will include new work by guest artists Kathryn Logan and Katherine Moore which will premiere at this performance. Terrain co-director Autumn Mist Belk will also premiere her newest work The Science of Joy, dedicated to the memory of NC State arts patron and former FANS board member Dan Cook. Happening at “Reds and Whites” on @ncstatecentennial campus! 🎟️ The State Chorale has their spring concert: Northern Lights and Southern Skies. Featuring works by both Nordic and Latin American composers, the concert brings together great choral music from all across the world! (Free tickets for NC State students) 🎟️ Wolfgang A Cappella has their spring concert: Y2K! 🎟️ Raleigh Civic Symphony Orchestra will be presenting ‘Hymns of Hope and Healing’, which, through music, dance, and visual art, takes us on a journey through adversity, emerging triumphant through the power of the human spirit and creativity (Free tickets for NC State students) For NC State students wanting to claim their free tickets, head to: http://go.ncsu.edu/freeticket

Our schedule is packed for next week, with Dance, A Cappella, Choir, and Jazz! Check out these wonderful performances! (Bonus: NC State students can get free tickets for many of them, keep reading to learn more!) 💃 🎼🎤🎺 🎟️ State Dance Company is up first, this concert will include works by danah bella, Allison Beaty, Alexandra Burchette, Savanah Buck, Tracey Durbin, Tara Z. Mullins, and Kassandra Taylor Newberry. (Free tickets for NC State students) 🎟️ The Chamber Singers and Instrumentalists concert, located at 2723 Clark Ave here in Raleigh is free for everyone! 🎟️ Jazz Lab Band and Studio band will be performing classic standards, cutting-edge modern arrangements, and innovative new music. (Free tickets for NC State students) 🎟️ Finally, this week, Ladies in Red will have their spring concert! For NC State students wanting to claim their free tickets, head to: http://go.ncsu.edu/freeticket

One challenge down, one more to go! ❤️🐺🎶 We've already met our goal for the Music Enhancement Fund Gift Challenge! Now it's time to share why you love music at NC State in the #GivingPack Passion Match Challenge! Swipe to learn more, and head to the Day of Giving highlight @ncstateartstech to get started! Let's show the strength of NC State Music together! 🎵

Day of Giving is ONE day away!! Whether you are planning to give or spread the word, you can join in #givingpack with us on Day of Giving (March 26)! Swipe to learn more! 👉🐺❤️

Today, the DPAT Through the Decades series, in celebration of 100 years of music at NC State, comes to an end as we highlight the 2020s. In this decade, the music program joined with the dance and arts entrepreneurship programs, with the addition of a new major in Music Technology, to form the NC State Department of Performing Arts and Technology. Stuart Benkert was named head of the newly formed department in 2024.

We have an amazing set of performances for you next week! Learn more ⬇️ 🎤 Chordination and Acapology, co-ed a cappella student organizations, are both having their spring concerts 🎻 Later in the week, the Raleigh Civic Chamber Orchestra will feature the world premiere of Dr. Nathan Leaf's “The Way from Birmingham,” which focuses on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail, in collaboration with the State Chorale. This performance will also include works by Beethoven, Haydn, Niloufar Nourbakhsh and more, with NC State English Professor Jason Miller joining the orchestra to speak about King’s work and its continuing relevance. This program is funded in part by the City of Raleigh based on recommendations of the Raleigh Arts Commission #raleighartspartners Be sure to check out these great concerts! Get your tickets at the following link: https://go.ncsu.edu/Concerts

In the 2010s, the Music program introduced new classes like, Introduction to the Music Industry and Songwriting using Digital Audio Workstations. In May of 2014, the State Chorale performed as the guest choir at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Also in the 2010s, the alumni magazine, Wolf Tones, was launched. Daniel Monek served as department head starting in 2016.